Matthew 1:7 kjv

And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

Matthew 1:7 nkjv

Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.

Matthew 1:7 niv

Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,

Matthew 1:7 esv

and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,

Matthew 1:7 nlt

Solomon was the father of Rehoboam.
Rehoboam was the father of Abijah.
Abijah was the father of Asa.

Matthew 1 verses

Matthew 1 7 Meaning

Matthew 1:7 continues the lineage of Jesus Christ, tracing His ancestry through the Davidic line. Specifically, it states that Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed was the father of Jesse. This verse is particularly significant for uniquely highlighting two women in the messianic lineage—Rahab and Ruth—both Gentiles who played crucial roles in salvation history, thereby demonstrating God's sovereignty and grace working through diverse and often unexpected individuals.

Matthew 1 7 Context

Matthew 1:7 is embedded within the opening genealogy of Jesus Christ (Mt 1:1-17), presented by Matthew primarily to his Jewish-Christian audience. This meticulous genealogical record is carefully structured in three sections of fourteen generations each, designed to demonstrate Jesus' rightful claim to the Davidic throne and His fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham and David, thereby validating His identity as the long-awaited Messiah. In ancient Jewish society, genealogies were critical for establishing identity, inheritance rights, and particularly messianic credentials. Matthew's unusual inclusion of women in this patriarchal lineage, especially two non-Israelites—Rahab and Ruth—sets a unique theological tone. It suggests God's broader, inclusive redemptive plan extends beyond ethnic boundaries and utilizes individuals who might otherwise be considered unconventional or even scandalous, prefiguring the universal scope of the Gospel.

Matthew 1 7 Word Analysis

• and Salmon (καὶ Σαλμὼν – kai Salmōn): "Kai" means "and," serving as a connector to the preceding verse, continuing the lineage directly. Salmon is identified in the Old Testament as an Israelite, son of Nahshon (Num 1:7), a prince of the tribe of Judah, linking a prominent Israelite family to the messianic line.
• the father of (ἐγέννησεν – egenēsen): The Greek verb "to beget," denoting physical procreation. Matthew consistently uses this term throughout the genealogy to establish a direct paternal line of descent, vital for asserting messianic legitimacy.
• Boaz (Βόος – Boos): A significant figure from the Book of Ruth. Boaz was a wealthy, righteous landowner in Bethlehem, notable for his role as a kinsman-redeemer (go'el) who married Ruth, enabling the continuation of Naomi's family line and the lineage leading to David. His name may mean "in him is strength."
• by Rahab (ἐκ τῆς Ῥαχάβ – ek tēs Rhachab): "Ek" meaning "from" or "out of," indicating the maternal connection. Rahab was a Canaanite woman from Jericho, identified in Joshua 2 as a prostitute, who demonstrated extraordinary faith by sheltering Israelite spies. Her inclusion is highly striking: she was a Gentile and her profession was typically excluded. Her presence underscores God's grace acting through unexpected and imperfect individuals, and subtly points to the future inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan of salvation.
• and Boaz (καὶ Βόος – kai Boos): Reiterates the transition in the lineage, connecting Boaz to the next generation as a father.
• the father of (ἐγέννησεν – egenēsen): Repeats the consistent verb to maintain the pattern of begetting.
• Obed (Ὀβὴδ – Obēd): Means "serving" or "worshiper." Obed is a crucial figure in the genealogy, directly linking Boaz and Ruth to the illustrious line of King David, thus connecting the stories of Rahab and Ruth to the Davidic covenant.
• by Ruth (ἐκ τῆς Ῥούθ – ek tēs Rhouth): Another significant Gentile woman included in the genealogy. Ruth was a Moabitess whose faithfulness to her mother-in-law Naomi and adoption of the God of Israel (Ruth 1:16) led her to Bethlehem, where she became Boaz's wife. Her story embodies loyalty, diligence, and divine providence. Her inclusion, despite her Moabite origin (Deut 23:3), further emphasizes God's boundless grace and universal salvific intent, challenging conventional ethnic and religious boundaries of the time.
• and Obed (καὶ Ὀβὴδ – kai Obēd): Links Obed directly to the next individual in the generational sequence.
• the father of (ἐγέννησεν – egenēsen): The repeating phrase emphasizes the unbroken lineage toward the Messiah.
• Jesse (Ἰεσσαί – Iessai): The immediate predecessor of King David, confirming the Davidic lineage, which is paramount for establishing Jesus' messianic credentials. His presence brings the line right to the point of Israel's greatest king and sets the stage for the arrival of the "root of Jesse" (Is 11:1), the Messiah.

Words-group Analysis:

• Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab: This phrase highlights God's ability to weave an individual with a disreputable background and Gentile origin (Rahab) into the sacred lineage of the Messiah. It underscores a theme of radical grace, demonstrating that God's plan transcends human conventions and qualifications.
• Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth: This second pairing further emphasizes the divine inclusion of a Gentile (Ruth, a Moabitess) into the messianic line. It brings forth themes of loyalty, redemption (through Boaz's role as kinsman-redeemer), and God's providential care in preserving and expanding the family line that would lead to Christ.
• Obed the father of Jesse: This phrase provides a direct link to the immediate ancestral line of King David. It brings the lineage back to a clear and recognized Davidic antecedent, reaffirming the messianic connection to David as the crucial kingly line promised by God.

Matthew 1 7 Bonus section

The consistent inclusion of specific women in Matthew's genealogy (Tamar in v.3, Rahab and Ruth in v.5/7, and implicitly Bathsheba as "the wife of Uriah" in v.6, alongside Mary in v.16) is a remarkable theological statement by the Evangelist. These women often share a characteristic of being either Gentiles or having had irregular or controversial circumstances surrounding their entry into the lineage. Their presence breaks from the norm of ancient genealogies focusing solely on male succession. This choice underscores several vital messages:

• God's initiative in Salvation: It emphasizes that God's plan is not confined by human expectations or strict societal norms; He chooses whom He wills to participate in His redemptive purposes.
• Theological depth of Grace: It highlights that God's grace transcends human limitations, past sins, or racial boundaries.
• Foreshadowing the Gospel to Gentiles: The inclusion of Rahab and Ruth, particularly, points forward to the broader, global reach of the Gospel message that Jesus would ultimately embody and command (Mt 28:19).
• Humanity and the Messiah's Incarnation: It grounds the Messiah in the complexities of real human history, demonstrating God working through genuine, often messy, human circumstances to bring forth His perfect plan.

Matthew 1 7 Commentary

Matthew 1:7 is a profound testament to God's unexpected grace and sovereign working through seemingly unconventional means. While Jewish genealogies typically emphasized an unbroken male line, Matthew deliberately highlights two Gentile women, Rahab and Ruth, within this critical messianic ancestry. Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, signifies that God's favor is not limited by one's past or social standing, extending even to the most unlikely candidates. Ruth, a Moabite, further accentuates the theme of Gentile inclusion, demonstrating that faith and faithfulness can supersede ethnic barriers previously established in the law. Both women were brought into the covenant lineage not by birthright but by God's gracious intervention and their responsive faith. This verse, therefore, transcends mere historical record, prefiguring the universal nature of Christ's salvation, which welcomes both Jew and Gentile, outsider and insider, based on faith in Him, revealing a Messiah whose heritage uniquely reflects His mission to redeem all humanity.