Matthew 1:8 kjv

And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

Matthew 1:8 nkjv

Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.

Matthew 1:8 niv

Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

Matthew 1:8 esv

and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah,

Matthew 1:8 nlt

Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.
Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.

Matthew 1 verses

Matthew 1 8 Meaning

Matthew 1:8 continues the legal lineage of Jesus through Joseph, establishing His rightful claim as the Messiah, the promised Son of David. This verse lists three successive generations of the kings of Judah: Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joram, and Uzziah, demonstrating God's consistent preservation of the royal line that would culminate in Christ.

Matthew 1 8 Context

Matthew chapter 1 establishes the genealogy of Jesus Christ from Abraham through David, emphasizing His rightful claim as the Jewish Messiah. This section provides a legal, patriarchal line, essential for demonstrating His qualifications as the heir to David's throne, a central expectation of the Messiah. In ancient Jewish culture, genealogies were crucial for identity, inheritance, and religious standing. Matthew's list serves a theological purpose: to connect Jesus historically and legally to the promises of God, particularly the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7). The chapter presents the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in Christ's person, aiming to persuade a primarily Jewish audience of Jesus's Messianic identity.

Matthew 1 8 Word analysis

• and (καὶ - kai): A standard Greek conjunction. It serves to connect the subsequent entry to the previous one, highlighting the continuous succession of generations.
• Asa (Ἀσά - Asa): A king of Judah (reigned c. 913–873 BC). Known as a reforming and generally righteous king who campaigned against idolatry and fortified Judah (1 Kgs 15:9-24; 2 Chr 14-16). His inclusion marks a period of renewed faithfulness in Judah's monarchy.
• begot (ἐγέννησεν - egennesen): Derived from gennao, meaning "to beget," "to give birth to," or "to produce." This term emphasizes direct paternal descent and legal succession within the patriarchal structure of the genealogy. Its repetition underscores the precise and undeniable transmission of lineage, crucial for proving Messianic credentials.
• Jehoshaphat (Ἰωσαφάτ - Iosaphat): King of Judah, son of Asa (reigned c. 873–849 BC). Another generally righteous king, noted for continuing his father's religious reforms, strengthening the kingdom, and alliances (1 Kgs 22:41-50; 2 Chr 17-20). His name means "Yahweh has judged."
• Joram (Ἰωράμ - Ioram): King of Judah (reigned c. 849–842 BC). Also known as Jehoram. Son of Jehoshaphat's son (or grandson) according to the Old Testament historical books (2 Kgs 8:16-24; 2 Chr 21). This Joram was wicked, introducing idolatry and executing his brothers. This is a critical point where Matthew's genealogy appears to omit three kings: Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, who chronologically stood between Joram (Jehoram) and Uzziah (Azariah). This omission is not a historical error but a purposeful structuring of the genealogy for theological or mnemonic reasons, most likely to achieve the distinct three sets of fourteen generations (Matt 1:17). Such abbreviation was common in ancient genealogies.
• Uzziah (Ὀζίας - Ozias): King of Judah (reigned c. 791–739 BC). Also known as Azariah. A king who largely brought prosperity and strength to Judah but ended his reign struck with leprosy due to pride, for attempting to offer incense in the temple, which was solely the role of priests (2 Kgs 15:1-7; 2 Chr 26). His name means "My strength is Yahweh."
• "and X begot Y, and Y begot Z" (phrase analysis): This repetitive structure, central to the "begats" of the genealogy, establishes an unbreakable chain of succession. It affirms legal descent and continuity from one generation to the next. In this context, it confirms that Jesus legally descended from David through the line of kings, upholding God's covenant promises, despite the moral failings or political challenges of individual monarchs, and even despite certain chronological compressions for literary purposes.

Matthew 1 8 Bonus section

The inclusion of Joram and the subsequent omission of three generations before Uzziah serve as a stark reminder that biblical genealogies are often theological and literary constructions rather than comprehensive family trees. Their primary purpose is not always strict chronology but demonstrating lineage, fulfilling prophecy, and confirming covenantal promises. The selective nature highlights Matthew's intent to convey Jesus's Messianic identity through a divinely orchestrated, specific Davidic sequence, irrespective of individual royal character or the full span of generations. This compression demonstrates that God's covenant faithfulness operates sovereignly over the ebb and flow of human history, securing the royal line leading to the promised Messiah.

Matthew 1 8 Commentary

Matthew 1:8 is part of the pivotal genealogy establishing Jesus Christ's Messianic claim as the "Son of David" (Matt 1:1). It highlights the sequential royal descent from King Asa to King Jehoshaphat, and then from Joram to Uzziah. A significant point of scholarly attention here is the omission of three intermediate kings (Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah) between Joram and Uzziah, who are clearly listed in Old Testament records (1 Chr 3:11-12). This omission is not a historical mistake, but a deliberate literary choice by Matthew. It allows him to structure his genealogy into three neat sets of fourteen generations, a recognized practice in ancient Jewish tradition for memorization or thematic significance. This numerology, particularly "14," which is the numerical value of David's Hebrew name (D-W-D), emphasizes Jesus's Davidic lineage. Despite the abridgment, the lineage faithfully preserves the legal descent necessary to identify Jesus as the Christ, demonstrating God's sovereign control over history to fulfill His promise of a Davidic king. The inclusion of even wicked kings (like Joram) within this lineage underscores God's ability to work through imperfect humanity to bring about His perfect plan.