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Matthew 1 Bible in Basic English

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About BBE
  • Scholarly edition
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew (not verified)
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Simplified language
  • 1965
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 The book of the generations of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 The son of Abraham was Isaac; and the son of Isaac was Jacob; and the sons of Jacob were Judah and his brothers;
2 Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
3 And the sons of Judah were Perez and Zerah by Tamar; and the son of Perez was Hezron; and the son of Hezron was Ram;
3 Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.
4 And the son of Ram was Amminadab; and the son of Amminadab was Nahshon; and the son of Nahshon was Salmon;
4 Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.
5 And the son of Salmon by Rahab was Boaz; and the son of Boaz by Ruth was Obed; and the son of Obed was Jesse;
5 Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
6 And the son of Jesse was David the king; and the son of David was Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah;
6 Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.
7 And the son of Solomon was Rehoboam; and the son of Rehoboam was Abijah; and the son of Abijah was Asa;
7 Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.
8 And the son of Asa was Jehoshaphat; and the son of Jehoshaphat was Joram; and the son of Joram was Uzziah;
8 Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.
9 And the son of Uzziah was Jotham; and the son of Jotham was Ahaz; and the son of Ahaz was Hezekiah;
9 Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.
10 And the son of Hezekiah was Manasseh; and the son of Manasseh was Amon; and the son of Amon was Josiah;
10 Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.
11 And the sons of Josiah were Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the taking away to Babylon.
11 Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 And after the taking away to Babylon, Jechoniah had a son Shealtiel; and Shealtiel had Zerubbabel;
12 After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.
13 And Zerubbabel had Abiud; and Abiud had Eliakim; and Eliakim had Azor;
13 Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.
14 And Azor had Zadok; and Zadok had Achim; and Achim had Eliud;
14 Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.
15 And Eliud had Eleazar; and Eleazar had Matthan; and Matthan had Jacob;
15 Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.
16 And the son of Jacob was Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, whose name is Christ.
16 Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the taking away to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the taking away to Babylon to the coming of Christ, fourteen generations.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: when his mother Mary was going to be married to Joseph, before they came together the discovery was made that she was with child by the Holy Spirit.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
19 And Joseph, her husband, being an upright man, and not desiring to make her a public example, had a mind to put her away privately.
19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
20 But when he was giving thought to these things, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, have no fear of taking Mary as your wife; because that which is in her body is of the Holy Spirit.
20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 And she will give birth to a son; and you will give him the name Jesus; for he will give his people salvation from their sins.
21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place so that the word of the Lord by the prophet might come true,
22 Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
23◆ See, the virgin will be with child, and will give birth to a son, and they will give him the name Immanuel, that is, God with us.
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
24 And Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had said to him, and took her as his wife;
24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
25 And he had no connection with her till she had given birth to a son; and he gave him the name Jesus.
25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

People & places in this chapter

From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.

People

  • Abijah

    King of Judah

    Rehoboam's son who reigned briefly, warring against the northern kingdom.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 15:1-8; 2 Chron. 13; Matt. 1:7

    See in the family tree

  • Abiud

    Descendant of Zerubbabel

    A son of Zerubbabel known almost entirely from Matthew's genealogy.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:13

    See in the family tree

  • Achim

    Post-exilic descendant

    An ancestor of Jesus whose name alone survives in the Gospel record.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:14

    See in the family tree

  • Ahaz

    King of Judah

    A faithless king who courted Assyria and even sacrificed his own son.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 16; 2 Chron. 28; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:9

    See in the family tree

  • Amminadab

    Father of Nahshon

    His family rose to prominence in Judah around the time of the Exodus.

    Cited in the guide: Exod. 6:23; Ruth 4:19-20; 1 Chron. 2:10; Matt. 1:4

    See in the family tree

  • Amon

    King of Judah

    A short-lived wicked king, assassinated by his own officials.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 21:19-26; 2 Chron. 33:21-25; Matt. 1:10

    See in the family tree

  • Asa

    King of Judah

    A reforming king who tore down idols and trusted the LORD against vast armies.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 15:9-24; 2 Chron. 14-16; Matt. 1:7-8

    See in the family tree

  • Azor

    Post-exilic descendant

    A silent generation in the line, preserved only as a name in Matthew.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:13-14

    See in the family tree

  • Boaz

    Kinsman-redeemer

    The kind landowner of Bethlehem who redeemed and married Ruth the Moabite.

    Cited in the guide: Ruth 2-4; 1 Chron. 2:11-12; Matt. 1:5

    See in the family tree

  • David

    King of Israel

    The shepherd who became Israel's greatest king and a man after God's own heart.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Sam. 16 - 1 Kings 2; 2 Sam. 7; 1 Chron. 2:15; Matt. 1:6

    See in the family tree

  • Eleazar

    Post-exilic descendant

    An ancestor of Jesus remembered only by his place in the genealogy.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:15

    See in the family tree

  • Eliakim

    Post-exilic descendant

    An otherwise unknown ancestor recorded in Matthew's line to Christ.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:13

    See in the family tree

  • Eliud

    Post-exilic descendant

    A quiet name in the closing stretch of Matthew's genealogy.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:14-15

    See in the family tree

  • Hezekiah

    King of Judah

    A great reformer who trusted God and saw Jerusalem delivered from Assyria.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chron. 29-32; Isa. 36-39; Matt. 1:9-10

    See in the family tree

  • Hezron

    Son of Perez

    A son of Perez who carried Judah's royal line down into the years of Egypt.

    Cited in the guide: Gen. 46:12; Ruth 4:18; 1 Chron. 2:5, 9; Matt. 1:3

    See in the family tree

  • Jacob

    Father of Joseph

    The father of Joseph in Matthew's genealogy, on the eve of the Messiah's coming.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:15-16; cf. Luke 3:23

    See in the family tree

  • Jehoshaphat

    King of Judah

    A godly king who sent teachers of the Law throughout Judah.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 22; 2 Chron. 17-20; Matt. 1:8

    See in the family tree

  • Jesse

    Father of David

    The Bethlehemite whose youngest son David was anointed king of Israel.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Sam. 16:1-13; Isa. 11:1; Ruth 4:22; Matt. 1:5-6

    See in the family tree

  • Jesus

    The Messiah

    The Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35): the promised Son of David and Son of Abraham, 'the Word became flesh.' Joseph,…

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:1, 16-17; Luke 3:23-38; John 1:14; Rom. 1:3

    See in the family tree

  • Joram

    King of Judah

    A king who married into Ahab's house and led Judah into idolatry.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 8:16-24; 2 Chron. 21; Matt. 1:8

    See in the family tree

  • Joseph

    Legal father of Jesus

    The carpenter of Nazareth, a just man who became Jesus' legal father.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:16-25; 2:13-23; Luke 1:27; 2:1-7

    See in the family tree

  • Josiah

    King of Judah

    The boy king who rediscovered the Law and led Judah's last great reform.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chron. 34-35; Matt. 1:10-11

    See in the family tree

  • Jotham

    King of Judah

    A steady, God-fearing king who grew strong by ordering his ways before the LORD.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 15:32-38; 2 Chron. 27; Matt. 1:9

    See in the family tree

  • Manasseh

    King of Judah

    Judah's longest-reigning and most wicked king — who finally repented in exile.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 21:1-18; 2 Chron. 33:1-20; Matt. 1:10

    See in the family tree

  • Mary

    Mother of Jesus

    The virgin mother of Jesus, a young woman of Nazareth who trusted God's word.

    Cited in the guide: Matthew 1; Luke 1-2

    See in the family tree

  • Matthan

    Post-exilic descendant

    The grandfather of Joseph in Matthew's genealogy, otherwise unknown.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:15

    See in the family tree

  • Nahshon

    Leader of Judah

    Leader of the tribe of Judah in the wilderness, first to bring his offering.

    Cited in the guide: Num. 1:7; 2:3; 7:12; Ruth 4:20; Matt. 1:4

    See in the family tree

  • Obed

    Grandfather of David

    Son of Boaz and Ruth, and grandfather of King David.

    Cited in the guide: Ruth 4:13-22; 1 Chron. 2:12; Matt. 1:5; Luke 3:32

    See in the family tree

  • Perez

    Son of Judah

    Born of Judah and Tamar, he became the head of the leading clan of Judah.

    Cited in the guide: Gen. 38; Ruth 4:18; 1 Chron. 2:4-5; Matt. 1:3

    See in the family tree

  • Rahab

    Mother of Boaz

    The woman of Jericho who hid the spies and became mother of Boaz.

    Cited in the guide: Joshua 2, 6; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31

    See in the family tree

  • Ram

    Son of Hezron

    A little-known link in the chain, faithfully recorded between Hezron and Amminadab.

    Cited in the guide: Ruth 4:19; 1 Chron. 2:9-10; Matt. 1:3-4; Luke 3:33

    See in the family tree

  • Rehoboam

    King of Judah

    His harsh answer to the people split the kingdom of Israel in two.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 12; 14:21-31; 2 Chron. 10-12; Matt. 1:7

    See in the family tree

  • Ruth

    Great-grandmother of David

    The loyal Moabite widow whose devotion made her great-grandmother of King David.

    Cited in the guide: Ruth 1-4; Matthew 1:5

    See in the family tree

  • Salmon

    Husband of Rahab

    He married Rahab of Jericho and fathered Boaz as Israel settled the land.

    Cited in the guide: Ruth 4:20-21; 1 Chron. 2:11; Matt. 1:4-5

    See in the family tree

  • Shealtiel

    Son of Jeconiah

    A son of the exiled king, a link between fallen throne and hoped-for return.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Chron. 3:17; Ezra 3:2; Hag. 1:1; Matt. 1:12; Luke 3:27

    See in the family tree

  • Solomon

    King of Israel

    David's son who built the temple and became famous for God-given wisdom.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 1-11; 1 Chron. 3:5; Matt. 1:6-7

    See in the family tree

  • Tamar

    Mother of Perez

    Judah's daughter-in-law who, denied justice, became the mother of Perez.

    Cited in the guide: Genesis 38; Matthew 1:3

    See in the family tree

  • Uzziah

    King of Judah

    A strong, mostly faithful king whose pride in the temple brought him leprosy.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 15:1-7; 2 Chron. 26; Isa. 6:1; Matt. 1:8-9

    See in the family tree

  • Zadok

    Post-exilic descendant

    One of the little-known ancestors bridging the Old and New Testaments.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:14

    See in the family tree

  • Zerubbabel

    Governor of Judah

    He led the return from Babylon and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem.

    Cited in the guide: Ezra 3-6; Hag. 2:23; Zech. 4; Matt. 1:12-13

    See in the family tree

Cross references (22)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Genesis 22:18; Romans 1:3; Galatians 3:16; Revelation 22:16; Psalm 132:11
  2. 2 Acts 7:8; Hebrews 11:17–18; Genesis 21:2–5; Genesis 46:8–27; Genesis 25:26
  3. 3 Genesis 38:24–27; Genesis 38:29–30; Genesis 46:12; Ruth 4:18–22; 1 Chronicles 4:1
  4. 4 1 Chronicles 2:10–12; Numbers 1:7; Numbers 7:12; Numbers 2:3; Numbers 10:14
  5. 5 Ruth 1:16–17; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25; Ruth 1:22–2:4; Joshua 6:22–25
  6. 6 1 Kings 15:5; 1 Samuel 17:12; 2 Samuel 23:1; 2 Samuel 12:24–25; 1 Samuel 16:1
  7. 7 2 Chronicles 14:1–15; 1 Kings 15:8–23; 1 Chronicles 3:10–14; 1 Kings 14:31; 2 Chronicles 13:7
  8. 8 1 Chronicles 3:11; 2 Chronicles 26:1–23; 2 Kings 3:1; 1 Kings 22:2–50; 2 Chronicles 21:1
  9. 9 2 Kings 15:32–16:20; Isaiah 7:1–13; Isaiah 36:1–22; 2 Kings 18:1–20; 2 Chronicles 26:21
  10. 10 2 Chronicles 32:33–35:27; 1 Kings 13:2; 1 Chronicles 3:13–15; Jeremiah 1:2–3; 2 Kings 20:21–23:30
  11. 11 Jeremiah 27:20; Jeremiah 52:28–30; Jeremiah 52:11–15; 2 Kings 23:31–24:20; 2 Kings 25:11
  12. 12 1 Chronicles 3:17; Ezra 3:2; Haggai 1:14; Luke 3:27; 1 Chronicles 3:19–24
  13. 16 Matthew 27:17; Luke 3:23; John 4:25; Luke 1:31–35; Matthew 27:22
  14. 17 Matthew 1:11–12; 2 Kings 24:14
  15. 18 Galatians 4:4–5; Luke 1:27–38; Hebrews 10:5; Job 14:4; Genesis 3:15
  16. 19 Deuteronomy 22:21–24; Deuteronomy 24:1–4; John 8:4–5; Mark 6:20; Genesis 38:24
  17. 20 Proverbs 3:5–6; Luke 1:19; Matthew 1:18; Joel 2:28; Luke 2:4
  18. 21 Acts 13:23; Acts 4:12; John 1:29; 1 John 3:5; Colossians 1:20–23
  19. 22 Luke 24:44; 1 Kings 8:15; Matthew 2:23; Acts 3:18; 1 Kings 8:24
  20. 23 Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6–7; Psalm 46:11; John 1:14; Isaiah 12:2
  21. 24 John 15:14; James 2:21–26; John 2:5–8; Exodus 40:32; Exodus 40:16
  22. 25 Luke 2:21; Exodus 13:2; Exodus 22:29; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:7

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

Why does my Bible say something different?

Articles and answers on this site that cite Matthew 1.

1 more on this site cite this chapter — Search the library

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary 1:1 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily II)

    Do ye indeed remember the charge, which we lately made you, entreating you to hearken unto all the things that are said with all silence, and mystical quietness? For we are to-day to set foot within the holy vestibule, wherefore I have also put you in mind of the charge.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  2. Quotes verse 1:21 Justin Martyr, First Apology (Chapters XXXIII–XXXVIII)

    … time brought her good news, saying, "Behold, thou shalt conceive of the Holy Ghost, and shalt bear a Son, and He shall be called the Son of the Highest, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins," --as they who have recorded all that concerns our Saviour Jesus Christ have taught, whom …

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)

  3. Quotes verse 1:20 Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Book III, Chapter VII)

    Then again Matthew, when speaking of the angel, says, "The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in sleep." Of what Lord he does himself interpret: "That it may be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, Out of Egypt have I called my son." "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a son, and …

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)

  4. Quotes verse 1:1 Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (Book XVII, Chapters 9–11)

    … the days of heaven." Which words, when rightly understood, are all understood to be about the Lord Jesus Christ, under the name of David, on account of the form of a servant, which the same Mediator assumed from the virgin of the seed of David. For immediately something is said about the sins of his children, such as is set …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)

  5. Quotes verse 1:3 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily III)

    3. "And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar." "What doest thou, O man, putting us in remembrance of a history that contains an unlawful intercourse?" But why is this said?

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)