Matthew 1:19

Matthew 1:19

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Christ Born of Mary

18 Now the ^abirth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child ^bof the Holy Spirit.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being¹ a just man, and not wanting ^ato make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, ^afor that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 ^aAnd she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name¹ Jesus, ^bfor He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:

23 ^a“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,

25 and¹ did not know her till she had brought forth ^aher firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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Then Joseph her husband—Compare Matthew 1:20, "Mary, thy wife." Betrothal was, in Jewish law, valid marriage. In giving Mary up, therefore, Joseph had to take legal steps to effect the separation.

being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example—to expose her (see Deuteronomy 22:23-24)

was minded to put her away privily—that is, privately by giving her the required writing of divorcement (Deuteronomy 24:1), in presence of only two or three witnesses, and without cause assigned, instead of having her before a magistrate. That some communication had passed between him and his betrothed, directly or indirectly, on the subject, after she returned from her three months' visit to Elizabeth, can hardly be doubted. Nor does the purpose to divorce her necessarily imply disbelief, on Joseph's part, of the explanation given him. Even supposing him to have yielded to it some reverential assent—and the Evangelist seems to convey as much, by ascribing the proposal to screen her to the justice of his character—he might think it altogether unsuitable and incongruous in such circumstances to follow out the marriage.

**Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Matthew 1:19:**

Joel 1:8
Matthew 1:18
Luke 1:56

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Matthew 1:20 >>

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