Matthew Chapter 1:1-17
The Genealogy of Christ
Abraham – Means Father of a great multitude, God changed his name from Abram which meant high father or exalted father (Genesis 17: 5). Became the father of the those believe, God Promised through his line all the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3) he bore the promised son Isaac when he was 100 years old (Genesis 17:17) God also established the sign of circumcision with Abraham signifying the covenant that God had made with Abraham that all the nations would be blessed through him, that he would possess the land of Canaan and that Kings would come through Him and that his descendents would be as many as the stars above (Genesis 17:10-14).
Isaac – Means Laughter. He was the promised son born to Abram when he was 100 years old. He bore Jacob and Esau from Rebekah (Genesis 25:24- 28) Isaac in his old age blesses Jacob instead of Esau (Genesis 27:28); confirming a prophecy given about the twins in Rebekah’s womb that the older will serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). God renews his covenant with Isaac that he had made with Abraham hi father (Genesis 26:24).
Jacob – Means Heel catcher or supplanter, someone who undermines. God also changed Jacob’s name from Jacob to Israel which means to wrestle with God, to prevail with God or to be governed by God (Genesis 32:28). He was the second of two twins (Genesis 25:23-28). He traded stew for his brother’s birthright (Genesis 25:29-34). He Stole his father’s blessing be disguising himself as Esau (Genesis 27:1-29). He then runs away and works for Laban his uncle where he finds his wives Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29). Jacob had 12 sons and many daughters (Genesis 29:31-30:24, 34:16-26). God renews His covenant with Jacob as he had done with his father Isaac before him (Genesis 28:14).
Judah – Means Praise to the Lord. Judah was the one who convinced his brothers to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelite (Genesis 37: 26). Judah had 5 sons, the first was Er, the Second Onan, and the third was Shelah. Tamar Married Er and the Lord killed him. Tamar then Married Onan and the Lord killed him. Tamar was then to wait for the third son, but Judah withheld him from her. Tamar dressed like a harlot and slept with Judah. Tamar then bore Perez and Zerah, twins, by Judah (Genesis 38). Jacob blessed Judah and said that the ruling line should be through Judah (Genesis 49:8-10). The Leader of the brothers of the sons Jacob.
The Time of Going into Egypt
Perez – Means Breach or breakthrough to divide. Not much is said of Perez but in Ruth 4:12 His name is used as an example of blessing, “May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.” This suggests that Perez became a wealthy and influential individual and that the Lord was with him. He was a head of the Families of Judah.
Hezron - Means Enclosed. Hezron was the older of two sons of Perez (Genesis 46:12). Later as the Israelites are settling in the land Canaan a province in the South of Judah is named after him. (Joshua 15:3). He was A head of the Families of Judah.
Ram – Means Exalted. Ram was the great-great grandson of Jacob, and was the great-great grandfather of Boaz (1 Chronicles 2:9). He was A Chief among the Tribe of Judah.
Amminadab – Means Kindred of the prince. It seems that the blessing that had started with the house of Perez had continued so much so that Ram whose name means Exalted, named his child kindred of the prince. Amminadab was in some sort of leadership position among the Israelites while in Egypt. The phrase is mentioned of His son Nahshon “the son of Aminnadab shall be the leader of the children of Judah” (Numbers 2:23) Positions like this normally pass down from father to son, unless some sort of misfortune happens. He was A Chief among the Tribe of Judah.
The Exodus Period
Nahshon – Means to foretell, Sorcerer. He was the leader of the tribe of Judah which was the largest of the tribes of Israel. Nahshon was the leader of Judah during the Exodus and died in the wilderness (Numbers 26:64-65). He was A Chief among the Tribe of Judah.
Coming into the Promise Land
Salmon – Means Shady, peaceable. He was probably named peaceable because the children of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land. He was a leader in the tribe of Judah when the Israelites came into the land of Canaan. He married Rahab the harlot who hid the spies of Israel before the taking of Jericho (Joshua 2). He was A Chief among the Tribe of Judah.
Time of the Judges
Boaz – Means a cheerful anticipation. He was a wealthy man of the city of Bethlehem whom married Ruth a young Moabitess who traveled with Naomi. He became the kinsman redeemer to the house of Elimelech who had sold their land during a certain famine (Ruth 1:1-4:22). He was the son of a prostitute and married a Moab, both were looked down upon, both were mentioned in linage of Christ. Boaz was also the name of one of the two brazen pillars of Solomon’s temple; the thought was a cheerful anticipation of meeting with the Lord (1 Kings 7:21).He was A Chief among the Tribe of Judah.
Obed – Means a servant. It seems that the family line that had once been a “kindred to princes” was waning a bit as Boaz names his son servant. During this time in history the Israelites were repeatedly attacked by the Philistines and other neighboring nations. Though the family was still wealthy it seems Obed wasn’t in as high a place as his father’s before him. He was A Chief among the Tribe of Judah.
Time of the Kings (Starting with Saul)
Jesse – Means a gift. Jesse had eight sons the youngest being David. Jesse is visited by the prophet Samuel who pronounces that one of his sons will be the next King of Israel. That son was David his youngest (1 Samuel 16). When Isaiah foretells of the messiah he says He shall be a “rod from the stem of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1). The last place Jesse is mentioned is in 1 Samuel 22:3 going to the land of Moab of asylum from Saul. He was A Chief among the Tribe of Judah.
David – Means beloved. David was the 8th son of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:8-12). David is anointed King of Israel by the prophet Samuel while Saul is still ruling (1 Samuel 16:12-13). David defeats the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:48-51). David is anointed King over all Israel and his reign begins in 2 Samuel 5:1-5. He commits adultery Bathsheba and then kills her husband Uriah (2 Samuel 11). David has a second son by Bathsheba after the death of the first and he names him Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24-25). God promised David that from his seed a King would be established and would rule forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). David also wrote a majority of the Psalms. He was A King of a united Israel.
Solomon - Means Peaceful, similar to meaning Salmon his forefather. Nathan the prophet gave him the Jedidiah which meant beloved of the Lord (2 Samuel 12:24-25). Solomon succeeded his Father David as king over all of Israel (1 Kings 1:28-53). Solomon has a dream where God asks him “what shall He give unto Solomon?” and Solomon asks for Wisdom. The Lord blesses Solomon with more wisdom than any other man before or after him (1 Kings 3:5-15). Solomon builds the Lord a temple in Jerusalem through 1 Kings 6-9, and in Chapter 9 The Lord visits Solomon again and makes a conditional covenant with him that he or his sons keeps His commandments, The Lord would establish their throne as he would David’s, if not he would cut them off (1 Kings 9:1-9). This Covenant is similar to the one made to David except that the Lord puts a condition on it, with David he did not put a condition on it. This change allows for the Messiah to be an heir of David but not necessarily of Solomon or Solomon’s descendents. Solomon’s heart was turned from the Lord (1 Kings 11:3-13). He was A King of a united Israel.
Rehoboam – Means He enlarges the people. Though his name meant to enlarge the people under Rehoboam the kingdom was divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 1:1-24). Rehoboam did evil in the sight of the Lord and he caused the king of Egypt to come up and plunder the temple of God (1 kings 14:25-26).He was A King of the southern kingdom of Judah.
Abijam – Means father of the sea or a Sailor, he is also referred to as Abijah which means father of Jehovah or worshiper or Jehovah. In 1 Kings 15 he is referred to by what we can assume is his given name, and is portrayed as not following the lord. In 2 Chronicles 13 he is called Abijah which is a play on his name Similar to the name change of Abraham from Abram, but he is represented as taking a stand for God and in so doing God gave him a great victory over Jeroboam the rebel King of Israel. In the Genealogy of Christ he is remembered by the name Abijah, worshiper of the Lord. He was A King of the southern kingdom of Judah.
Asa – Means physician. This name would have much meaning in his life as restored the nation back to a relationship with God, but also in his old age trusting in physicians instead of the Lord. Asa brought down the idols and high places in all Judah (1 Kings 15:8-14). He had a huge victory over Ethiopia (2 Chronicles 14:9-15) but then signs a treaty with Syria which the Lord would have rather him defeated (2Chronicles 16). The Lord reestablishes His conditional covenant with Asa in 2 Chronicles 15:1-2. He was A king of the southern kingdom of Judah.
Jehoshaphat – Means Jehovah Judged. Jehoshaphat, like his father before him, tried to rid the land of idolatry (1 Kings 22:43). He also sent out priests to teach people the laws of God (2 Chronicles 17:7-9). He did, although, have some faults of making covenants with the wicked kings of the northern kingdom of Israel. He had an alliance with Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram. In the instance with Jehoram King of Israel the only reason Elisha the Prophet spoke to Jehoram was out of respect for Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 3:14). He was a king of the southern kingdom of Judah.
Joram – Means to Exalt. He was also called Jehoram which means to exalt the lord. The reign of this king was a step in the wrong direction. In contrast to others like Abijam who became known Abijah, Joram went from Jehoram to Joram. From exalt the Lord, to the exalted. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and rebelled against God (2 Kings 21:6). He also married the daughter of the wicked king and queen of Israel (Ahab and Jezebel) Athaliah (2 Kings 8:26). He lost all of his wives and sons to the invading forces, and then suffered from a disease in his intestines which he eventually died from. He was not buried among the Kings of Judah like his father’s before him (2 Chronicles 21:16-20). He was a king of the southern kingdom of Judah.
In the Genealogy there is a skipping of names even though there is no break in lineage. From Joram to Uzzaih there is three generations that are not mentioned in Matthew. Ahazaih succeeded his father Joram but only lasted a year because he did wicked things before the Lord. After the death Ahaziah Athaliah his mother went around and started killing all the royal heirs to the throne. She then took up the throne for herself. Ahazaih’s youngest son Joash survived due to the help of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoiada also crowned Joash as King and looked out for him. Athaliah was killed after the crowning of Joash. Joash did well in the sight of the lord until Jehoiada the priest died then he began to serve wooden idols. The priest son Zechariah confronted the king of his wickedness and the king had him stoned in the temple courtyard. The lord raised an army of Syria up against Joash and they defeated him and wounded him severely but it was his own servants who killed him. Then his son Amaziah took the thrown and did well for a while but then took the idols of Edom and began to worship them. He is defeated by Israel sometime later and a conspiracy to kill him developed and ultimately killed him. He was the father Uzzaih the next king that we see in the line of Christ. the line from Joram to Uzzaih looks like this: Joram à Ahazaih à Joash àAmaziahàUzzaih. 2 Chronicles 22-25
Uzziah - Means the Lord is my strength. He did well in the sight of the Lord and the lord blessed and flourished his kingdom (2 Chronicles 26:8). He lived during the Time of Isaiah the prophet (2 Chronicles 26:23). He did die due to disobedience though; he tried to burn incense in the temple for the lord and received leprosy in so doing. He later died from the illness (2 Chronicles 26:16-23).He was a king among the southern kingdom of Judah.
Jotham – Means that Jehovah is perfect. Jotham is one of only a few that ascended the throne while his father was still alive. His father had leprosy and was quarantined and therefore could not rule, so Jotham assumed the throne (2 Chronicles 26:21). Jotham was well like be the people and was greatly mourned at his death (2 Chronicles 27:7-9). He was also a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah. He was a king among the southern kingdom of Judah.
Ahaz – Means the possessor. He was a bad King and did wicked things in the sight of the Lord (2 Chronicles 28:22). He introduced idolatrous customs back into the southern Kingdom and was rebuked by the prophets (Isaiah 8:19). He was a king among the southern kingdom of Judah.
Hezekiah – Means whom Jehovah has strengthened. Hezekiah was a good and godly King. He served the Lord like Uzzaih his grandfather (2 Chronicles 29:3-11). Hezekiah restores the temple worship and also keeps the Passover. Sennacherib the king Assyria comes to destroy Jerusalem and Hezekiah prays and the angel of the lord kills 185,000 of the Assyrian army (2 Chronicles 32). Hezekiah’s life is extended 15 years and as a sign the shadow of the sun dial is turned back ten degrees (Isaiah 38). Hezekiah shows off his wealth to ambassador to Babylon which the lord said would be the reason Babylon comes to take them over (2 Chronicles 32:31). He was a king among the southern kingdom of Judah.
Manasseh – Means to make to forget. During Manasseh’s reign the people forgot about God. They followed after false idols and went back to their pagan ways (2 Chronicles 33:2). Manasseh filled the streets with blood of the innocent (2 Kings 21:16) and It was said during this time that Isaiah the prophet was sawn asunder in the trunk of a tree during the reign of Manasseh. Manasseh was also taken awake with hooks and tortured by the king of Assyria. He later repented unto God and the Lord restored him (2 Chronicles 33:10-17). He was a king among the southern kingdom of Judah.
Amon – Means builder. Amon rebuilt the altars his father had tore down set up idol worship again in Judah. He met his death at the hands of a conspiracy of his servants (2 Chronicles 33:20-25). He was a king among the southern kingdom of Judah.
Josiah – Means healed or supported by Jehovah. He served the lord with a fervent heart (2Kings 23:25). He fought against the idolatry that had ruled for so long, and started to restore the temple of the Lord (2 Chronicles 34:11). During his renovating of the Temple the Law of Moses was rediscovered, prompting Josiah to renew the ancient covenant that had been between God and the nation of Israel. Josiah met his demise in a battle against Necho king of Egypt. Necho was going to make war with Carchemish and Josiah went out to meet him. It wasn’t his fight and the Lord tried to warn him of that but he did not listen was struck by a stray arrow (2 Chronicles 35:25).He was a king among the southern kingdom of Judah.
In the lineage given by Matthew another Generation is skipped over and then picked up again. This time it is the king Jehoiakim who is Jeconiah’s father and actually succeeded his brother Jehoahaz who only reigned a few months before being carried away to Egypt. The line of Christ follows this path Josiahà Jehoiakim àJeconiah. 2 Kings 23:31-24:12.
Jeconiah - Means preparation of the Lord and he was also called Jehoiachin which means the same thing. Jeconiah was taken to Babylon only after a few months of rule (2 Chronicles 36:10). He was an evil king and it is said of him Jeremiah 22:24-30 that he shall be like a childless man and that His descendents will no longer rule or sit on the throne of David. His uncle sat on the throne after him but not very long as Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon conquered the land and took away all inhabitants away to captivity. He was among the last kings of the southern kingdom of Judah.
The Time of Captivity
Shealtiel – Means asked for of God. He was born in the captivity period in Babylon. His father sat in the court of the king of Babylon Evil-Merodach (2 Kings 25:27). Not much is said about Shealtiel except that he was the grandfather of Zerubbabel, Shealtiel was the father of Pedaiah, whose son was Zerubbabel. (1 Chronicles 3:17-19).
Pedaiah was not mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy, but is listed in (1 Chronicles 3:17). It is unclear why he is not mentioned in Matthew, but it could be a situation similar to Jacob claiming Joseph’s sons; Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own (Genesis 48:5).
Zerubbabel – Means The seed of Babylon. Zerubbabel was among the royal court of Cyrus the Persian King in Babylon (Ezra 1:8). He was a prince among the captives of Judah but did not sit on the throne of his forefathers. He led a band of Jews back to Jerusalem to restore the temple that had been devastated by Nebuchadnezzar. He rebuilt the temple of the Lord though not to the full splendor of Solomon’s temple (Ezra 6:13-18).
Hananiah was not mentioned in the Genealogy of Matthew but was the son of Zerubbabel which fathered Abuid or obadiah (1 Chronicles 3:19). The reason is unclear why there was a over look of his name but again could be a situation similar to Jacob claiming Joseph’s sons as his own (Genesis 48:5).
Abuid – Means Father of renown. He is also known as Obadiah which means worshiper or servant of Jehovah. His grandfather was Zerubbabel and his father was Hananiah (1 Chronicles 3:19). Little else is known about this descendent of Christ.
Eliakim – Means who God will raise up.
Azor – Means helper or mighty or heroic.
Silent Years of God In-between Malachi and John the Baptist
Zadok – Means righteous. His generation was close to the beginning of the period of silence between Malachi and John the Baptist. (This is derived from 1 Chronicles 3:19-24 where it list three generations after Obadiah’s generation and then stops. It presumably stops because it was the most current and up to date of the line of Jeconiah. Also the book of chronicles I & II, Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one text and were written about the time of the prophet Malachi who was the last prophet to speak before the one crying in the wilderness in Matthew 3).
Achim – Means the Lord will establish or raise up.
Eliud –Means God’s splendor or majesty, it invokes a since of praise for God’s Majesty or splendor.
Eleazer – Means God has helped.
Matthan – Means Gift.
Jacob – Heel catcher or supplanter, someone who undermines. In this case it was probably meant to pay homage to the ancestor and not as a descriptive labeling, as was the case in Genesis 25:23-28. Jacob is the Step grandfather of Jesus and would have been the one who set up the marriage of Joseph and Mary for his son Joseph.
Joseph – The Lord has added. A very appropriate name for this man since the Lord added to his family without Joseph’s help. Joseph was an upright man (Matthew 1:19), He observed the Passover every year and made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for it (Luke 2:41). He was spoken to by the Lord or an Angel of the 4 times in a dream. The first time was to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, that the child in her womb was of God, and to call his name Jesus (Matthew 1:20-25). The second time was when the lord told him to take him family to Egypt and flee Herod (Matthew 2:13). The third time the Lord telling Joseph to come back from Egypt (Matthew 2:19). The fourth time was when the Lord instructed Joseph to take his family to Galilee (Matthew 2:22). Joseph’s character was meek in that when He originally found out about Mary being pregnant, he was going to put her away quietly instead openly, which would have resulted in her death (Matthew 1:19). Joseph lived in Nazareth though his family was from Bethlehem (Luke 2:4). Joseph was a carpenter and little else is known of him (Matthew 13:55).
Jesus – Means the Lord is salvation, or the Lord will save us. Jesus transcended time and space to put on human flesh (John 1:14) and endure all temptation (Hebrews 4:15) to pay the cost of our sin (Romans 5:9). He proved the Love of God for fallen man by laying his life down for us all (Romans 5:8). He lived a perfect life (Hebrews 4:15), performed miracles (John 2:11) and spoke with such authority that even the wind and waves obeyed him (Mark 4:39). He died on a cross for crimes he did not commit (Matthew 27:22-24) so that the justice of God would be satisfied (Romans 5:9). He rose three days later (Luke 24:46) defeating deaths grip on humanity (Romans 6:9-11). He ascended 40 days later after ministering to his followers (Acts 1:3). He now sits at the right hand of the Father ruling and reigning forever (Acts 5:31). He is our intercessor (Romans 8:34) and advocate to the Father (1 John 2:1), and he is coming back (Revelation 1:7) one day for his bride the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). He is our hope (Romans 15:12), he is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but through him (John 14:6). He is the alpha and omega, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13). He is the one who was, who is, and who is to come (Revelation 1:8). He is the Word of God (John 1:14), he is the Son of God (Matthew 26:63-64), He is God (John1:1, Hebrews 1:8). He is the king of heaven and earth forever and ever Amen (Philippians 2:10).
