The Birth of Jesus Foretold to Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25
Matt.1.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Του: ART,gen,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γενεσις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ουτως: ADV
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- μνηστευθεισης: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- μητρος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- Μαριας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ιωσηφ: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πριν: CONJ
- η: CONJ
- συνελθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ευρεθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- γαστρι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εχουσα: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αγιου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Isaiah 7:14 (allusion): Prophecy of a young woman/virgin conceiving and bearing a son (Immanuel); Matthew elsewhere cites this prophecy as fulfillment of the virginal conception referenced here.
- Luke 1:26-35 (verbal): The annunciation narrative: angel announces Mary will conceive by the Holy Spirit; closely parallels Matthew’s statement that Mary was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
- Luke 1:34-35 (verbal): Mary’s question and the angel’s explanation that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the child will be holy—the same conception-by-Spirit motif present in Matthew 1:18.
- Matthew 1:20-25 (structural): Immediate Matthean continuation: an angel’s message to Joseph explains the supernatural origin of Mary’s pregnancy and directs him to take her as wife, resolving the situation introduced in 1:18.
- John 1:14 (thematic): Declares the Word became flesh—theological parallel to Matthew’s emphasis on the divine/virginal origin of Jesus and the incarnation motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about in this way: when his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
- Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place this way: when his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Matt.1.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ιωσηφ: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ανηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- δικαιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- θελων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- δειγματισαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- εβουληθη: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- λαθρα: ADV
- απολυσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 1:18 (structural): Immediate narrative context: introduces the birth event and states Mary was found with child, setting up Joseph’s response to the situation described in 1:19.
- Matthew 1:20 (structural): Direct continuation: the angel’s revelation to Joseph explains why he should not carry out a private dismissal and reverses his intent to divorce Mary.
- Deuteronomy 22:23-24 (thematic): Legal background for Joseph’s concern: the Mosaic law prescribes severe public penalties for a betrothed woman found sexually compromised, explaining the potential public disgrace he sought to avoid.
- Deuteronomy 24:1 (thematic): Legal provision for divorce in ancient Israel: provides the procedural background for Joseph’s plan to 'put her away' (write a bill of divorcement) quietly rather than expose her.
Alternative generated candidates
- Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, resolved to divorce her quietly.
- Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, resolved to dismiss her quietly.
Matt.1.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,neut
- δε: CONJ
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ενθυμηθεντος: VERB,aor,pass,part,gen,sg,m
- ιδου: INTJ
- αγγελος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- κατ᾽οναρ: ADV
- εφανη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- λεγων·Ιωσηφ: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- Δαυιδ: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μη: PART,neg
- φοβηθης: VERB,aor,pass,subj,2,sg
- παραλαβειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- Μαριαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γυναικα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- γαρ: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- γεννηθεν: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,sg,n
- εκ: PREP
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αγιου·: ADJ,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Luke 1:31-35 (verbal): Angelic announcement to Mary that she will conceive; explicitly states conception is by the Holy Spirit, closely paralleling the content and language of Matthew's angelic message to Joseph.
- Isaiah 7:14 (allusion): Prophecy of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son later cited by Matthew (1:23) as fulfillment; provides the Old Testament background for the angel's assurance about the miraculous conception.
- Matt.2:13 (structural): Another instance of an angel appearing to Joseph in a dream to give critical protective instruction (to flee to Egypt), showing the recurring Matthean motif of divine guidance through dreams.
- Matt.1:24-25 (structural): Immediate sequel to 1:20: Joseph's obedience to the angelic dream and his taking Mary as wife, forming a paired unit (revelation in a dream followed by faithful action).
Alternative generated candidates
- But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
- But while he thought about these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.'
Matt.1.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τεξεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- καλεσεις: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- Ιησουν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- σωσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λαον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- αμαρτιων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,c
Parallels
- Luke 1:31 (verbal): Angelic announcement to Mary uses the same naming command—'you will call his name Jesus'—matching Matthew's naming formula.
- Luke 2:11 (thematic): Proclaims the newborn as 'a Savior,' paralleling Matthew's statement that Jesus will save his people from their sins.
- John 1:29 (thematic): John the Baptist calls Jesus 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,' thematically echoing Matthew's claim that Jesus saves people from sin.
- Isaiah 53:4-6 (allusion): The Suffering Servant bears iniquities and is punished for transgressions—background prophecy to Matthew's assertion that the Messiah will remove or bear the people's sins.
- Mark 10:45 (thematic): Jesus 'came not to be served... but to give his life as a ransom for many,' connecting his mission to save others (including from sin) as stated in Matthew 1:21.
Alternative generated candidates
- She will bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
- 'She will bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'
Matt.1.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- ολον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- γεγονεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- πληρωθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ρηθεν: PART,aor,pass,nom,sg,n
- υπο: PREP
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- προφητου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντος·: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 7:14 (quotation): Matthew 1:22 introduces the fulfillment quotation that follows (1:23), which cites Isaiah 7:14's prophecy of a child called Immanuel; the verse grounds Matthew's claim that Jesus' birth fulfills prophetic word.
- Matthew 2:15 (verbal): Uses the same fulfillment formula (ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν) to introduce an Old Testament citation (Hosea 11:1) explaining the return from Egypt as fulfillment of scripture.
- Matthew 2:17-18 (quotation): Matthew explicitly states that the slaughter of the Bethlehem infants 'fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet' (Jeremiah 31:15), paralleling 1:22's use of fulfillment to link events to prophetic texts.
- Matthew 2:23 (allusion): Matthew asserts that Jesus living in Nazareth 'fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets, that he shall be called a Nazarene'—an allusive fulfillment claim rather than a direct single-verse citation, similar in function to 1:22's formulaic introduction to prophecy.
- Matthew 4:14-16 (verbal): Introduces a citation of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:1–2) with the same fulfillment wording ('that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled'), showing Matthew's recurring editorial technique of framing Jesus' life as fulfillment of prophetic scripture.
Alternative generated candidates
- All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
- All this happened to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet.
Matt.1.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ιδου: PART
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- παρθενος: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- γαστρι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εξει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- τεξεται: VERB,fut,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- καλεσουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- Εμμανουηλ·ο: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- μεθερμηνευομενον: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ptc,acc,sg,n
- Μεθ᾽ημων: PREP,gen,pl
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 7:14 (quotation): Matthew directly cites this prophecy (LXX/Hebrew) — 'a virgin shall conceive...' and applies it as fulfilled in Jesus' birth.
- Isaiah 9:6 (thematic): Isaianic announcement of a child's birth with divine/royal titles ('Mighty God,' etc.), thematically connecting the newborn's identity to God's presence and rule.
- Luke 1:26-35 (thematic): The Lucan annunciation describes a virgin conception by the Spirit, paralleling Matthew's virgin-birth motif and fulfillment interpretation.
- John 1:14 (allusion): 'The Word became flesh and dwelt among us' echoes the Emmanual theme—God's presence embodied in Jesus ('God with us').
- Matthew 28:20 (thematic): Jesus' promise 'I am with you always' rearticulates the Emmanuel motif, emphasizing the continuing presence of God with his people.
Alternative generated candidates
- “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” — which means, “God with us.”
- 'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel'—which is translated, 'God with us.'
Matt.1.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εγερθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptcp,nom,m,sg
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιωσηφ: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- υπνου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εποιησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ως: ADV
- προσεταξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αγγελος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- παρελαβεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γυναικα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου·: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matt.1.20-21 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same pericope: an angel appears to Joseph in a dream instructing him to take Mary; verse 1:24 narrates Joseph’s obedient response (he wakes and takes her).
- Matt.2.13-14 (verbal): Closely parallel wording and action: an angel in a dream tells Joseph to 'rise' and 'take' (Greek παρελαβεν) his family; Joseph likewise rises/acts immediately to take the family and depart to Egypt.
- Gen.28:16-19 (thematic): Jacob awakens from a divine dream and 'rises early'—shares the motif of waking from a divine vision/dream and responding to God’s disclosure with decisive action.
- Gen.22:3 (thematic): Abraham 'rose early' to obey God’s command to offer Isaac—a related theme of prompt, unquestioning obedience to divine instruction.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Joseph woke from sleep he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took Mary as his wife,
- When Joseph awoke from sleep he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him: he took Mary as his wife,
Matt.1.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εγινωσκεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- εως: PREP
- ου: PART,neg
- ετεκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- υιον·και: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εκαλεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- Ιησουν: PROPN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 1:31 (verbal): The angel tells Mary she will bear a son and that his name shall be Jesus—same name and announcement as Matthew's naming.
- Luke 2:21 (verbal): Records that the child was named Jesus on the eighth day, paralleling Matthew's statement that Joseph (with Mary) called his name Jesus.
- Matthew 1:23 (quotation): Immediately adjacent in Matthew: cites Isaiah’s prophecy of a virgin bearing a son called Immanuel, linking the virginal birth context to the naming in 1:25.
- Isaiah 7:14 (allusion): Prophecy of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son—background source for Matthew’s virgin-birth language and the significance of the child’s name.
- Luke 1:34 (thematic): Mary’s question to the angel, “How shall this be, since I know not a man?”, thematically parallels Matthew’s note that Joseph did not 'know' Mary prior to the child’s birth (virginal conception).
Alternative generated candidates
- but he had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
- and he knew her not until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus, her firstborn.
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way: after his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
Her husband-to-be, Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel"—which is, when translated, "God with us."
When Joseph woke from sleep he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took Mary as his wife. But he had no marital relations with her until she had borne her firstborn son; and he named him Jesus.