Matthew 1:13 (KJV)

What does Matthew 1:13 mean?

Matthew 1:13 lists part of Jesus’ family line, stating that Zorobabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud was the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim was the father of Azor. This verse continues the genealogy that traces Jesus’ ancestry through several generations.

Matthew, writing to a Jewish audience, is carefully recording the lineage from the Old Testament figure Zorobabel (also known as Zerubbabel) down to Azor. This genealogy is important in Matthew’s Gospel because it connects Jesus to key figures in Israel’s history, showing that Jesus comes from the line of David and Abraham, which fulfills Jewish expectations about the Messiah.

The Greek behind Matthew 1:13

• The word "begat" (ἐγέννησεν, egennēsen) is used repeatedly and means "became the father of" or "fathered." In Greek, this word often emphasizes a direct line of descent, which is important for establishing legitimate ancestry.
• The names Zorobabel (Ζοροβαβὲλ, Zorobabel), Abiud (Ἀβιούδ, Abioud), Eliakim (Ἐλιακίμ, Eliakim), and Azor (Ἀζώρ, Azor) are transliterated from Hebrew names, showing the continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament genealogies.

Why Matthew 1:13 matters

• This verse helps clarify that Matthew is intentionally tracing Jesus’ legal lineage, not just listing random ancestors, which was important for Jewish readers who cared about tribal and family lines.
• By including figures like Zorobabel, Matthew connects Jesus to the period after the Babylonian exile, showing that God’s promises continued even through difficult times in Israel’s history.
• The genealogy as a whole, including this verse, sets up Matthew’s claim that Jesus is the promised Messiah by rooting Him firmly in Israel’s story.