Matthew 1:21 (KJV)

What does Matthew 1:21 mean?

Matthew 1:21 says that Mary will have a son, and Joseph is to name him Jesus, because this child will save his people from their sins. The verse directly connects the name "Jesus" with his role as a savior from sin.

In this scene, an angel is speaking to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him about Mary's pregnancy. The angel gives Joseph both the name he must use—Jesus—and the reason for it, tying Jesus’s identity to his mission. The verse highlights that Jesus’s purpose is not just to be born, but specifically to bring rescue from sin for his people.

The Greek behind Matthew 1:21

• Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous): This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name "Yeshua" (Joshua), meaning "Yahweh saves" or "the Lord is salvation." The angel’s instruction to name the child Jesus is directly linked to his saving role.
• σώσει (sōsei): This word means "he will save" and is a form of the verb that often carries the sense of rescuing or delivering. The focus here is on Jesus as a deliverer, not just from trouble, but specifically from sins.
• ἁμαρτιῶν (hamartiōn): This is the word for "sins." The verse is clear that the salvation Jesus brings is not political or military, but spiritual—rescue from the problem of sin.

Why Matthew 1:21 matters

• Matthew 1:21 clarifies that the main purpose of Jesus’s coming is to address the problem of sin, not just to be a great teacher or leader.
• The verse shows that the name "Jesus" is not random, but is chosen because it matches his mission of salvation.
• This verse sets the tone for the rest of Matthew’s Gospel, introducing Jesus as the one who fulfills God’s promise to save his people, connecting the story to the larger biblical theme of deliverance.