Matthew 1:25 (KJV)

What does Matthew 1:25 mean?

Matthew 1:25 says that Joseph did not have marital relations with Mary until after she gave birth to her firstborn son, and Joseph named the baby Jesus. This verse emphasizes that Jesus’s birth happened before Joseph and Mary lived together as husband and wife in the usual way.

Matthew is narrating the events around Jesus’s birth, specifically addressing Joseph’s actions after the angel’s message. The verse highlights Joseph’s respect for Mary’s unique role and the fulfillment of the angel’s instructions to name the child Jesus, which means “the Lord saves.” This detail sets the stage for the story of Jesus’s early life and identity.

The Greek behind Matthew 1:25

• The word "knew" (ἐγίνωσκεν, ginōskō) is a common Greek way to refer to sexual relations. Matthew uses it to make clear that Joseph and Mary did not have such relations before Jesus was born.
• The phrase "till" (ἕως, heōs) often means "up to the point when," showing that Joseph waited until after the birth. The focus is on what happened before Jesus’s birth, not necessarily on what happened later.
• "Firstborn" (πρωτότοκον, prōtotokon) means the first child born to Mary, which was a significant term in Jewish culture, often tied to inheritance and special status.
• "Jesus" (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous) is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning "the Lord saves," connecting to the angel’s earlier message about Jesus’s purpose.

Why Matthew 1:25 matters

• This verse clarifies that Jesus’s birth was unique and not the result of a normal marital relationship, supporting the earlier claim of a miraculous conception.
• By mentioning Joseph naming Jesus, Matthew shows Joseph’s acceptance of Jesus as his legal son, which is important for Jesus’s place in David’s lineage.
• The careful wording addresses questions about Mary’s status at Jesus’s birth and sets up the narrative for Jesus’s special identity and mission.