(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
Ram was the father of `Amminadav, `Amminadav was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmon,
Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.
and Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon; and Nahshon begat Salmon;
And{G1161} Aram{G689} begat{G1080} Aminadab{G284}; and{G1161} Aminadab{G284} begat{G1080} Naasson{G3476}; and{G1161} Naasson{G3476} begat{G1080} Salmon{G4533};
Matthew 1:4 is a verse from the opening chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, which begins the New Testament. This verse is part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing His lineage from Abraham through King David and eventually to Joseph, the husband of Mary, Jesus' mother. The verse specifically mentions the line of descent from Aram to Salmon, with Aminadab and Naasson as the intermediate generations.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the Jewish tradition of carefully recording family lineage, which was particularly important for establishing one's place in the nation of Israel and one's relationship to the promises God made to Abraham and David. Aram, Aminadab, Naasson, and Salmon are figures whose historical significance is not detailed in this verse but is situated within the broader narrative of the Hebrew people. Aminadab, for example, is mentioned in the Old Testament as a leader of the tribe of Judah (Numbers 1:7; 2:3), and Salmon is an ancestor of David (Ruth 4:20-21).
The theme of this verse, and the genealogy as a whole, underscores the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the Messiah. It connects Jesus to the storied history of Israel, emphasizing His Jewish heritage and His legitimate claim to the throne of David, as foretold in Old Testament prophecies. It also illustrates God's providential work through history, guiding the lineage of the Savior according to His divine plan.
In essence, Matthew 1:4 serves as a link in the chain of Jesus' earthly ancestry, demonstrating that He is a direct descendant of the royal line of David and the culmination of the promises made to the patriarchs of Israel. This genealogical record is foundational to the Christian understanding of Jesus as the promised Messiah, who was born into a specific historical and familial context to fulfill the Scriptures.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)