Matthew 1:10

And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

And {G1161} Ezekias {G1478} begat {G1080} Manasses {G3128}; and {G1161} Manasses {G3128} begat {G1080} Amon {G300}; and {G1161} Amon {G300} begat {G1080} Josias {G2502};

Hizkiyahu was the father of M'nasheh, M'nasheh was the father of Amon, Amon was the father of Yoshiyahu,

Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

and Hezekiah begat Manasseh; and Manasseh begat Amon; and Amon begat Josiah;

Commentary

Matthew 1:10 continues the vital genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing His lineage through the royal line of Judah. The King James Version (KJV) presents these names as "Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias." This verse connects three significant kings of Judah: Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah, highlighting the continuity of the Davidic royal line, crucial for establishing Jesus’ claim as the Messiah.

Context

This verse is part of the opening section of Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 1:1-17), which meticulously details the ancestry of Jesus from Abraham through David, down to Joseph, the legal father of Jesus. Matthew's primary audience was Jewish, and presenting this genealogy was essential to demonstrate Jesus' legitimate claim to the throne of David and His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Verse 10 specifically lists kings from the period leading up to the Babylonian exile, showcasing God's continued work through diverse rulers.

Key Figures and Historical Significance

  • Ezekias (Hezekiah): Hezekiah was one of Judah's most righteous kings, renowned for his faithfulness to God and his extensive religious reforms, purging idolatry from the land. He notably trusted in the Lord during the Assyrian invasion, and God miraculously delivered Jerusalem. His reign is detailed in 2 Kings 18-20 and 2 Chronicles 29-32.
  • Manasses (Manasseh): Son of Hezekiah, Manasseh is tragically remembered as Judah's most wicked king. He reversed his father's reforms, reinstituting idolatry, child sacrifice, and shedding much innocent blood (2 Kings 21:1-18). However, the Book of Chronicles records his extraordinary repentance while imprisoned by the Assyrians, demonstrating God's immense grace and willingness to forgive even profound sin.
  • Amon: Manasseh's son, Amon continued his father's initial wicked ways, refusing to humble himself before the Lord. He reigned for only two years before being assassinated by his own servants (2 Kings 21:19-26).
  • Josias (Josiah): Amon's son, Josiah was another exceptionally righteous king, known for his zealous reforms and the rediscovery of the Book of the Law in the Temple (2 Kings 22:8). His reign marked a significant spiritual revival in Judah, though it was ultimately too late to prevent the coming judgment of exile.

Key Themes

  • God's Unwavering Sovereignty: This verse beautifully illustrates God's ability to work through imperfect, and even profoundly wicked, human instruments to accomplish His divine purposes. The Messianic line continued despite the moral failings of some of its members.
  • The Nature of the Davidic Covenant: The inclusion of both righteous and unrighteous kings underscores that God's promise to David was unconditional and would be fulfilled through His steadfast faithfulness, not solely based on human merit.
  • Grace and Repentance: Manasseh's story, though not fully detailed in Matthew, serves as a powerful testament to the availability of God's abundant grace and the transformative power of genuine repentance.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the Greek forms of the Hebrew names: "Ezekias" for Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ, Ḥizqiyyāhū), "Manasses" for Manasseh (מְנַשֶּׁה, Menaššeh), and "Josias" for Josiah (יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, Yoʾšiyyāhū). The phrase "begat" (Greek: ἐγέννησεν, egennēsen) simply means "was the father of," indicating direct paternal lineage.

Practical Application

Matthew 1:10 reminds us that God's plan is not thwarted by human sin or inconsistency. Even amidst periods of spiritual decline and moral failure, God remains faithful to His promises. This lineage teaches us that God works through real people with real flaws, demonstrating His redemptive power across generations. It encourages us that our own imperfections do not disqualify us from being part of God's grand narrative, and that His grace is sufficient even for the most profound repentance.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 32:33

    And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

  • 2 Chronicles 35:27

    And his deeds, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

  • 2 Kings 20:21

    And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

  • 2 Kings 23:30

    And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.

  • 1 Kings 13:2

    And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.

  • Jeremiah 1:2

    To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

  • Jeremiah 1:3

    It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
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