Matthew 1:3

And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

And {G1161} Judas {G2455} begat {G1080} Phares {G5329} and {G2532} Zara {G2196} of {G1537} Thamar {G2283}; and {G1161} Phares {G5329} begat {G1080} Esrom {G2074}; and {G1161} Esrom {G2074} begat {G1080} Aram {G689};

Y'hudah was the father of Peretz and Zerach (their mother was Tamar), Peretz was the father of Hetzron, Hetzron was the father of Ram,

Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.

and Judah begat Perez and Zerah of Tamar; and Perez begat Hezron; and Hezron begat Ram;

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 1:3 (KJV)

Matthew 1:3 is a key verse in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, found at the very beginning of the Gospel of Matthew. This verse continues the lineage from Judah, one of Jacob's twelve sons, through his descendants Phares (Perez) and Zara (Zerah), born of Thamar (Tamar), down to Esrom (Hezron) and Aram (Ram).

Historical and Cultural Context

Genealogies were profoundly important in ancient Israelite culture, serving to establish identity, inheritance rights, and, crucially, legitimacy for claims to tribal leadership or the Davidic throne. Matthew's Gospel, written primarily for a Jewish audience, begins with this detailed lineage to underscore Jesus' rightful claim as the Messiah, the promised King from the line of David and Abraham. The inclusion of women in a patriarchal genealogy was unusual, and Matthew's specific choices—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Urias (Bathsheba)—are particularly noteworthy. These women often had complex or controversial pasts, or were Gentiles, highlighting a broader message of God's inclusive grace.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty in Human History: This verse, like the entire genealogy, demonstrates God's meticulous and sovereign plan unfolding through generations, even through imperfect human choices and circumstances. His divine purpose for the Messiah's arrival was being meticulously prepared.
  • Inclusion and Grace: The mention of Thamar (Tamar) is significant. Her story in Genesis 38 involves deception and scandal, yet she is part of the Messianic line. Her inclusion, along with other women in the genealogy, foreshadows the radical inclusivity of the Gospel—that God uses all kinds of people, regardless of their past or origin, and that salvation is for both Jew and Gentile.
  • Messianic Lineage: By carefully tracing Jesus' ancestry through Judah, Phares, Esrom, and Aram, Matthew reinforces Jesus' legitimate connection to the tribal patriarchs and, ultimately, to King David, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's lineage. This lineage is vital for understanding Jesus' identity as the Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The repeated Greek word translated as "begat" is egennesen (ἐγέννησεν), meaning "fathered" or "became the father of." This simple, repetitive structure is characteristic of biblical genealogies, emphasizing the direct, unbroken line of descent. The names themselves—Judas (Judah), Phares (Perez), Zara (Zerah), Thamar (Tamar), Esrom (Hezron), Aram (Ram)—are transliterations of Hebrew names, connecting directly to the Old Testament narrative, particularly Genesis 46:12 and Ruth 4:18-22, which further detail this specific branch of the family tree.

Practical Application

Matthew 1:3 offers profound comfort and insight for believers today:

  • God Uses Imperfect People: The presence of figures like Tamar in Jesus' lineage reminds us that God works through real people with real flaws and complicated histories. Our past or perceived unworthiness does not disqualify us from being part of God's greater plan.
  • God's Unfolding Plan: This verse encourages us to trust in God's long-term purposes. Even through seemingly insignificant or scandalous events, God is faithfully working to bring about His perfect will, culminating in the person of Jesus Christ.
  • The Broadness of God's Grace: The genealogy, particularly the inclusion of non-Israelite women and those with irregular stories, underscores that God's grace extends beyond traditional boundaries, offering salvation to all who believe, regardless of background. This truth is central to the entire Gospel message, as seen in John 3:16.
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

  • Genesis 38:29 (5 votes)

    And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? [this] breach [be] upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

  • Genesis 38:30 (5 votes)

    And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

  • Genesis 46:12 (5 votes)

    And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

  • 1 Chronicles 4:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.

  • Ruth 4:18 (3 votes)

    Now these [are] the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,

  • Ruth 4:22 (3 votes)

    And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

  • Genesis 38:24 (3 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she [is] with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.