MAT 1:18-25

The Birth of Jesus

18Now the origin of Jesus the Anointed was this: His mother Mary, having been pledged in betrothal to Joseph, before they came together was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

19But Joseph her husband, being righteous and not willing to disgrace her publicly, intended to release her quietly.

20But as he was deliberating on these things, behold, a messenger of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

22Now all this came about so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying:

23"Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel" — which is translated, God with us.

24And Joseph, having risen from sleep, did as the messenger of the Lord commanded him and took his wife,

25and he was not knowing her until she bore a son; and he called his name Jesus.

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish culture, betrothal was a legally binding agreement, akin to marriage, though the couple did not yet live together. Joseph, described as (righteous), was not merely morally upright but observant of Torah, which required him to act with integrity in this situation. Discovering Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph faced a dilemma: Torah permitted divorce for unfaithfulness (Deut 24:1), but public exposure would bring shame and severe consequences for Mary, possibly even death under strict interpretations of the law. Joseph’s decision to divorce her quietly reflects both his adherence to Torah and his compassion. The appearance of an angel in a dream, a common motif in Jewish tradition for divine communication, reassures Joseph that Mary’s pregnancy is from the Holy Spirit, aligning with Jewish expectations of God’s miraculous intervention. The naming of the child as Jesus (Yeshua, meaning 'Yahweh saves') underscores His role in fulfilling Jewish messianic hopes.

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How other translations render this

MAT 1:18

KJV: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
BSB: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Koinōnos: Now the origin of Jesus the Anointed was this: His mother Mary, having been pledged in betrothal to Joseph, before they came together was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

MAT 1:19

KJV: Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
BSB: Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
Koinōnos: But Joseph her husband, being righteous and not willing to disgrace her publicly, intended to release her quietly.

MAT 1:20

KJV: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
BSB: But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Koinōnos: But as he was deliberating on these things, behold, a messenger of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

MAT 1:21

KJV: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
BSB: She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Koinōnos: She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

MAT 1:22

KJV: Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
BSB: All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Koinōnos: Now all this came about so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying:

MAT 1:23

KJV: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
BSB: “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
Koinōnos: Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel" — which is translated, God with us.

MAT 1:24

KJV: Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
BSB: When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife.
Koinōnos: And Joseph, having risen from sleep, did as the messenger of the Lord commanded him and took his wife,

MAT 1:25

KJV: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
BSB: But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
Koinōnos: and he was not knowing her until she bore a son; and he called his name Jesus.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 1:18

At the pledging:The word translated 'at the pledging' refers to the formal betrothal period, which in 1st-century Jewish culture was legally binding and considered the first stage of marriage, even before the couple lived together.

MAT 1:19

righteous:The term translated 'righteous' here implies adherence to God's laws and covenant, encompassing both moral uprightness and proper conduct within the community.
to disgrace,:The word translated 'to disgrace' suggests making a public example of someone, bringing shame and public exposure to their situation.

MAT 1:25

he was knowing:The phrase 'he was knowing' uses a verb that can imply intimate, experiential knowledge, often used in the Bible to describe sexual relations.