Devine Scripture

Matthew 1:18

What does Matthew 1:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 1:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 1:18 means

This verse transitions from the genealogy to the narrative of Jesus' birth. It establishes that Mary was betrothed to Joseph, a legally binding engagement, but before they were married and lived together, she was found to be pregnant. The crucial detail is that her pregnancy was "of the Holy Spirit." This immediately alerts the reader to the supernatural nature of Jesus' conception, explicitly ruling out natural parentage and setting the stage for the miraculous event of the virgin birth, central to Christian doctrine.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: when his mother Mary was going to be married to Joseph, before they came together the discovery was made that she was with child by the Holy Spirit.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And of Jesus Christ, the birth was thus: For his mother Mary having been betrothed to Joseph, before their coming together she was found to have conceived from the Holy Spirit,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: His mother, Mary, that is, having been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of [the] Holy Spirit.

Context

This verse marks a dramatic shift in the chapter, moving from the long list of ancestors to the immediate circumstances of Jesus' birth. It initiates the second main section of the chapter, focusing on the virgin conception. This detail directly follows and explains the unique phrasing in verse 16 regarding Mary, creating immediate intrigue and leading directly into Joseph's dilemma and the angelic intervention.

v.17So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations; and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations.

v.18This passage

v.19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 1:27

    to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

  • Job 15:14

    What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

  • Luke 1:25

    Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

  • Hebrews 7:26

    For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

  • Genesis 3:15

    and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

  • Hebrews 10:5

    Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;

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