The angel's opening address, "Joseph, son of David," is more than just a friendly greeting; it's a crucial reminder of Joseph's royal lineage and his role in God's unfolding plan. This title aims to prepare Joseph for the extraordinary news, connecting the miraculous birth to the ancient promises given to King David.
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joseph is grappling with the bewildering news that his betrothed, Mary, is pregnant, despite their not having yet lived together as husband and wife. Unsure how to proceed and wrestling with the implications of this situation according to Jewish law, he is considering quietly divorcing her. This internal struggle is interrupted by a direct divine intervention.
Imagine Joseph's world turning upside down. He's engaged to Mary, and suddenly she's pregnant. What would you do in his shoes?
Matthew 1:20 opens with Joseph 'considering these things.' This wasn't a snap decision.
A Heart of Justice
Joseph was known as a 'just man' (Matthew 1:19). This means he valued righteousness and obedience to God's law. If Mary's pregnancy was due to infidelity, the law demanded severe consequences. Yet, he also loved Mary and didn't want to disgrace her publicly.
The Wisdom of Waiting
His deliberation, described as 'thinking on these things,' shows a profound respect for both God's law and human dignity. He wasn't acting rashly. God honors such thoughtfulness. As Barnes notes, 'God will guide the thoughtful and the anxious.' This pause allowed God to intervene and provide clarity.
In Joseph's moment of deep uncertainty, heaven itself intervenes. But how and why?
The angel's appearance in a dream is significant.
A Timely Intervention
As Calvin points out, God often intervenes 'at the very point' when His people are struggling. Joseph was on the verge of making a decision that, while legally permissible, would have brought shame upon Mary. The dream came just in time to prevent this.
God's Chosen Method
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Dreams were a recognized way God communicated His will in Old Testament times (Numbers 12:6). While we must be cautious about interpreting our own dreams, this divine dream served a specific purpose for Joseph and the unfolding of God's plan. It provided irrefutable clarity and divine authority for his next steps. As Poole states, 'By dreams was one way by which God revealed his mind to people formerly.'
Addressing Joseph Directly
The angel's address, 'Joseph, son of David,' connects him to the Messianic lineage. This reminds Joseph of the greater plan at play and prepares him to accept this miraculous news.
Mary's pregnancy presented a profound challenge to Joseph's understanding of purity and faithfulness. How does the angel reframe this?
The core of the angel's message is about the divine origin of the child.
Beyond Human Understanding
The angel declares, 'for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.' This is the pivotal truth that dispels Joseph's fears and reorients his understanding. It's not an ordinary conception; it's a divine act.
A New Creation
As Clarke suggests, Jesus' human nature was a 'real creation... by the power of the Holy Spirit.' This wasn't simply a human child conceived through normal means. The Holy Spirit's power brought about a unique, pure conception, setting this child apart. This is why Joseph, despite his initial distress, is told not to 'fear to take Mary as your wife' – her purity in this matter is divinely guaranteed.
Removing Suspicion
The angel's explanation directly addresses Joseph's likely suspicions of infidelity. By affirming the Holy Spirit's involvement, the divine message removes any grounds for accusation or shame, allowing Joseph to embrace his role in God's plan.
Understand the original words
angelos · Greek Noun
A celestial messenger sent by God to deliver His message to humanity. Angels act as ministers of God's will and are frequently involved in the pivotal events of redemptive history.
hyios Dauid · Greek Noun phrase
A biological and covenantal designation highlighting Joseph's lineage as a descendant of the great King of Israel, establishing the legal line of succession for the Messiah through Joseph.
c. 2 BC - 1 BC
Annunciation to Mary
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary in Nazareth to announce that she will conceive a son by the Holy Spirit, who will be the Son of God. Mary responds with humble obedience.
c. 2 BC - 1 BC— this verse
Annunciation to Joseph
Joseph, betrothed to Mary, learns of her pregnancy and considers divorcing her privately, not fully understanding the divine nature of the conception. An angel appears to him in a dream, reassuring him not to fear taking Mary as his wife because the child is from the Holy Spirit.
c. 1 BC
Joseph and Mary Travel to Bethlehem
Joseph and a pregnant Mary travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, his ancestral town, to register for a census ordered by Caesar Augustus.
c. 1 BC
Birth of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Due to lack of lodging, Mary gives birth in a stable, and the infant Jesus is laid in a manger.
c. 1 BC
Visit of the Shepherds
Angels announce the birth of Jesus to shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. The shepherds then go to see the newborn child.
c. 1 AD
Visit of the Magi
Wise men from the East, guided by a star, arrive in Jerusalem seeking the newborn King of the Jews. They travel to Bethlehem and offer Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
c. 1 AD
Flight to Egypt
Warned in a dream, Joseph takes Mary and the infant Jesus to Egypt to escape King Herod's murderous decree against male infants in Bethlehem.
This passage directly echoes the angel's message to Joseph, explaining that the Holy Spirit will come upon Mary and the power of the Most High will overshadow her, which is why the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. It clarifies the divine origin of the conception Joseph is struggling with.
Isaiah 7:14The angel's announcement to Joseph is a direct fulfillment of this prophecy. The prophecy foretells that a virgin will conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, God with us, directly addressing the miraculous nature of Mary's pregnancy.
Genesis 3:15This 'first gospel' promises a 'seed of the woman' who will crush the serpent's head. The conception of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, as revealed to Joseph, is the pivotal event that initiates the fulfillment of this ancient promise of redemption.
Matthew 2:13Similar to the divine intervention in Joseph's dilemma, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream again, this time instructing him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the child. This shows a pattern of God using dreams and angelic messages to guide Joseph in protecting Jesus.
Numbers 12:6This verse describes God's method of revealing His will through dreams and visions to prophets. The angel's appearance to Joseph in a dream aligns with this Old Testament pattern of divine communication, validating the message Joseph received.
barnesMatthew 1:20: "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."
He thought on these things - He did not act hastily. He did not take the course which the law would have permitted him to do, if he had been hasty, violent, or unjust. It was a case deeply affecting his happiness, his character, and the reputation and…
clarkeMatthew 1:20: "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."
That which is conceived (or formed) in her - So I think γεννηθεν should be translated in this place: as it appears that the human nature of Jesus Christ was a real creation in the womb of the virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The angel of the L…
The angel's opening address, "Joseph, son of David," is more than just a friendly greeting; it's a crucial reminder of Joseph's royal lineage and his role in God's unfolding plan. This title aims to prepare Joseph for the extraordinary news, connecting the miraculous birth to the ancient promises given to King David.
Joseph is grappling with the bewildering news that his betrothed, Mary, is pregnant, despite their not having yet lived together as husband and wife. Unsure how to proceed and wrestling with the implications of this situation according to Jewish law, he is considering quietly divorcing her. This internal struggle is interrupted by a direct divine intervention.
Joseph is grappling with the bewildering news that his betrothed, Mary, is pregnant, despite their not having yet lived together as husband and wife. Unsure how to proceed and wrestling with the implications of this situation according to Jewish law, he is considering quietly divorcing her. This internal struggle is interrupted by a direct divine intervention.
"But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." — The angel's opening address, "Joseph, son of David," is more than just a friendly greeting; it's a crucial reminder of Joseph's royal lineage and his role in God's unfolding plan. This title aims to…
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Last reviewed October 2026
