It's easy to overlook that by naming Tamar, Matthew highlights someone who, despite a scandalous past, acted bravely to preserve Judah's lineage. This choice isn't about simply listing names; it's a deliberate inclusion that foreshadows Christ's mission to bring redemption even through those with questionable histories.
and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Matthew begins the genealogy of Jesus by tracing his lineage through David back to Abraham, laying the groundwork for Jesus' messianic claims. This particular verse highlights Judah, father of twins Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and then continues the line through Perez, emphasizing unusual figures like Tamar whose story involved scandal but was crucial for preserving Judah's line. This sets the stage for other potentially problematic ancestors like Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, suggesting Matthew intentionally includes them to demonstrate Christ’s mission to save all people, regardless of their past or background.
Why would Matthew include women in Jesus' genealogy, especially those with questionable pasts? It's not just a list of names; it's a powerful message.
It was uncommon for women's names to be listed in Jewish genealogies. Yet, Matthew highlights Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba (though only Tamar appears in this specific verse). The inclusion of these women, particularly Tamar with her scandalous story, is intentional.
A Message of Grace
These women weren't chosen for their perfect résumés. Tamar’s story involves deception and incestuous relations with her father-in-law, Judah. Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute, and Bathsheba was involved in adultery and murder. Their presence isn't an oversight; it's a deliberate theological statement.
Matthew, a tax collector himself, is laying the groundwork for Jesus’ mission: to seek and save the lost. By tracing Jesus’ lineage through individuals who were marginalized, foreign, or sinful, Matthew declares that Jesus came for everyone, no matter their background or past mistakes. It’s a radical announcement of God’s inclusive grace.
Tamar's name appears connected to Judah, but her story is anything but ordinary. What makes her inclusion so crucial for Jesus' lineage?
The mention of 'Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar' immediately signals a story of divine intervention within human sin. Tamar’s narrative, found in Genesis 38, is complex and unsettling.
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Preserving a Lineage
After her first two husbands (Judah’s sons) died without children, Tamar was left a childless widow. Judah failed to give her his third son, Shelah, as required by levirate marriage law. In a daring act of desperation to secure her future and fulfill her duty, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and conceived twins, Perez and Zerah, by Judah himself.
Divine Purpose in Imperfection
Though her actions were morally ambiguous and involved incest, God’s sovereign hand was at work. Perez, the twin who emerged first, was a direct ancestor of Jesus. This highlights a profound truth: God can work through flawed human choices and difficult circumstances to bring about His redemptive plan. Jesus’ lineage wasn’t built on perfection but on God’s persistent faithfulness, even when people failed.
Understand the original words
Rachab · Greek Noun
A Canaanite woman from Jericho who hid the Israelite spies. Her inclusion in the lineage of the Messiah highlights God's grace in incorporating Gentiles and those with complicated histories into the redemptive plan.
Routh · Greek Noun
A Moabite widow who demonstrated remarkable loyalty to her mother-in-law and faith in the God of Israel. Her story illustrates that the blessings of the covenant are available to those outside of ethnic Israel who choose to trust in the Lord.
David · Hebrew Proper Noun
A king of Israel chosen by God to establish a royal lineage, representing the ideal monarchical figure from whom the Messiah would descend. He is central to the covenantal promises made regarding the eternal kingdom.
basileus · Greek Noun
A supreme ruler of a nation or kingdom, often holding ultimate authority; in the biblical context, it refers to one who rules under the ultimate sovereignty of God, or the title given to the promised Messiah.
gennaō · Greek Verb
The act or state of bringing forth offspring; in a genealogy, it marks the transmission of biological life, but also serves to confirm legal inheritance and the fulfillment of ancestral promises.
Matthew's inclusion of Tamar, a figure from a morally complex ancient narrative, highlights Christ's mission to embrace all people, regardless of their past or perceived status, and demonstrates God's sovereign work even through difficult circumstances.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Judah and Tamar's story
The story of Judah and Tamar, involving deception and the birth of twins Perez and Zerah, is recounted in Genesis 38. This event occurred during the patriarchal period.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Dynasty Established
King David establishes his dynasty, a lineage from which Jesus would later be traced. This period marks a significant point in the Messianic line.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many Israelites. This event underscores the ongoing struggles and scattering of God's people.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah, including Jerusalem, is conquered by the Babylonians, leading to the exile of its people. This marks a major disruption in Jewish history and national identity.
c. 450 BC
Post-Exilic Period and Temple Reconstruction
Following their return from Babylonian exile, the Jewish people, under leaders like Zerubbabel, begin to rebuild the Temple and re-establish their community. This period sees a restoration of Jewish life and governance.
This passage details the scandalous events involving Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar, from which Pharez and Zerah were born, providing the immediate backstory for their inclusion in the genealogy.
Ruth 4:18-22This genealogy shows the line from Perez down to David, highlighting how Tamar's lineage, though scandalous, was essential for the eventual birth of King David.
1 Chronicles 2:1-15This passage also lists descendants of Judah, including Perez and Hezron, and offers a slightly different perspective on the lineage leading up to David, providing further context for these ancestral names.
Matthew 21:42Jesus quotes Psalm 118, referring to Himself as the stone rejected by the builders, which echoes the theme of unexpected or unlikely individuals (like those in this genealogy) being chosen and ultimately fulfilling God's plan.
Romans 9:10-16Paul discusses God's sovereign choice, using the example of Jacob and Esau, which resonates with how God can choose individuals and lines of descent, even through difficult circumstances, for His purposes, mirroring the inclusion of Tamar in Jesus' line.
bensonMatthew 1:3: "And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;"
Matthew 1:3 . And Judas begat Phares and Zara — Some have observed that these sons of Judah are mentioned together because they were twins born at the same time: but if this had been a reason for assigning Zara the honour of being named in this genealogy, Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, ought to have obtained it likewise. He seems rather to be mentioned to prevent any mistake. For if he had…
clarkeMatthew 1:3: "And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;"
Phares and Zara - The remarkable history of these twins may be seen, Genesis 38 :Some of the ancients were of opinion, that the evangelist refers to the mystery of the youngest being preferred to the eldest, as prefiguring the exaltation of the Christian Church over the synagogue. Concerning the women whose names are recorded in this genealogy, see the note at the end of the chapter, ( Matthe…
It's easy to overlook that by naming Tamar, Matthew highlights someone who, despite a scandalous past, acted bravely to preserve Judah's lineage. This choice isn't about simply listing names; it's a deliberate inclusion that foreshadows Christ's mission to bring redemption even through those with questionable histories.
Matthew begins the genealogy of Jesus by tracing his lineage through David back to Abraham, laying the groundwork for Jesus' messianic claims. This particular verse highlights Judah, father of twins Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and then continues the line through Perez, emphasizing unusual figures like Tamar whose story involved scandal but was crucial for preserving Judah's line. This sets the stage for other potentially problematic ancestors like Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, suggesting Matthew intentionally includes them to demonstrate Christ’s mission to save all people, regardless of their past or background.
Matthew begins the genealogy of Jesus by tracing his lineage through David back to Abraham, laying the groundwork for Jesus' messianic claims. This particular verse highlights Judah, father of twins Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and then continues the line through Perez, emphasizing unusual figures like Tamar whose story involved scandal but was crucial for preserving Judah's line. This sets the stage for other potentially problematic ancestors like Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, suggesting Matthew intentionally includes them to demonstrate Christ’s mission to save all people, regardless of their past or background.
"and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father o…" — It's easy to overlook that by naming Tamar, Matthew highlights someone who, despite a scandalous past, acted bravely to preserve Judah's lineage. This choice isn't about simply listing names; it's a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
