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)
What's striking here are the two foreign women, Rahab and Ruth, woven into Jesus' lineage. Their inclusion, despite their Gentile backgrounds and, in Rahab's case, a questionable past, highlights God's surprising grace and how He includes unexpected people in His grand plan.
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)
This verse continues the genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage through David back to Abraham. It highlights the inclusion of women who were not Israelites by birth, specifically Rahab, a Canaanite, and Ruth, a Moabite, demonstrating God's unfolding plan to bring salvation to all nations. The mention of these women, who came from outside the covenant people, emphasizes the extraordinary grace woven into Jesus' family tree.
Did you notice Rahab and Ruth in Jesus' family tree? These women weren't exactly the picture of perfect piety according to the world's standards.
Matthew's genealogy isn't just a dry list of names; it's a testament to God's incredible grace.
Rahab: The Foreigner Turned Forefather
Rahab, a Canaanite woman from Jericho, was known for her profession as a prostitute. Yet, she showed faith by hiding the Israelite spies and aiding their escape. Her act of courage and belief led to her inclusion in this royal line, demonstrating that God's redemptive plan transcends nationality and past mistakes.
Ruth: The Gentile Bride
Ruth, a Moabite woman, was an outsider by birth and tradition. After her husband's death, she famously declared her loyalty to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, and to Naomi's God. Her devotion and faithfulness, even when facing potential social exclusion, paved the way for her to be part of David's lineage and, ultimately, Jesus'.
These women remind us that God doesn't choose based on perfect resumes but on faith, faithfulness, and His sovereign purpose.
How could Salmon, Boaz, Obed, and Jesse be so old when their sons were born? It’s a question that makes you pause and think about time and God's faithfulness.
This genealogy spans a significant amount of time, and the number of generations listed between key figures like Salmon and Jesse seems sparse. This leads to the natural question: how did they live long enough to have children at such advanced ages?
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Generational Longevity
Ancient Near Eastern cultures, and particularly in the biblical narratives, often feature individuals with remarkably long lifespans. Figures like Moses (120 years) and Caleb (85 and still strong) illustrate this. The text suggests that Salmon, Boaz, and Obed may have lived unusually long lives, possibly due to their piety and God's blessing, enabling them to father sons later in life.
God's Unfolding Plan
More importantly, these extended generations emphasize God's patient and deliberate unfolding of His redemptive plan. Despite the seemingly slow pace and the inclusion of unexpected individuals, God was meticulously weaving together the tapestry of history, ensuring that His promises to Abraham and David would be fulfilled through the lineage of Jesus.
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 genealogy doesn't shy away from including women like Rahab and Ruth, foreigners and widows, highlighting God's powerful work of inclusion and redemption even through unexpected individuals and circumstances.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Conquer Jericho
The Israelite army, led by Joshua, successfully conquers the city of Jericho. Rahab, a Canaanite woman, hides Israelite spies and is saved along with her family during the city's destruction.
c. 1390 BC— this verse
Rahab Marries Salmon
Rahab, after the fall of Jericho and Israel's settlement in Canaan, marries Salmon, a descendant of Judah and a prominent figure in his tribe. This union integrates her into the Israelite lineage.
c. 1360 BC
Boaz is Born
Boaz, son of Salmon and Rahab, is born in Bethlehem. He will later become a significant landowner and a central figure in the Book of Ruth.
c. 1320 BC
Ruth the Moabite Arrives in Bethlehem
Ruth, a Moabite widow, accompanies her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem after the death of her husband and brother-in-law. She begins to glean in the fields of Boaz.
c. 1319 BC
Boaz Marries Ruth
Boaz, acting as kinsman-redeemer, marries Ruth the Moabite according to custom. This union, though unusual given Ruth's foreign origin, is accepted and blessed.
c. 1318 BC
Obed is Born
Obed, son of Boaz and Ruth, is born in Bethlehem. His birth is seen as a continuation of God's promise and lineage through David.
c. 1280 BC
Jesse is Born
Jesse, son of Obed, is born. He will later become the father of King David, further cementing this line within Israel's history.
This passage details the marriage of Boaz and Ruth, leading to the birth of Obed, directly continuing the lineage presented in Matthew 1:5 and highlighting the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through unexpected individuals.
Hebrews 11:31This verse mentions Rahab's faith, linking her to the salvation of the spies and, by extension, her inclusion in the lineage of Jesus, underscoring God's grace in bringing unlikely people into His purposes.
Joshua 2:1-21This chapter recounts Rahab's courageous act of hiding the Israelite spies, which directly led to her deliverance and subsequent marriage into the lineage of David and Jesus.
1 Samuel 17:12This verse introduces Jesse as the father of David, placing Obed and Jesse in their context within the history of Israel and setting the stage for the Messianic line to emerge.
Matthew 1:16This verse marks the end of the patriarchal genealogy in Matthew, directly connecting Joseph (and by extension Mary) to the lineage established in verse 5, emphasizing Jesus' legal claim to the Davidic throne.
bensonMatthew 1:5: "And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;"
Matthew 1:5. Salmon begat Booz of Rachab — Viz., after their settlement in Canaan. It is not exact said that this woman was Rahab of Jericho, commonly called the harlot, but it is highly probable she was; for that Rahab was contemporary with Salmon, and a remarkable person, and there was no other of that name, especially of that age, of whom the compiler of the table could possibly suppose his rea…
meyerMatthew 1:5: "And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;"
Matthew 1:5 . Boaz is also called, in Ruth 4:21 and 1 Chronicles 2:11 , son of Salma; but his mother Rahab is not mentioned. The author without doubt drew from a tradition which was then current, and presupposed as known (according to Ewald it was apocryphal), which gave Salma as a wife to her who had risen to honour by her conduct in. Jericho ( Hebrews 11:31 ; Jam 2:25 ). The difficulties which,…
What's striking here are the two foreign women, Rahab and Ruth, woven into Jesus' lineage. Their inclusion, despite their Gentile backgrounds and, in Rahab's case, a questionable past, highlights God's surprising grace and how He includes unexpected people in His grand plan.
This verse continues the genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage through David back to Abraham. It highlights the inclusion of women who were not Israelites by birth, specifically Rahab, a Canaanite, and Ruth, a Moabite, demonstrating God's unfolding plan to bring salvation to all nations. The mention of these women, who came from outside the covenant people, emphasizes the extraordinary grace woven into Jesus' family tree.
This verse continues the genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage through David back to Abraham. It highlights the inclusion of women who were not Israelites by birth, specifically Rahab, a Canaanite, and Ruth, a Moabite, demonstrating God's unfolding plan to bring salvation to all nations. The mention of these women, who came from outside the covenant people, emphasizes the extraordinary grace woven into Jesus' family tree.
"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," — What's striking here are the two foreign women, Rahab and Ruth, woven into Jesus' lineage. Their inclusion, despite their Gentile backgrounds and, in Rahab's case, a questionable past, highlights God…
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Last reviewed October 2026