and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Matthew doesn't just list names; he highlights David as "the king," emphasizing the royal line and the promise of an eternal throne. More strikingly, he includes Solomon's mother not by her name, Bathsheba, but as "her who had been the wife of Uriah," subtly acknowledging a past of sin and redemption within Jesus' lineage.
and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse continues the genealogy of Jesus, tracing His lineage back through King David. It specifically highlights David's son, Solomon, and mentions his mother as "her that had been the wife of Uriah" – a deliberate, yet significant, allusion to Bathsheba and David's controversial union. This detail sets the stage for understanding Jesus as the descendant of a royal line marked by both divine promise and human frailty.
Why does Matthew emphasize 'David the king' twice in this short verse? It's more than just a title; it signals a pivotal moment in salvation history.
Matthew uses the specific phrase 'David the king' not just to identify him, but to highlight the inauguration of the Davidic dynasty and the Messianic line.
A New Royal Beginning
David was the first king from the tribe of Judah, marking the establishment of a royal lineage promised by God. This wasn't just about earthly power, but a foreshadowing of the eternal kingdom of Christ.
The Promise Entrusted
While Saul was king, it was David's reign that God established with an everlasting covenant for his descendants. This 'kingly dignity' became the bedrock for the Messianic promise, connecting Jesus directly to this royal line.
Matthew doesn't shy away from mentioning Solomon's mother, a woman with a complicated past. What does this inclusion tell us about God's grace?
The mention of 'her that had been the wife of Uriah' (Bathsheba) is a deliberate choice by Matthew, bringing a significant, albeit controversial, figure into the direct line of Jesus.
God's Grace in Human Weakness
David's sin with Bathsheba was grievous, involving adultery and murder. However, after David's deep repentance, God not only forgave him but ensured that the promised lineage would continue through this very union. This highlights God's incredible mercy and His ability to bring good out of brokenness.
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A Reversal of Fortune
Bathsheba, through David's sin and God's subsequent grace, became the mother of Solomon, who succeeded David on the throne. This demonstrates God's power to reverse difficult circumstances and weave even sinful actions into His redemptive plan, leading to the eventual coming of Christ.
Understand the original words
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 includes Bathsheba, identified as 'the wife of Uriah,' in Jesus' genealogy, highlighting God's mercy in continuing the lineage through a union born from sin and adultery, a testament to His grace even amidst human failure.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King of Israel
Jesse's youngest son, David, is anointed king, marking the beginning of a significant royal lineage from which the Messiah would descend.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David Commits Adultery and Arranges Uriah's Death
King David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and arranges for Uriah's death in battle to cover his sin. This event is a significant moral stain on David's reign.
c. 990 BC
Solomon Born to David and Bathsheba
Solomon is born to David and Bathsheba, despite the death of their first child. This union, though scandalous, becomes the path through which the royal line continues.
c. 970 BC
Solomon Succeeds David as King
Solomon becomes king of Israel after David. His reign is marked by wisdom and the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, but also by later moral failures.
c. 587 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
The Kingdom of Judah falls to Babylon, and many Israelites, including royalty, are exiled. This marks a major disruption in the Davidic monarchy.
This passage details the event where King David took Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, to himself, setting the stage for Solomon's birth and highlighting the human frailty within this royal lineage.
1 Chronicles 3:5This verse from Chronicles also lists Solomon as one of David's sons born in Jerusalem, confirming the lineage and noting that Solomon was born after David's sin with Bathsheba.
Psalm 51:1-19Following his sin with Bathsheba, David offers this profound prayer of repentance, showing the deep sorrow and seeking of forgiveness that stemmed from his actions, which still form part of the lineage leading to Jesus.
Romans 5:12-21This passage discusses the profound theological concept of how sin entered the world through one man (Adam) and how grace, through Christ, abounds even more, offering a framework to understand how God works through flawed human history and lineage.
Luke 3:23-31This parallel genealogy in Luke provides another perspective on Jesus' lineage, showing a different paternal line from David onwards, which helps illuminate the complexities and divine providence in tracing Christ's ancestry.
bensonMatthew 1:6: "And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;"
Matthew 1:6 . And Jesse begat David the king — David has the title of king given him in this genealogy, because he was the first king of his family, and because he had the kingdom entailed upon his children; in which respect he had greatly the advantage of Saul, from whose family the kingdom was taken away almost as soon as it was conferred. It is true, ten of the twelve tribe…
meyerMatthew 1:6: "And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;"
Matthew 1:6 . Τὸν Δαυεὶδ τὸν βασιλέα ] Although an apposition with the article follows the proper name, yet Δαυείδ also takes the article, not for the sake of uniformity with the preceding name (de Wette), but in order to designate David demonstratively, as already marked out in Matthew 1:1 . In Matthew 1:16 , also, the article before Ἰωσήφ , which is accompanied by an apposit…
Matthew doesn't just list names; he highlights David as "the king," emphasizing the royal line and the promise of an eternal throne. More strikingly, he includes Solomon's mother not by her name, Bathsheba, but as "her who had been the wife of Uriah," subtly acknowledging a past of sin and redemption within Jesus' lineage.
This verse continues the genealogy of Jesus, tracing His lineage back through King David. It specifically highlights David's son, Solomon, and mentions his mother as "her that had been the wife of Uriah" – a deliberate, yet significant, allusion to Bathsheba and David's controversial union. This detail sets the stage for understanding Jesus as the descendant of a royal line marked by both divine promise and human frailty.
This verse continues the genealogy of Jesus, tracing His lineage back through King David. It specifically highlights David's son, Solomon, and mentions his mother as "her that had been the wife of Uriah" – a deliberate, yet significant, allusion to Bathsheba and David's controversial union. This detail sets the stage for understanding Jesus as the descendant of a royal line marked by both divine promise and human frailty.
"and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph," — Matthew doesn't just list names; he highlights David as "the king," emphasizing the royal line and the promise of an eternal throne. More strikingly, he includes Solomon's mother not by her name, Bat…
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Last reviewed October 2026