This verse doesn't just list names; it deliberately highlights Bathsheba, David's wife who was formerly Uriah's, subtly pointing to God's grace weaving even painful, scandalous stories into the lineage of the Messiah. It shows that God’s plan of redemption includes the messy parts of human history, not erasing them, but incorporating them into His unfolding story.
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, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This part of Matthew's genealogy highlights David, emphasizing his kingship as a crucial turning point toward the Messiah. It then pointedly names Solomon as David's son by Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah, a significant and morally complex detail that draws attention to God's faithfulness even amidst human sin and repentance.
Why is David specifically called 'the king' here, and what's the significance of that title in this genealogy?
Matthew 1:6 highlights David not just as a name, but as 'the king.' This title is crucial because David was the first king of Israel from the tribe of Judah, and the promise of an eternal throne was made to him. His kingship marked a pivotal moment, establishing the royal line through which the Messiah would come.
The genealogy mentions Solomon was born of 'her who had been the wife of Uriah.' Why include such a scandalous event?
Matthew includes Bathsheba (though unnamed) in the lineage, despite her controversial role with David. This wasn't an oversight, but a deliberate choice that reveals God's profound grace.
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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.
c. 1040 BC
David Anointed King
Samuel anoints David, the youngest son of Jesse, as king over Israel, marking the beginning of a new royal lineage that would lead to the Messiah.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David and Bathsheba Incident
King David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and arranges for Uriah's death in battle. This sin deeply impacts David's reign and family, but through repentance, his lineage continues.
c. 990 BC
Solomon Born
Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba (formerly Uriah's wife), is born. He would later succeed David as king, continuing the royal line promised to David.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divided
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Davidic royal line continues only in Judah.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem and destroy the First Temple, leading to the exile of many Judeans. This marks a significant break in the continuity of the Davidic monarchy.
This passage contains God's promise to David that his 'offspring' would establish a kingdom forever, directly connecting David's lineage to the future Messiah.
Psalm 132:11This Psalm reaffirms God's oath to David concerning his offspring and the establishment of his throne forever, highlighting the significance of David's royal line for the Messiah.
Ruth 4:17-22This passage traces the lineage from Perez to David through Boaz and Ruth, demonstrating the continuation of the promised line that Matthew is referencing.
1 Chronicles 3:5This verse lists Solomon as one of David's sons born in Jerusalem, corroborating Matthew's genealogy and the mention of Solomon as a key ancestor.
Ezekiel 37:24-25The prophet Ezekiel speaks of a future ruler, 'my servant David,' who will reign over Israel forever, directly linking the Messiah to David's royal lineage.
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…
This verse doesn't just list names; it deliberately highlights Bathsheba, David's wife who was formerly Uriah's, subtly pointing to God's grace weaving even painful, scandalous stories into the lineage of the Messiah. It shows that God’s plan of redemption includes the messy parts of human history, not erasing them, but incorporating them into His unfolding story.
This part of Matthew's genealogy highlights David, emphasizing his kingship as a crucial turning point toward the Messiah. It then pointedly names Solomon as David's son by Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah, a significant and morally complex detail that draws attention to God's faithfulness even amidst human sin and repentance.
This part of Matthew's genealogy highlights David, emphasizing his kingship as a crucial turning point toward the Messiah. It then pointedly names Solomon as David's son by Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah, a significant and morally complex detail that draws attention to God's faithfulness even amidst human sin and repentance.
"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, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat…" — This verse doesn't just list names; it deliberately highlights Bathsheba, David's wife who was formerly Uriah's, subtly pointing to God's grace weaving even painful, scandalous stories into the linea…
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Last reviewed October 2026
