and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The genealogies in Matthew often use "begat" loosely, meaning "was an ancestor of," so Joram is listed as the ancestor of Uzziah even though three kings were between them. This deliberate omission of kings, like Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, wasn't accidental but likely served Matthew's structural goal of dividing the lineage into neat sets of fourteen generations, a common practice in ancient Jewish records.
and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage continues the genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage from King David. It lists several generations of kings of Judah, noting that the term "begat" can sometimes refer to remote ancestors rather than immediate fathers. The text omits three kings between Joram and Uzziah, a detail that has led to much discussion among scholars, with various explanations including the need to maintain a specific number of generations in the list.
Ever noticed how genealogies sometimes skip generations? It's not a mistake, but a literary tool. Discover why Matthew uses 'begat' so fluidly.
In ancient genealogies, the word 'begat' (or its Greek equivalent) didn't always mean an immediate father-son relationship. It could signify a broader sense of lineage and descent, bridging gaps of several generations.
Why would Matthew intentionally leave out kings from Jesus' family tree? It wasn't arbitrary, but a deliberate choice with theological weight.
Matthew’s genealogy isn't just a historical record; it's a carefully crafted theological statement. The omissions, particularly between Joram and Uzziah, are not accidental but serve specific purposes.
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Matthew's genealogy intentionally omits three kings between Joram and Uzziah (Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah). This omission likely served a theological purpose, possibly to bypass descendants linked to the wicked Queen Athaliah and King Ahab of Israel, and to maintain a structured count of fourteen generations per period.
c. 874–853 BC
Reign of Ahab and Jezebel
King Ahab and his Phoenician wife Jezebel ruled the northern kingdom of Israel, promoting Baal worship and persecuting prophets of the Lord. Their wicked reign deeply impacted subsequent generations.
c. 841 BC
Athaliah's Usurpation in Judah
Following the death of her son Ahaziah, Athaliah seized the throne of Judah, slaughtering the royal heirs except for the infant Joash. This marked a period of intense wickedness and instability.
c. 835–796 BC
Reign of Joash
Joash, the surviving heir, was restored to the throne of Judah and ruled for forty years. However, his reign was marked by spiritual decline, despite initial reforms.
c. 796–767 BC
Reign of Amaziah
Amaziah, son of Joash, succeeded his father. While he achieved military victories, his heart turned away from the Lord, leading to further spiritual decay.
c. 767–740 BC— this verse
Reign of Uzziah (Azariah)
Uzziah, son of Amaziah, was a powerful and long-reigning king of Judah who expanded its territory and prosperity. However, he presumptuously offered incense in the temple, a sin for which he was struck with leprosy.
c. 740–736 BC
Reign of Jotham
Jotham, son of Uzziah, ruled as king of Judah. He was a righteous king, though he did not enter the temple to offer incense like his father.
c. 736–716 BC
Reign of Ahaz
Ahaz, son of Jotham, was a wicked king who led Judah into severe idolatry and political instability, even sacrificing his own sons.
This passage provides a more complete lineage, showing the kings Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz between Joram and Hezekiah, highlighting the omissions in Matthew's genealogy.
2 Kings 8:24This verse marks the beginning of the omitted line, stating that Joram's son Ahaziah succeeded him, which is the first of the kings left out in Matthew's account.
Ezra 7:3This Old Testament passage shows a similar practice of omission in genealogies, where Azariah is called the son of Meraioth, though several generations are skipped, demonstrating that Matthew's method wasn't entirely unique.
Matthew 1:17This verse explicitly states Matthew's intention to divide the generations into three sets of fourteen, which explains the purposeful omissions to maintain this structural symmetry.
bensonMatthew 1:8: "And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;"
Matthew 1:8 . And Joram begat Ozias — By Ozias, Uzziah is intended, and it is certain from the history of the Kings and Chronicles that he was the son of Amaziah, 2 Chronicles 26:1 ; Amaziah, of Joash, ch. Matthew 24:27 ; Joash, of Ahaziah, ch. Matthew 22:11 ; and Ahaziah, of Jehoram. But, according to the language of the Hebrews, the children of children are reputed the sons or daughters, not only of their…
clarkeMatthew 1:8: "And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;"
Joram begat Ozias - This is the Uzziah, king of Judah, who was struck with the leprosy for his presumption in entering the temple to offer incense before the Lord. See 2 Chronicles 26:16 , etc. Ozias was not the immediate son of Joram: there were three kings between them, Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, which swell the fourteen generations to seventeen: but it is observed that omissions of this kind are not unc…
The genealogies in Matthew often use "begat" loosely, meaning "was an ancestor of," so Joram is listed as the ancestor of Uzziah even though three kings were between them. This deliberate omission of kings, like Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, wasn't accidental but likely served Matthew's structural goal of dividing the lineage into neat sets of fourteen generations, a common practice in ancient Jewish records.
This passage continues the genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage from King David. It lists several generations of kings of Judah, noting that the term "begat" can sometimes refer to remote ancestors rather than immediate fathers. The text omits three kings between Joram and Uzziah, a detail that has led to much discussion among scholars, with various explanations including the need to maintain a specific number of generations in the list.
This passage continues the genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage from King David. It lists several generations of kings of Judah, noting that the term "begat" can sometimes refer to remote ancestors rather than immediate fathers. The text omits three kings between Joram and Uzziah, a detail that has led to much discussion among scholars, with various explanations including the need to maintain a specific number of generations in the list.
"and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah," — The genealogies in Matthew often use "begat" loosely, meaning "was an ancestor of," so Joram is listed as the ancestor of Uzziah even though three kings were between them. This deliberate omission of…
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Last reviewed October 2026