King James Version

What Does Matthew 1:5 Mean?

Matthew 1:5 in the King James Version says “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; — study this verse from Matthew chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

Matthew 1:5 · KJV


Context

3

And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

4

And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

5

And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

6

And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

7

And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse. This verse appears in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus, remarkably including two Gentile women—Rahab and Ruth. The Greek egennēsen (ἐγέννησεν, "begat") indicates fathering or ancestry. The phrase ek tēs Rachab (ἐκ τῆς Ῥαχάβ, "of Rachab") explicitly names the mother, unusual in ancient genealogies which typically traced only patrilineal descent.

Rahab (Hebrew Rachav, רָחָב) was the Canaanite prostitute of Jericho who hid Israelite spies and confessed faith in Yahweh (Joshua 2:1-21, 6:22-25). Ruth was a Moabite widow who clung to her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi and declared, "Your God shall be my God" (Ruth 1:16). Both women were foreigners who entered Israel's covenant community through faith, becoming ancestors of David and ultimately Jesus.

Matthew's inclusion of these women (along with Tamar and Bathsheba, vv. 3, 6) demonstrates several crucial theological truths: (1) God's grace extends beyond ethnic Israel to include believing Gentiles; (2) God's redemptive plan operates through unlikely, even scandalous, means; (3) faith, not ethnicity or moral perfection, qualifies one for participation in God's purposes; (4) the Messiah came to save sinners, foreshadowed by His genealogy including those with checkered pasts. This anticipates the gospel's universal scope (Matthew 28:19, Ephesians 2:11-22).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Matthew wrote his Gospel primarily for Jewish Christians (likely 60s-80s CE), systematically demonstrating that Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy and is the promised Davidic Messiah. The genealogy serves crucial apologetic purposes, establishing Jesus's legal right to David's throne through Joseph while highlighting divine sovereignty in using unexpected people.

Rahab's story (Joshua 2, 6) occurred during Israel's conquest of Canaan (circa 1400 BCE). Her faith saved her family and incorporated her into Israel. Jewish tradition honored her as a proselyte and paradigm of repentant faith (Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25). Salmon, from the tribe of Judah, married this former Canaanite prostitute, and their son Boaz became a wealthy landowner in Bethlehem.

Ruth's story (circa 1100s BCE) shows her commitment to Naomi and Yahweh despite widowhood and poverty. Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer, married Ruth, and their son Obed became grandfather to David. For Matthew's Jewish audience, these inclusions would have been startling—Gentile women, one formerly a prostitute, in Messiah's lineage. Yet they demonstrated God's consistent pattern of including outsiders through faith, preparing readers for the gospel's extension to all nations. The genealogy's structure (three sets of fourteen generations) further emphasizes divine ordering of history toward Christ's coming.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's inclusion of Rahab and Ruth in Jesus's genealogy challenge our assumptions about who qualifies for God's purposes?
  2. What does this verse teach about the relationship between faith and ethnicity in God's redemptive plan?
  3. How should the scandalous elements in Jesus's genealogy affect how we view our own past or imperfections?
  4. In what ways does this passage foreshadow the gospel's universal scope and availability to all who believe?
  5. What does God's use of unlikely people in salvation history reveal about His character and methods?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 21 words
Σαλμὼν1 of 21

Salmon

G4533

salmon, an israelite

δὲ2 of 21

And

G1161

but, and, etc

ἐγέννησεν3 of 21

begat

G1080

to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate

τὸν4 of 21
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Βοὸζ5 of 21

Booz

G1003

booz, (i.e., boaz), an israelite

ἐκ6 of 21

of

G1537

a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct

τῆς7 of 21
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ῥαχάβ·8 of 21

Rachab

G4477

rachab, a canaanitess

Βοὸζ9 of 21

Booz

G1003

booz, (i.e., boaz), an israelite

δὲ10 of 21

And

G1161

but, and, etc

ἐγέννησεν11 of 21

begat

G1080

to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate

τὸν12 of 21
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ὠβὴδ13 of 21

Obed

G5601

obed, an israelite

ἐκ14 of 21

of

G1537

a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct

τῆς15 of 21
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ῥούθ·16 of 21

Ruth

G4503

ruth, a moabitess

Ὠβὴδ17 of 21

Obed

G5601

obed, an israelite

δὲ18 of 21

And

G1161

but, and, etc

ἐγέννησεν19 of 21

begat

G1080

to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate

τὸν20 of 21
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰεσσαί21 of 21

Jesse

G2421

jessae (i.e., jishai), an israelite


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Matthew. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Matthew 1:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Matthew 1:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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