Matthew 1:3

3 and ¹Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, ^[a]

Matthew 1:3 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 1:3

And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar
The genealogical account of Christ goes on from Judah in the line of Phares, with whom Zara is mentioned; not because they were twins, for so were Jacob and Esau, and yet the latter is taken no notice of; but it may be because of what happened at their birth, see ( Genesis 38:28 Genesis 38:29 Genesis 38:30 ) . But the line of the Messiah was in Phares, and very rightly is he put in the genealogy of Christ, the Jews themselves being witnesses; who expressly say, that "the Messiah comes from him." These two are said to be begotten of Thamar, daughter-in-law to Judah; who, though she was a Canaanitish woman, has the honour to be named in the genealogy of Christ, who came to save Gentiles as well as Jews: nor can the Jews reproach our Evangelist for putting her into the account; since they themselves frequently acknowledge that the Messiah was to spring from her: they say, ^F18

``there are two women from whom come David the king, and Solomon, and the king Messiah; and these two are Thamar and Ruth.''

Jonathan Ben Uzziel on ( Genesis 38:6 ) says, that Thamar was the daughter of Shem the great.

And Phares begat Esrom;
called Hezron, ( Ruth 4:18 ) where the same phrase is used as here. He had another son called Hamul, ( 1 Chronicles 2:5 ) but the account proceeds from Phares, in the line of Esrom.

And Esrom begat Aram;
called Ram in ( Ruth 4:18 ) where the same way of speaking is used as here. Esrom also besides him begat Jerahmeel, Chelubai, or Caleb, and Segub, ( 1 Chronicles 2:9 1 Chronicles 2:21 ) but these are not in the line. Elihu, who conversed with Job, is said to be of the kindred of Ram, ( Job 32:2 ) whether the same with Ram or Aram, may be inquired.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Shemot Rabba, sect. 30. fol. 131. 4. Caphtor, fol. 122. 1.

Matthew 1:3 In-Context

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,

4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,

5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,

Cross References

• 1. 1:3 [Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Chr. 2:1-15]

Footnotes

• [a] 1:3 Greek 'Aram'; also verse 4