Matthew 1:11

Berean Standard Bible

and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

King James Bible

And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

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This verse is part of Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1–17), a structured record that traces Jesus' lineage through key figures in Israel’s history. Matthew organizes the genealogy into three sets of fourteen generations, each marking a major epoch: from Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to the Messiah. Matthew 1:11 comes at a critical turning point—the end of the second epoch—and thus plays a pivotal theological and historical role in the structure of the genealogy.

The verse begins with “And Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers,” referencing a moment in the Davidic line during the final days of the kingdom of Judah. Josiah, who reigned in the late 7th century BCE (ca. 640–609 BCE), was one of Judah’s most righteous kings. He is remembered for his extensive religious reforms and his attempt to return the nation to covenantal faithfulness (2 Kings 22–23). However, despite his efforts, Josiah’s reign ended in tragedy—he was killed at Megiddo while confronting Pharaoh Neco of Egypt, and his death marked the beginning of the kingdom’s rapid unraveling.

Josiah’s successor was Jehoahaz, followed by several short-lived kings, including Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin. Matthew names “Jechoniah” here, which is a variant of Jehoiachin, Josiah’s grandson. Jechoniah (Jehoiachin) was taken into Babylonian captivity in 597 BCE after reigning for only three months. The naming of “Jechoniah and his brothers” is intriguing. Josiah had four sons—Johanan, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, and Shallum (Jeremiah 22:11, 1 Chronicles 3:15)—but Jechoniah was his grandson, not his son. This suggests that Matthew is telescoping generations (a common feature of ancient genealogies), using Jechoniah as a representative name to refer to the royal family during this tumultuous period.

The reference to “his brothers” is also notable. In biblical genealogies, especially patrilineal ones, siblings are rarely included unless they serve a thematic or symbolic purpose. Here, the mention of “his brothers” may function in at least two ways. First, it signals the breakdown of Davidic succession and the chaos of the final days of Judah, when multiple royal family members were involved in leadership under foreign domination. Second, it may recall the corporate nature of Israel’s suffering—the exile was not just about one man’s failure, but about the collective apostasy and covenant breach of the nation. Thus, this phrase likely evokes the shared national experience of judgment and loss.

The last clause, “at the time of the deportation to Babylon,” marks a decisive moment in Israel’s history. The Babylonian exile (beginning in stages around 605 and culminating in 586 BCE) was the theological and existential crisis of the Old Testament. It represented the apparent collapse of God’s covenant promises: the Davidic kingship was cut off, the temple was destroyed, the land was lost, and the people were scattered. By highlighting this event, Matthew underscores a key turning point—not just politically, but spiritually. It is the moment when the hopes tied to the monarchy seemed shattered.

But this is not the end of the genealogy. Matthew places the exile squarely in the middle of his list (the end of the second set of fourteen), which serves to emphasize both the depth of the nation’s fall and the beginning of its restoration. The exile is both a crisis and a bridge. By including it, Matthew is saying that the messianic line continued even through judgment and apparent failure. God’s promises were not nullified by exile; rather, they were refined through it.

Theologically, Matthew 1:11 contributes to the Gospel’s opening message: that Jesus is the fulfillment of a long, often broken, but divinely sustained line of promise. By naming Josiah and Jechoniah, Matthew ties Jesus to the Davidic dynasty, but also to the story of Israel’s sin, judgment, and longing for redemption. The mention of the deportation reminds readers that Jesus comes not from an uninterrupted line of triumph but from a lineage scarred by rebellion and exile—a lineage that needs redemption as much as it mediates it.

In summary, Matthew 1:11 may appear to be a simple genealogical entry, but it carries deep historical and theological weight. It names key figures from Judah’s final days, invokes the national trauma of the Babylonian exile, and signals the transition from the failed monarchy to the hope of messianic restoration. In the context of Matthew’s broader narrative, it affirms that Jesus enters into the full brokenness of Israel’s story—not to condemn it, but to fulfill and restore it in accordance with God’s enduring covenant faithfulness.

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Dearly beloved, grace and peace be to you from the God of all mercy, whose faithfulness endures through every generation and whose purposes prevail through the tumults of history. I write to you, my brothers and sisters, with a heart full of reverence for the Almighty, who has woven a story of redemption through the ages, a story that encompasses both the glory of His chosen and the sorrows of their exile. Let us lift our eyes to the One who holds all things together, who turns the hearts of kings and shepherds alike, and who brings light into the darkest of times, that we may find hope and strength to walk in His truth.

Consider the wonder of God’s sovereign hand, which guides the course of nations and individuals with unerring wisdom. In the days when His people faced the bitter pangs of exile, when the promises of old seemed distant and the glory of the kingdom a fading memory, He remained steadfast. Through the upheaval of empires and the scattering of His chosen, He preserved a remnant, a thread of hope that would not be broken. This was no mere survival of a people, but a testament to the God who keeps His covenant, who remembers His promises, and who works even in the shadow of judgment to bring forth salvation. The One who led His people into exile also prepared the way for their return, and in the fullness of time, sent the Savior to redeem not only them but all who call upon His name.

Let us reflect on the grace that shines through the brokenness of human history. The lineage of the Messiah, marked by both faithfulness and failure, reveals a God who does not abandon His people, even when they stray. In the midst of exile, when hope seemed lost, He was present, working through the faithful and the faltering alike to accomplish His purpose. The names recorded in this sacred line are not merely those of kings or priests, but of men and women whose lives bore the weight of sin and sorrow, yet were touched by divine mercy. What comfort this brings to us, for we too live in a world marred by brokenness, where the shadows of our own failures and the trials of our time can obscure the light of hope. Yet God sees us, knows us, and calls us to Himself, weaving our lives into His eternal plan.

This truth calls us to humility and trust. Just as the generations before us walked through seasons of trial, trusting in promises they could not fully see, so too are we called to walk by faith. The God who sustained His people through exile is the same God who sustains us now. He is not swayed by the rise and fall of nations, nor hindered by the frailties of His children. His purposes stand firm, and His mercy reaches to the heavens. Let us, therefore, cling to the hope that is set before us, knowing that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion. No trial is too great, no exile too far, for the One who holds all things in His hands.

I urge you, beloved, to live as those who belong to this great story of redemption. Let your lives be marked by love that reflects the heart of God, a love that is patient, kind, and enduring. Be steadfast in prayer, lifting up one another and those who have yet to know the Savior’s grace. Be bold in sharing the good news of His coming, for He came not to condemn but to save, and His salvation is for all people. In a world that often seems adrift, let your words and deeds proclaim the unshakeable truth of His kingdom, a kingdom that cannot be moved, even by the storms of this age.

Do not grow weary in doing good, nor let your hearts be troubled by the uncertainties of this life. The same God who preserved His people through exile is with you now, guiding your steps and upholding you with His righteous right hand. Trust in His timing, for He is not slow to fulfill His promises, but patient, desiring that all should come to repentance. Let your lives be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him, as you offer yourselves to His service, whether in great matters or small. For just as He used the faithful remnant of old to bring forth the Messiah, so too will He use you to advance His kingdom, to bring light to the nations, and to prepare the way for His return.

As you go forth, carry with you the assurance that you are part of a story far greater than yourself. You are children of a faithful God, heirs of a promise that will not fail. May your hearts be filled with His peace, your minds stayed on His truth, and your lives devoted to His glory. Until the day we stand together in His presence, may His grace sustain you, His love uphold you, and His Spirit guide you into all righteousness.

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O God of all ages, Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, whose mercy endures forever and whose faithfulness spans the generations, we come before You with hearts bowed in awe and adoration. You are the One who holds the threads of history in Your hands, guiding the rise and fall of nations, preserving Your people through trials, and fulfilling Your promises with unerring wisdom. We lift our voices to You, the God who never forsakes His own, who works through seasons of exile and restoration to bring forth redemption for all who seek Your face. Hear our prayer, O Lord, as we seek Your presence and plead for Your grace to fill Your people and the world You so love.

We praise You, Eternal Father, for Your steadfast love that never wavers, even when Your people wander and the weight of their failings leads them far from Your path. In the days when Your chosen faced the sorrow of exile, when the glory of Your promises seemed but a distant hope, You remained faithful. Through the scattering of Your people, You preserved a remnant, a living testament to Your covenant, which cannot be broken. We stand in wonder at Your mercy, which weaves through the brokenness of human history, turning mourning into joy and despair into hope. You are the God who sees, who knows, and who works all things for the good of those who love You, preparing the way for the Savior, whose coming brought light to the nations.

We pray, O Lord, for Your people across the earth, that they may walk in the assurance of Your unchanging love. Strengthen those who are weary, comfort those who grieve, and guide those who have lost their way. Fill their hearts with the courage to trust in Your promises, even when the path ahead is shrouded in uncertainty. Grant them discernment to know Your will, humility to seek Your guidance, and zeal to proclaim Your truth in a world that longs for hope. May they shine as lights in the darkness, reflecting the grace of Your Son, who came to redeem the lost and bind up the brokenhearted.

We lift up those who have yet to know Your salvation, those who dwell in the shadows of despair or are entangled in the cares of this world. Soften their hearts, O God, and open their eyes to behold the beauty of Your Son, the One who bore the sins of many and offers life to all who believe. Send forth Your servants to share the good news of Your kingdom, that the story of Your redemption, begun in ages past, may reach every nation, tribe, and tongue. Let the message of Your grace, which sustained Your people through exile, now draw all people to the cross, where mercy flows freely and truth reigns supreme.

Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon Your church, O Lord, that it may be a beacon of Your love and unity. Heal the wounds of division, restore what has been torn asunder, and ignite within Your people a passion for Your glory. Equip them to serve one another with selflessness, to bear each other’s burdens with compassion, and to walk in the unity that testifies to Your heart. May they be steadfast in prayer, unwavering in faith, and tireless in doing good, knowing that their labor in You is never in vain. Let their lives proclaim the power of Your grace, which transforms the weak into vessels of Your strength and the broken into instruments of Your peace.

We cry out for those who face trials and uncertainties, for those who feel the weight of exile in their own lives—whether through loss, hardship, or despair. Be their refuge, O God, a stronghold in times of trouble. Surround them with Your peace that surpasses understanding, and anchor their souls in the hope of Your unfailing word. Remind them that You are the God who walks with Your people through every valley, who sustains them in every storm, and who promises a future filled with hope. Just as You preserved Your people through the trials of old, guide us now, that we may walk by faith, trusting in the fulfillment of Your eternal purpose.

Shape us, O Lord, into a people who reflect Your glory in all we do. Teach us to love with the depth of Your love, to forgive with the breadth of Your mercy, and to serve with the humility of Your Son. Guard us from the temptations of this world, from the fleeting pleasures that draw us away from You. Fix our eyes on the hope of Your kingdom, where we will one day stand in Your presence, joined with all the saints who have walked the path of faith before us. May our words be filled with grace, our actions marked by compassion, and our lives wholly devoted to Your praise.

To You, O King eternal, immortal, and invisible, be all glory, honor, and power, now and forever. May Your name be exalted in all the earth, and may Your will be done as it is in heaven. We offer this prayer in the name of Your Son, our Savior, who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.