Matthew 1:14

Berean Standard Bible

Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.

King James Bible

And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

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Matthew 1:14, as recorded in the New International Version, states: "Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, and Akim the father of Eliud." This verse forms part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the opening chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, a meticulously crafted lineage tracing from Abraham through David to Joseph, the husband of Mary. Positioned within the third and final section of Matthew’s genealogy—spanning from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah—this verse continues the narrative of God’s enduring covenant with Israel through a series of lesser-known figures. While the names Azor, Zadok, Akim, and Eliud may lack the prominence of earlier figures like Abraham or David, their inclusion carries profound theological, historical, and cultural weight, reinforcing Matthew’s purpose of establishing Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises to His people. To fully unpack this verse, we must consider its role within the genealogy, the historical context of the post-exilic period, the significance of these obscure figures, and the broader implications for Matthew’s audience and beyond.

The genealogy of Matthew 1 is not merely a list of names but a theological framework, structured in three sets of fourteen generations: from Abraham to David, David to the exile, and the exile to Jesus. This triadic structure, possibly evoking the numerical value of David’s name in Hebrew (14) or symbolizing completeness, underscores Matthew’s intent to present Jesus as the culmination of God’s redemptive plan. Matthew 1:14 falls in the post-exilic segment, a period marked by Israel’s struggle to rebuild its identity after the Babylonian captivity. The names listed—Azor, Zadok, Akim, and Eliud—are not found in other biblical genealogies, such as those in Chronicles, nor are they associated with well-documented historical figures. This obscurity invites reflection on why Matthew included them, suggesting that their presence serves a purpose beyond historical record, pointing to the continuity of God’s covenant through even the most uncelebrated generations.

Azor, the first figure in this verse, was introduced in Matthew 1:13 as the son of Eliakim. His name, meaning “help” or “helper” in Hebrew, carries symbolic resonance, though no specific historical details about him survive in Scripture. Zadok, meaning “righteous,” could evoke the memory of earlier biblical figures like Zadok the priest under David (2 Samuel 8:17), but there is no evidence linking this Zadok to that priestly line. Akim (often rendered Achim), a shortened form of Jehoiakim or a similar name, means “God will establish,” echoing themes of divine faithfulness. Eliud, meaning “God is my praise,” concludes the verse, leading the genealogy closer to Joseph. The absence of these names in other biblical records suggests Matthew may have relied on extra-biblical sources, such as family records, oral traditions, or non-canonical texts, to construct this portion of the genealogy. For Matthew’s Jewish-Christian audience, the inclusion of these names would affirm that God’s promise to David—a throne established forever (2 Samuel 7:16)—persisted through generations, even those lost to historical prominence.

The historical context of Matthew 1:14 is the post-exilic period, a time of profound transition for Israel. Following the return from Babylon around 538 BCE, the Jewish people, led by figures like Zerubbabel (mentioned in Matthew 1:13), faced the challenge of rebuilding their temple, community, and national identity under Persian rule. This era was marked by a tension between hope for restoration and the reality of diminished political power. The generations represented by Azor, Zadok, Akim, and Eliud likely lived in this context, where the Davidic monarchy was no longer a political reality, yet the hope for a messianic king persisted. Matthew’s genealogy bridges this period of waiting to the arrival of Jesus, presenting Him as the true heir of David who fulfills the prophetic promises of a restored kingdom. The obscurity of these names reflects the historical reality of a people living in the shadow of their former glory, yet Matthew uses them to demonstrate that God’s plan remained active, weaving through every generation toward its fulfillment in Christ.

Theologically, Matthew 1:14 underscores the theme of divine faithfulness. By including obscure figures, Matthew illustrates that God’s covenant with David was not dependent on human prominence or historical recognition. Each name represents a life that carried forward the promise, however quietly, until it reached Jesus, the Messiah. For Matthew’s audience, likely a Jewish-Christian community familiar with Old Testament prophecies, this genealogy would have been a powerful affirmation of Jesus’ messianic credentials. It rooted Him firmly in the Davidic line, addressing any doubts about His legitimacy as the promised king. The legal lineage through Joseph, even though Jesus was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25), established His rightful claim to the throne, while the inclusion of lesser-known figures emphasized that God’s purposes unfold through both the celebrated and the forgotten.

Culturally, genealogies were vital in ancient Jewish society, serving as proof of heritage, covenantal inclusion, and legitimacy for roles such as priesthood or kingship. For Matthew’s readers, the genealogy was more than a historical record; it was a declaration of Jesus’ identity as the Son of David, the Messiah foretold by the prophets. The presence of names like Azor, Zadok, Akim, and Eliud, though obscure, would reassure the audience that no generation was overlooked in God’s plan. This was particularly significant for a community navigating their identity as Jewish followers of Jesus, possibly facing skepticism from non-Christian Jews about the Messiah’s lineage. By tracing the line through these generations, Matthew countered any objections, showing that the promise to David remained unbroken.

Comparing Matthew’s genealogy to Luke’s (Luke 3:23-38) reveals differences, as Luke’s account includes different names for this period, possibly reflecting Mary’s lineage or an alternate tradition of Joseph’s ancestry. Matthew’s selective approach, omitting generations to fit his three sets of fourteen, suggests a theological rather than strictly historical purpose. The names in Matthew 1:14 may have been chosen to complete this structure, emphasizing symmetry and divine order. This stylized presentation does not diminish the genealogy’s truth but highlights Matthew’s focus on Jesus as the fulfillment of a carefully orchestrated divine plan.

Spiritually, Matthew 1:14 invites reflection on the role of ordinary lives in God’s redemptive story. The names listed represent real individuals who lived in faith, passing down the covenantal promise without knowing its ultimate fulfillment. For modern readers, this serves as a reminder that every life, no matter how seemingly insignificant, contributes to God’s purposes. The verse also points to the humility of the Messiah’s lineage, as Jesus, the King of kings, descends from a line that includes both renowned figures like David and obscure ones like Akim. This reflects the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom, where the humble are exalted, and the forgotten are remembered.

In conclusion, Matthew 1:14, though brief and populated by obscure names, carries deep significance within the genealogy of Jesus. It connects the post-exilic hope of restoration to the arrival of the Messiah, affirming God’s faithfulness across generations. For Matthew’s audience, it established Jesus as the legitimate heir to David’s throne, rooted in a lineage that endured through both prominence and obscurity. For contemporary readers, it offers a profound reminder of God’s sovereignty, working through every generation to bring about His redemptive plan. By including Azor, Zadok, Akim, and Eliud, Matthew weaves a tapestry of divine faithfulness, culminating in Jesus, the Savior who fulfills the promises of God to Israel and the world.

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Beloved of the Lord, saints called out of darkness into His marvelous light, heirs of the promise and partakers of the divine nature, today we turn our attention to a verse that many might pass over, a line nestled deep within the genealogy of the Messiah, a verse that may seem unremarkable on the surface, but when opened by the Spirit, reveals the steadfast nature of God and the unbroken line of redemption. “Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.”

What shall we say of such a verse? It does not contain a miracle. It does not describe a sermon or a sign. There are no angelic visitations, no waters parted, no sick healed. But this verse, and others like it in the opening chapter of Matthew, declares something profound: that God works through generations, that His purposes are woven into the lives of ordinary people, and that redemption is not a sudden burst from the clouds but a faithful unfolding through centuries.

Each name in this lineage is a testimony to divine continuity. Azor, Zadok, Achim, Eliud—men whose stories are not recorded in great detail, yet they are remembered in the holy record, because they were links in the chain that led to Christ. They were not famous prophets or kings. They were not known for mighty deeds. And yet they were known by God. They bore the promise forward. They carried the seed. They held their place in the unfolding story of salvation.

Do not overlook the significance of such a verse. In a world obsessed with fame and visibility, with immediacy and spectacle, God reminds us that faithfulness is greater than popularity, and obedience in obscurity is precious in His sight. These names show us that the kingdom of God advances not only through the Davids and the Abrahams, but through the Azors and the Achims. Through those who kept the faith even when history passed them by. Through those who walked righteously when no one was watching. Through those whose faith outlasted the silence of centuries.

We do not know what these men saw in their days. We do not know what they suffered, what they feared, what they longed for. But we do know that they were part of the story. And that is enough. Because in God’s kingdom, purpose is not measured by platform. Eternity does not reward only the visible laborers. Heaven rejoices not just over the spectacular, but over the faithful.

Matthew, inspired by the Holy Spirit, begins his gospel not with thunder and fire, but with a genealogy. Why? Because the gospel is rooted in history. It is not myth. It is not abstraction. It is reality. It is continuity. The God of Abraham is the God of Christ. The covenant has a trajectory. The promise did not appear out of nowhere; it traveled through time, through families, through faithfulness and failure alike. And this verse—Matthew 1:14—is one link in that unbreakable chain.

And here, saints, we find hope. Because many of us are not famous. Many of us are not called to stand before crowds or shake nations. But we are called to be faithful in our generation. To be like Azor, like Zadok, like Achim, like Eliud—those who kept the line alive. You may not be known by multitudes, but you are known by God. You may not write books or build monuments, but you may be the parent of the next prophet, the teacher of the next evangelist, the one whose prayers carry power into the next age.

Do not despise your station. Do not underestimate your role in the kingdom. The genealogy of Jesus is built not just on greatness but on grace. It includes the famous and the forgotten, the royal and the lowly, the obedient and even the broken. Yet all are part of the line that led to Christ. Because God is the One who weaves all things together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

This verse also reminds us that God works through time. We live in an age of impatience. But the plan of redemption took generations to unfold. God is not slow as men count slowness—He is deliberate, He is faithful, and He is never late. From Azor to Christ, the promise never died. The seed may have seemed dormant, but it was never dead. The silence of God is not the absence of God. He was working in every generation, even when no prophets spoke, even when the temple was in ruins, even when Israel groaned under foreign rule.

So take heart, child of God. You are part of a greater story. You are not forgotten. Your obedience matters. Your prayers are heard. Your witness counts. Whether you are in the spotlight or in the shadows, whether you are building or simply enduring, you are carrying the line forward. The same God who saw Azor, who remembered Zadok, who recorded Achim and Eliud—He sees you. And He is faithful to complete what He has begun in you.

This verse is a testimony to the faithfulness of God through ordinary people. It is a reminder that we are stewards of a legacy, carriers of a covenant. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and we build for those who will come after. We are not isolated souls; we are part of a lineage—spiritual sons and daughters in the great household of faith.

So let us be found faithful. Let us be the ones who hold the line. Let us raise up the next generation in righteousness. Let us walk uprightly even when the world is crooked. Let us speak truth even if no one applauds. Let us be steady in our homes, holy in our habits, humble in our hearts. Because through us, the promise continues. Through us, Christ is revealed.

And when our names are not known on earth, they are written in heaven. When our lives seem forgotten by history, they are remembered in eternity. Because God never forgets His own. He sees the Azors. He knows the Zadoks. He honors the Achims and the Eliuds. And in the fullness of time, He brings forth His Christ through the faithful obedience of ordinary saints.

To Him be all glory, in every generation, forever and ever.

Amen.

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O Eternal God, Ancient of Days, Father of Glory and Lord of the Ages, we bow before You in reverence and awe. You who reign from everlasting to everlasting, whose throne is unshaken and whose promises are unbroken, we lift up our hearts in holy adoration. You are the God of generations, the God who works through time and history, the God who writes Your story not only through kings and prophets but through the quiet obedience of unnamed saints.

Lord, we come before You with thanksgiving for every name in the lineage of Your Son, Jesus Christ. For even in a verse as simple as “Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud,” You reveal that You are the God who remembers. You are the God who builds line upon line, generation upon generation, bringing about Your purposes with perfect precision. Nothing is wasted in Your plan. No person is forgotten. No name is meaningless in the tapestry of redemption.

We thank You, O God, that You are not only the God of Abraham and David, but also the God of Azor and Zadok, of Achim and Eliud—men whose stories are hidden to us but known to You. We thank You that You do not measure significance by the standards of the world. You see the heart. You reward faithfulness. You preserve the memory of those who lived in obedience, even when their lives went unnoticed by the eyes of men.

Lord, help us to walk in that same faithfulness. Let us not crave the spotlight or seek the applause of this age. Let us be content to carry the promise in silence if that is our calling. Let us serve our generation with the quiet dignity of those who know their role in Your eternal plan. Teach us to value legacy over fame, consistency over popularity, obedience over recognition. For we know that the kingdom is not built by the mighty alone, but by the many faithful who live, love, and labor in hidden places.

We ask, Father, that You would grant us the same grace that sustained Azor, that formed Zadok, that strengthened Achim, that shaped Eliud. Give us the grace to live in such a way that future generations may be blessed through our obedience. Make us links in the holy chain that leads to Christ in every generation. Let the testimony of our lives be recorded in heaven, that even if our names are not remembered by men, they would be known by You.

We pray for every parent who is raising children in the fear of the Lord, for every teacher sowing seeds of truth, for every unseen laborer in the vineyard of God—strengthen them, Lord. Remind them that their quiet faithfulness is not in vain. Encourage the weary heart that wonders if their labor matters. Remind them, as this verse reminds us, that You are keeping record of every life surrendered to You, every act of faith, every step of obedience.

We pray for those who feel invisible in the work of the kingdom, those whose names may never be written in books or spoken from pulpits. Let them know that You see them. Let them be comforted by the truth that Your Son came into the world not just through kings, but through ordinary men of faith—men whose only distinction was that they stood in the line of promise. And so too, Lord, do we stand today in the line of promise. Not by our merit, but by Your mercy. Not by our name, but by Your grace.

Father, we ask for a fresh vision of legacy. Let us build not for ourselves, but for those who will come after us. Let us sow where we may not reap. Let us pray prayers whose answers we may never see in our lifetime. Let us raise up the next generation with the conviction that we are not the end of the story, but a chapter in Your unfolding plan.

We pray for spiritual fathers and mothers to arise—those who, like Azor and Zadok, will faithfully impart truth and blessing to the next in line. We pray that Your Church would be a house of generational continuity, not a place of isolated greatness. Let the faith of our fathers be preserved in our children. Let the fire that burned in previous generations ignite again in the hearts of the young. Let there be no break in the chain. Let there be no interruption in the line of covenant.

We ask, Lord, that You would help us to see the power of a name written in Your book. Let us not despise the season of obscurity. Let us not rush for recognition. Let us trust that You are weaving every detail of our lives into Your greater design. Let our names be found, not on the lips of men, but in the lineage of those who carried Christ into the world through faith, holiness, and perseverance.

And finally, we lift our eyes to Jesus—the fulfillment of this genealogy, the purpose of every generation, the Word made flesh. He is the One for whom Azor lived, the One for whom Zadok was born, the One toward whom all of history moves. Let our lives be hidden in Him. Let our legacies be rooted in Him. Let our generations be marked by Him. For in Him, all the promises of God are yes and amen.

To You, O God, who works all things after the counsel of Your will, who remembers the faithful and exalts the humble, we give honor and praise. Seal us in our season. Keep us faithful in our time. And may we, like Azor and Zadok, pass on the hope that leads to Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God,

Amen.