Matthew 1:5

Berean Standard Bible

Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

King James Bible

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

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Matthew 1:5 stands as a pivotal verse within the opening genealogy of the Gospel of Matthew, a passage that meticulously traces the lineage of Jesus Christ from Abraham to Joseph, emphasizing his legal and royal heritage as the Messiah. This verse reads, in most translations, as "Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse," encapsulating a segment of the Davidic line that bridges the era of the Judges to the monarchy of Israel. At first glance, it appears as a straightforward genealogical link, but upon deeper examination, it reveals profound layers of historical context, theological depth, and symbolic resonance that underscore Matthew's overarching theme: Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel, extending grace to the marginalized, the outsider, and the sinner. The genealogy itself is not merely a list of names but a theological construct, divided into three sets of fourteen generations—from Abraham to David, David to the Babylonian exile, and the exile to Christ—symbolizing completeness and divine order, with the number fourteen evoking the Hebrew gematria of David's name (equaling fourteen) and doubling the sacred number seven to signify perfection in God's redemptive plan. This structure highlights Jesus as the ultimate "Son of David" and "Son of Abraham," fulfilling messianic prophecies while incorporating unexpected figures that challenge conventional Jewish expectations of purity and pedigree.

Beginning with the figures mentioned, Salmon emerges as a somewhat enigmatic patriarch, referenced sparingly in the Old Testament (Ruth 4:20-21; 1 Chronicles 2:11), where his name appears variably as "Salmah" or "Salmon," possibly deriving from a Hebrew root meaning "garment" or "mantle," which some interpreters link to the miraculous preservation of the Israelites' clothing during their wilderness wanderings (Deuteronomy 29:5). Historically, Salmon is positioned in the post-conquest period, likely a contemporary of Joshua's era, and his union with Rahab is not explicitly detailed in the Hebrew Scriptures but is affirmed in Matthew's account, drawing from Jewish traditions that portray Rahab marrying a "prince in Israel." Rahab, famously known as "Rahab the harlot" from Joshua 2, was a Canaanite woman residing in Jericho, a city devoted to idolatrous worship of deities like Ashtaroth. As a prostitute, she operated what may have been an inn-cum-brothel, a strategic location for gathering intelligence, which proved fortuitous when she sheltered Joshua's spies, confessing her faith in the God of Israel: "For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below" (Joshua 2:11). Her act of hiding the spies, marked by the scarlet cord hung from her window as a sign of protection, led to her family's salvation during Jericho's fall (Joshua 6:22-25), making her the first recorded Gentile convert and a model of faith praised in the New Testament (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25). Theologically, Rahab's inclusion in Jesus' genealogy is striking, as she embodies God's redemptive grace extending beyond ethnic boundaries; as a Canaanite, she represents the incorporation of Gentiles into Israel's story, foreshadowing the universal scope of the gospel that Matthew later articulates in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). Her past as a harlot, far from being glossed over, highlights how God uses the unlikely and the shamed—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba (Uriah's wife) are the four Old Testament women named in the genealogy, each with stories involving scandal, loss, or irregularity, yet each demonstrating righteousness and faith that advances God's plan. This pattern underscores that Jesus' lineage is not one of unblemished aristocracy but of redeemed humanity, aligning with his mission to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

From Salmon and Rahab comes Boaz, a "mighty man of valor" (Ruth 2:1) from Bethlehem, whose story unfolds in the Book of Ruth during the chaotic period of the Judges. Boaz's marriage to Ruth, a Moabite widow, further enriches the theological tapestry of Matthew 1:5. Ruth, originally from Moab—a nation cursed in Deuteronomy 23:3 for their hostility toward Israel—faced famine in her homeland and followed her mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem, declaring, "Your people shall be my people, and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16). Her conversion and loyalty exemplify covenant faithfulness (hesed), and Boaz, as her kinsman-redeemer (go'el), marries her to preserve the family line, an act that not only redeems Ruth from widowhood but also integrates a foreigner into Israel's royal lineage. Historically, this union occurs amid social and economic peril; Ruth's gleaning in Boaz's fields and her bold approach at the threshing floor (Ruth 3) carry risks of exploitation, yet her virtue and Boaz's integrity prevail, resulting in the birth of Obed. Ruth's Moabite heritage, like Rahab's Canaanite roots, challenges Jewish prohibitions against intermarriage with idolatrous nations, but her faith overrides such barriers, as evidenced by the lack of objections in the narrative beyond practical concerns. Theologically, Ruth symbolizes the outsider drawn into God's people through grace, prefiguring the church as a "legitimate bride" from a pagan world, much as Rahab does. Her story also parallels themes of redemption, with Boaz as a type of Christ, the ultimate kinsman-redeemer who purchases his bride from bondage.

Obed, meaning "servant" or "worshiper," is born to Boaz and Ruth, and his significance lies in his role as grandfather to King David (Ruth 4:17-22). Little is said of Obed personally in Scripture, but his birth is celebrated in Ruth as a restoration of Naomi's line, with the women of Bethlehem proclaiming him a redeemer (Ruth 4:14-15). He fathers Jesse, the final figure in the verse, who is best known as the father of David (1 Samuel 16:1). Jesse, from the tribe of Judah, resides in Bethlehem and has eight sons, with David the youngest anointed as king. Jewish tradition and prophecies, such as Isaiah 11:1 referring to the Messiah as a "shoot from the stump of Jesse," elevate Jesse's name as a messianic symbol, invoked in prayers for the "son of Jesse." This link solidifies the Davidic covenant's fulfillment in Jesus (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

Interpretively, Matthew 1:5 poses challenges, particularly chronological ones: the span from Rahab (circa 1400 BCE during Joshua's conquest) to Jesse (circa 1000 BCE) covers roughly 400 years with only four generations, suggesting either unusually long lifespans, gaps in the record (common in ancient genealogies for brevity), or that "Rahab" might refer to a different woman, though most scholars affirm her as the Jericho figure based on the definite article in Greek ("that Rahab") and her prominence. Such telescoping of generations aligns with Matthew's purpose, which is theological rather than strictly historical, contrasting with Luke's genealogy through Mary. The verse's emphasis on mothers—Rahab and Ruth—alongside the other women (Tamar, Bathsheba, and implicitly Mary) disrupts patriarchal norms, highlighting women's roles in salvation history and God's reversal of shame: Tamar's injustice, Rahab's prostitution, Ruth's widowhood and ethnicity, Bathsheba's adultery and loss, all redeemed for divine purposes. This inclusion signals the new covenant's elevation of women, Gentiles, and sinners, as Jesus identifies with the lowly in his ancestry just as in his ministry (Matthew 9:10-13).

Ultimately, Matthew 1:5 weaves a narrative of divine sovereignty amid human frailty, where God's grace transforms outsiders and the scandalous into vessels of his kingdom. Rahab and Ruth, as Gentile women of faith, prefigure the gospel's reach to all nations, while the progression to Jesse foreshadows David's throne, eternally occupied by Jesus. This verse invites reflection on how God's redemptive story embraces the unexpected, offering hope that no background—be it ethnic, moral, or social—bars entry into Christ's family, echoing the genealogy's climax in Mary, whose virgin birth fulfills Isaiah 7:14 and introduces the divine Son who saves his people from their sins.

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Beloved in the Lord, grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of our Savior, whose mercy endures forever and whose faithfulness spans all generations. I write to you, not as one who stands above, but as a fellow pilgrim, marveling at the boundless wisdom of God, who weaves the tapestry of redemption through the lives of the humble, the unlikely, and the faithful. Let us consider together the wondrous lineage of our Lord, a lineage not marked by earthly grandeur but by the transformative power of divine grace, which calls forth light from darkness and hope from the forgotten.

In the unfolding of God’s eternal purpose, we see a man named Salmon, joined in covenant with Rahab, a woman once known in the city of Jericho, a stranger to the promises of Israel, yet drawn by faith into the household of God. Her life, once tethered to a city doomed to fall, became a cornerstone in the lineage of the Messiah, for through her union with Salmon came Boaz, a man of righteousness. Consider the marvel of this: a woman from a foreign land, marked by her past, was not cast aside but chosen to bear a name in the story of salvation. What is this but the mercy of God, who looks not upon outward appearance but upon the heart that trembles at His word? Rahab, by her faith, became a mother in Israel, her story a testament that none are beyond the reach of divine love.

And from Boaz, we turn to Ruth, another woman of foreign soil, a Moabitess who clung to the God of Israel through the witness of Naomi. In her loyalty and humility, she found favor in the fields of Boaz, and their union brought forth Obed, the father of Jesse. Ruth, widowed and destitute, might have been overlooked by the world, yet God saw her steadfast love and wove her into His eternal plan. Boaz, a man of integrity, became her redeemer, a shadow of the greater Redeemer who would come, purchasing for Himself a people by His own blood. Through Ruth’s faithfulness and Boaz’s compassion, the line of Jesse was established, a line that would one day bear the King of kings.

Dearly beloved, what do we learn from these lives, so distant in time yet so near to our hearts? The ways of God are not the ways of men. The world exalts the mighty, the proud, the self-sufficient, but God chooses the lowly, the broken, the stranger, and makes them vessels of His glory. Rahab, once bound by her past, was set free by faith. Ruth, a wanderer in a strange land, was grafted into the covenant by love. Boaz, a man of means, did not hoard his blessing but extended it to the needy. And through them all, God was working, unseen yet sovereign, to bring forth the One who would reconcile all things to Himself.

Let this truth stir your souls, as it does mine. You who feel unworthy, know that God delights to choose the weak to shame the strong. You who bear the weight of a past you cannot undo, lift your eyes to the God who writes new names upon those who trust in Him. You who stand in plenty, like Boaz, consider how you might extend your hand to the stranger, the widow, the outcast, for in so doing, you reflect the heart of our Redeemer. And you who walk in foreign lands, far from the promises you long to claim, take courage, for the God of Ruth sees your faithfulness and will not forsake you.

This is the gospel of grace, beloved, that God takes what is broken and makes it whole, that He calls those who are far off and brings them near. The lineage of our Savior is not a chain of unbroken perfection but a mosaic of redeemed lives, each one a story of mercy triumphing over judgment. Rahab’s faith, Ruth’s devotion, Boaz’s kindness—these are not mere tales of old but invitations to us all. They beckon us to trust, to love, to act justly, knowing that our small obedience is caught up in the grand purpose of God, who is ever working to bring His kingdom to pass.

Therefore, let us walk worthy of this calling. Let us cast aside despair, for the God who called Rahab calls us still. Let us forsake selfishness, for the generosity of Boaz is our example. Let us cling to hope, as Ruth did, knowing that our Redeemer lives and His promises are sure. And let us proclaim this good news to all, for the God who wove His Son’s lineage through unlikely lives is weaving still, drawing a people from every nation, tribe, and tongue into His everlasting kingdom.

Now may the God of all grace, who has called us into His marvelous light, strengthen you, comfort you, and guide you by His Spirit, that you may shine as lights in this world, reflecting the glory of Him who came from the line of Jesse to be our Savior. To Him be all honor, power, and dominion, now and forevermore. Amen.

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O Eternal and Merciful God, Creator of heaven and earth, whose wisdom surpasses all understanding and whose love knows no bounds, we come before Your throne of grace with hearts lifted in awe and adoration. You are the God who weaves the tapestry of redemption, who calls the unlikely, the broken, and the faithful into Your everlasting purpose. We stand in wonder at Your mighty hand, which gathers the outcast, exalts the humble, and writes stories of mercy through generations. To You alone be all glory, honor, and praise, now and forever.

We lift our voices in gratitude for Your sovereign grace, revealed in the lives of those who came before us. You saw Rahab, a stranger in a foreign land, bound by her past, yet trembling at Your word. By faith, You brought her into Your covenant, making her a mother in the lineage of Your Son. We praise You, O Lord, for Your compassion that seeks the lost and transforms shame into honor. And for Ruth, a wanderer in grief, You provided a redeemer in Boaz, knitting her devotion into the fabric of Your eternal plan. We magnify Your name for Your faithfulness, which turns mourning into joy and makes the lowly a vessel of Your glory. For Boaz, whose heart reflected Your justice and kindness, we give You thanks, for You delight to use those who extend mercy to the needy, foreshadowing the greater Redeemer who would come.

O God of all grace, we pray for Your people scattered across the earth, from every nation and tongue, that You would stir us by these testimonies of Your love. For those who feel unworthy, weighed down by sins or scars of the past, grant them the faith of Rahab, that they may trust in Your redeeming power and know they are never beyond Your reach. For those who walk as strangers in unfamiliar lands, longing for a home, fill them with the steadfast hope of Ruth, that they may cling to Your promises and find refuge in Your presence. For those blessed with abundance, awaken in them the generosity of Boaz, that they may open their hands to the poor, the widow, and the outcast, reflecting Your heart of compassion.

Lord, we beseech You to unite Your church in this generation, that we may be a people marked by faith, love, and humility. Where division threatens, bind us together in the unity of Your Spirit. Where despair creeps in, kindle in us the assurance that You are working all things for good. Where injustice prevails, embolden us to act with the righteousness that mirrors Your kingdom. May we, like those before us, be woven into Your divine purpose, our small acts of obedience caught up in the unfolding of Your glory.

We pray also for the world You so love, O Father. Draw those who are far from You into the embrace of Your mercy. Let the light of Your gospel shine through Your people, that nations may see Your redeeming love and turn to You. Raise up laborers, Lord, to proclaim the good news that You take what is broken and make it whole, that You call the unlikely and make them heirs of Your kingdom. And for those who suffer, who cry out under the weight of oppression or sorrow, be their comfort and their strength, as You were to Ruth in her affliction.

O God, who sent Your Son through the line of the faithful, we long for the day when He returns to make all things new. Until that hour, keep us steadfast, rooted in Your truth, and ablaze with Your love. May our lives, like those of Rahab, Ruth, and Boaz, be a testament to Your grace, pointing others to the Savior who gave Himself for us all. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit, that we may walk worthy of the calling You have placed upon us, shining as lights in a darkened world.

To You, O Lord, who reigns forever, be all praise, dominion, and power, through Jesus Christ our Savior, in whose precious name we pray. Amen.