Tues 8-2 Matt 1:1, Genealogies

Here is the opening line of Matthew in Greek. A Translation and Commentary

This is my attempt to keep up with my Greek by translation.

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1 Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ.

Nom.S N.F.Gen.S M.Gen.S - - Nom
genesis, to come about
//Book of Genealogy of Jesus Christ Son of David Son of Abraham

2 Ἀβραὰμ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰσαάκ, Ἰσαὰκ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰακώβ, Ἰακὼβ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν

N.S V.I.Aor.Act.3.S N.M.Acu.S & V.I.Aor.Act.3.S - - & - -

gennaw, to beget

//Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat

Ἰούδαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ,

- & N.M.A.Plural N.M.Gen.S

//Judas and his brothers

3 Ἰούδας δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Φάρες καὶ τὸν Ζάρα ἐκ τῆς Θαμάρ, Φάρες δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν

from F.G.S

//and Judas begat Perez (fares) and Zara from Tamar, and Perez begat

Ἑσρώμ, Ἑσρὼμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀράμ,

// Hezron, and Hezron begat Aram

4 Ἀρὰμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀμιναδάβ, Ἀμιναδὰβ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ναασσών, Ναασσὼν δὲ

//and Aram begat the Amminadab, and Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahashon

ἐγέννησεν τὸν Σαλμών,

//begat Salmon

5 Σαλμὼν δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Βόες ἐκ τῆς Ῥαχάβ, Βόες δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰωβὴδ ἐκ τῆς Ῥούθ,

//and Salmon begot Boes from Rahab, and Boes begot Obed from Ruth

Ἰωβὴδ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰεσσαί,

//and Obed begot Jesse

(Mat 1:1-5 BGT)

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The beginning of Matthew begins by giving a long history of how Jesus came about. For this particular gospel this is unique. He does not begin by discussing the first miracles of Jesus, but he gives a very earthly account of his generation. Some scholars suggested this points to the need for the humanity of Jesus to be justified. More likely, this is in keeping with a very Jewish genealogy and it lends credibility to Jesus Jewish origins for the author. Thus, this opening line points to the agenda of the author to establish the Jewishness of Jesus, and his fulfillment of the Jewish law and prophecy.