Matthew

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

1This is the family list of Jesus Christ. He came from the family of King David. He also came from the family of Abraham.

2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

2Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and Judah's brothers.

NoteThe King James Version spells many of these names the Greek way, so "Judas" here is Judah, one of Jacob's sons, and not Judas who later betrayed Jesus. Other spellings change too, like Phares for Perez and Ezekias for Hezekiah.

3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah. Their mother was Tamar. Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram.

4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

4Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

5Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz's mother was Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed's mother was Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse.

6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

6Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon. Solomon's mother had been the wife of Uriah.

7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

7Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa.

8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

8Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Joram. Joram was the father of Uzziah.

9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

9Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.

10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

10Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah.

11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

11Josiah was the father of Jeconiah and his brothers. This was around the time the people were taken away to Babylon.

NoteBeing "carried away to Babylon" means the people of Judah lost a war and were marched far from home to live in the land of Babylon.

12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

12After the people were taken to Babylon, the list goes on. Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.

13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

13Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor.

14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

14Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Achim. Achim was the father of Eliud.

15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

15Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob.

16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

16Jacob was the father of Joseph. Joseph was the husband of Mary. Mary is the one who gave birth to Jesus, who is called Christ.

17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

17So from Abraham to David there were fourteen steps from father to child. From David until the people were taken to Babylon there were fourteen more. From that time until the Christ came there were fourteen more.

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

18Here is how Jesus Christ was born. His mother Mary had promised to marry Joseph. Before they lived together, people learned she was going to have a baby. The baby was hers by the Holy Spirit.

Note"Espoused" means Mary and Joseph had made a promise to marry. In those days that promise was so strong that ending it took a divorce.

19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

19Joseph was going to be her husband, and he was a good man. He did not want to shame her in front of everyone. So he planned to end the marriage promise quietly.

20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

20While Joseph was thinking about this, he had a dream. An angel, a messenger from God, came to him and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit.

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

21She will have a son. You are to name him Jesus. He will save his people from their sins."

22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

22All of this happened so that what the Lord had said would come true. He had said it long before through a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

23"Look, a virgin will have a baby. She will give birth to a son. People will call him Immanuel." That name means "God with us."

24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

24Then Joseph woke up. He did just what the angel of the Lord had told him. He took Mary home as his wife.

25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

25But he did not come together with her as her husband until her son was born. And Joseph named the boy Jesus.

Note"Knew her not" is an old way of saying they did not come together as husband and wife.