Bible Strands
Matthew 1:25
But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Matthew records Joseph’s obedience following the angel’s command to take Mary as his wife. The narrative pauses at the moment of Jesus’ birth to note Joseph’s actions.
The words — οὐκ ἐγὶνωσκεν (ouk eginōskein) literally means “he was not knowing,” describing Joseph’s lack of marital relations with Mary. ἕως οὗ (heōs hou) translates to “until,” marking the temporal boundary of that state.
The thread — The naming of Jesus echoes the angel’s prior instruction in Luke 2:21. The designation of a firstborn son connects to the consecration commands in Exodus 13:2 and Exodus 22:29.
Why it lands — The text states Joseph refrained from marital union until after the birth and then named the child Jesus. Readers must accept this chronological boundary without importing assumptions about later events.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Cross-references
- Luke 2:21 When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
- Exodus 13:2 “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.”
- Exodus 22:29 You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
- Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
- Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
- Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.