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Selected Verse: Matthew 1:18 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Mt 1:18 |
Strong Concordance |
Now [1161] the birth [1083] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] was [2258] on this wise [3779]: When as [1063] his [846] mother [3384] Mary [3137] was espoused [3423] to Joseph [2501], before [4250] [2228] they [846] came together [4905], she was found [2147] with child [1722] [1064] [2192] of [1537] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151]. |
| |
King James |
Now 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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
BIRTH OF CHRIST. (Mat 1:18-25)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise--or, "thus."
When as his mother Mary was espoused--rather, "betrothed."
to Joseph, before they came together, she was found--discovered to be.
with child of the Holy Ghost--It was, of course, the fact only that was discovered; the explanation of the fact here given is the Evangelist's own. That the Holy Ghost is a living conscious Person is plainly implied here, and is elsewhere clearly taught (Act 5:3-4, &c.): and that, in the unity of the Godhead, He is distinct both from the Father and the Son, is taught with equal distinctness (Mat 28:19; Co2 13:14). On the miraculous conception of our Lord, see on Luk 1:35. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Now the birth of Jesus Christ - The circumstances attending his birth.
Was on this wise - In this manner.
Espoused - Betrothed, or engaged to be married. There was commonly an interval of ten or twevle months, among the Jews, between the contract of marriage and the celebration of the nuptials (see Gen 24:55; Jdg 14:8; Deu 20:7), yet such was the nature of this engagement, that unfaithfulness to each other was deemed adultery. See Deu 22:25, Deu 22:28.
With child by the Holy Ghost - See the note at Luk 1:35. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Espoused (μνηστευθείσης: Rev., betrothed; Tynd., maryed)
The narrative implies a distinction between betrothal and marriage. From the moment of her betrothal a woman was treated as if actually married. The union could be dissolved only by regular divorce. Breach of faithfulness was regarded as adultery, and was punishable with death (Deu 22:23, Deu 22:24), and the woman's property became virtually that of her betrothed, unless he had expressly renounced it; but, even in that ease, he was her natural heir. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Espoused to Joseph - The word μνηστευθεισης, from μνηστευω, to contract, or betroth, refers to the previous marriage agreement, in which the parties mutually bound themselves to each other; without which, no woman was ever married among the Jews. Among the Hindoos, a woman is espoused often a whole year, and even longer before the marriage takes place.
Before they came together - The woman was espoused at her own, or her father's house; and, generally, some time elapsed before she was taken home to the house of her husband: Deu 20:7; Jdg 14:7, Jdg 14:8. This custom has been immemorially observed among the inhabitants of Ireland, who have not only this, but many Asiatic customs, which, added to various authentic historic proofs, are collateral evidences that they received the Christian religion, not from the popes of Rome, but through the means of Asiatic missionaries.
Among the Jews, the espousal, though the marriage had not been consummated, was considered as perfectly legal and binding on both sides; and hence a breach of this contract was considered as a case of adultery, and punished exactly in the same way. See Deu 22:25, Deu 22:28. Nor could a contract of this kind, though there was no cohabitation, be broken but by a regular divorce, as Mr. Selden, in his Uxor Hebraica, has proved at large from the Jewish rabbins.
She was found with child - Her situation was the most distressing and humiliating that can be conceived. Nothing but the fullest consciousness of her own integrity, and the strongest confidence in God, could have supported her in such trying circumstances, where her reputation, her honor, and her life were at stake. What conversation passed between her and Joseph, on this discovery, we are not informed; but the issue proves that it was not satisfactory to him: nor could he resolve to consider her as his wife, till God had sent his angel to bear the most unequivocal testimony to the virgin's innocence. His whole conduct, on this occasion, was exceedingly benevolent and humane. He might at once have taken the advantage of the law, Deu 22:23, Deu 22:24, and had her stoned to death. |
35 And [2532] the angel [32] answered [611] and said [2036] unto her [846], The Holy [40] Ghost [4151] shall come [1904] upon [1909] thee [4571], and [2532] the power [1411] of the Highest [5310] shall overshadow [1982] thee [4671]: therefore [1352] also [2532] that holy thing [40] which shall be born [1080] of [1537] thee [4675] shall be called [2564] the Son [5207] of God [2316].
14 The grace [5485] of the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], and [2532] the love [26] of God [2316], and [2532] the communion [2842] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], be with [3326] you [5216] all [3956]. Amen [281].
19 Go ye [4198] therefore [3767], and teach [3100] all [3956] nations [1484], baptizing [907] them [846] in [1519] the name [3686] of the Father [3962], and [2532] of the Son [5207], and [2532] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151]:
3 But [1161] Peter [4074] said [2036], Ananias [367], why [1302] hath Satan [4567] filled [4137] thine [4675] heart [2588] [4571] to lie [5574] to the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] to keep back [3557] part of [575] the price [5092] of the land [5564]?
4 Whiles it remained [3306], was it not [3780] thine own [4671] [3306]? and [2532] after it was sold [4097], was it not [5225] in [1722] thine own [4674] power [1849]? why [5101] [3754] hast thou conceived [5087] this [5124] thing [4229] in [1722] thine [4675] heart [2588]? thou hast [5574] not [3756] lied [5574] unto men [444], but [235] unto God [2316].
18 Now [1161] the birth [1083] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] was [2258] on this wise [3779]: When as [1063] his [846] mother [3384] Mary [3137] was espoused [3423] to Joseph [2501], before [4250] [2228] they [846] came together [4905], she was found [2147] with child [1722] [1064] [2192] of [1537] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151].
19 Then [1161] Joseph [2501] her [846] husband [435], being [5607] a just [1342] man, and [2532] not [3361] willing [2309] to make [3856] her [846] a publick example [3856], was minded [1014] to put [630] her [846] away [630] privily [2977].
20 But [1161] while he [846] thought on [1760] these things [5023], behold [2400], the angel [32] of the Lord [2962] appeared [5316] unto him [846] in [2596] a dream [3677], saying [3004], Joseph [2501], thou son [5207] of David [1138], fear [5399] not [3361] to take [3880] unto thee [4675] Mary [3137] thy wife [1135]: for [1063] that which is conceived [1080] in [1722] her [846] is [2076] of [1537] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151].
21 And [1161] she shall bring forth [5088] a son [5207], and [2532] thou shalt call [2564] his [846] name [3686] JESUS [2424]: for [1063] he [846] shall save [4982] his [846] people [2992] from [575] their [846] sins [266].
22 Now [1161] all [3650] this [5124] was done [1096], that [2443] it might be fulfilled [4137] which [3588] was spoken [4483] of [5259] the Lord [2962] by [1223] the prophet [4396], saying [3004],
23 Behold [2400], a virgin [3933] shall be with child [1722] [1064] [2192], and [2532] shall bring forth [5088] a son [5207], and [2532] they shall call [2564] his [846] name [3686] Emmanuel [1694], which [3739] being interpreted [3177] is [2076], God [2316] with [3326] us [2257].
24 Then [1161] Joseph [2501] being raised [1326] from [575] sleep [5258] did [4160] as [5613] the angel [32] of the Lord [2962] had bidden [4367] him [846], and [2532] took [3880] unto him [846] his wife [1135]:
25 And [2532] knew [1097] her [846] not [3756] till [2193] [3739] she had brought forth [5088] her [846] firstborn [4416] son [5207]: and [2532] he called [2564] his [846] name [3686] JESUS [2424].
35 And [2532] the angel [32] answered [611] and said [2036] unto her [846], The Holy [40] Ghost [4151] shall come [1904] upon [1909] thee [4571], and [2532] the power [1411] of the Highest [5310] shall overshadow [1982] thee [4671]: therefore [1352] also [2532] that holy thing [40] which shall be born [1080] of [1537] thee [4675] shall be called [2564] the Son [5207] of God [2316].
28 If a man [0376] find [04672] a damsel [05291] that is a virgin [01330], which is not betrothed [0781], and lay hold [08610] on her, and lie [07901] with her, and they be found [04672];
25 But if a man [0376] find [04672] a betrothed [0781] damsel [05291] in the field [07704], and the man [0376] force [02388] her, and lie [07901] with her: then the man [0376] only that lay [07901] with her shall die [04191]:
7 And what man [0376] is there that hath betrothed [0781] a wife [0802], and hath not taken [03947] her? let him go [03212] and return [07725] unto his house [01004], lest he die [04191] in the battle [04421], and another [0312] man [0376] take [03947] her.
8 And after a time [03117] he returned [07725] to take [03947] her, and he turned aside [05493] to see [07200] the carcase [04658] of the lion [0738]: and, behold, there was a swarm [05712] of bees [01682] and honey [01706] in the carcase [01472] of the lion [0738].
55 And her brother [0251] and her mother [0517] said [0559], Let the damsel [05291] abide [03427] with us a few days [03117], at the least [0176] ten [06218]; after [0310] that she shall go [03212].
24 Then ye shall bring [03318] them both [08147] out unto the gate [08179] of that city [05892], and ye shall stone [05619] them with stones [068] that they die [04191]; the damsel [05291], because [0834] [01697] she cried [06817] not, being in the city [05892]; and the man [0376], because [0834] [01697] he hath humbled [06031] his neighbour's [07453] wife [0802]: so thou shalt put away [01197] evil [07451] from among [07130] you.
23 If a damsel [05291] that is a virgin [01330] be betrothed [0781] unto an husband [0376], and a man [0376] find [04672] her in the city [05892], and lie [07901] with her;
24 Then ye shall bring [03318] them both [08147] out unto the gate [08179] of that city [05892], and ye shall stone [05619] them with stones [068] that they die [04191]; the damsel [05291], because [0834] [01697] she cried [06817] not, being in the city [05892]; and the man [0376], because [0834] [01697] he hath humbled [06031] his neighbour's [07453] wife [0802]: so thou shalt put away [01197] evil [07451] from among [07130] you.
23 If a damsel [05291] that is a virgin [01330] be betrothed [0781] unto an husband [0376], and a man [0376] find [04672] her in the city [05892], and lie [07901] with her;
28 If a man [0376] find [04672] a damsel [05291] that is a virgin [01330], which is not betrothed [0781], and lay hold [08610] on her, and lie [07901] with her, and they be found [04672];
25 But if a man [0376] find [04672] a betrothed [0781] damsel [05291] in the field [07704], and the man [0376] force [02388] her, and lie [07901] with her: then the man [0376] only that lay [07901] with her shall die [04191]:
8 And after a time [03117] he returned [07725] to take [03947] her, and he turned aside [05493] to see [07200] the carcase [04658] of the lion [0738]: and, behold, there was a swarm [05712] of bees [01682] and honey [01706] in the carcase [01472] of the lion [0738].
7 And he went down [03381], and talked [01696] with the woman [0802]; and she pleased [03474] Samson [08123] well [03474] [05869].
7 And what man [0376] is there that hath betrothed [0781] a wife [0802], and hath not taken [03947] her? let him go [03212] and return [07725] unto his house [01004], lest he die [04191] in the battle [04421], and another [0312] man [0376] take [03947] her.