# Matthew 1:12

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See also: [Genealogy of Jesus](/source/Genealogy_of_Jesus)

**Matthew 1:12** is the twelfth [verse](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) of [the first chapter](/source/Matthew_1) of the [Gospel of Matthew](/source/Gospel_of_Matthew) in the [New Testament](/source/New_Testament). The verse is part of the section where the [genealogy](/source/Genealogy) of [Joseph](/source/Saint_Joseph), the betrothed of [Mary](/source/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus)), the mother of [Jesus Christ](/source/Jesus_Christ), is listed.

## Content

In the [King James Version](/source/King_James_Version) of the Bible the text reads:

- And after they were brought to [Babylon](/source/Babylon),
- [Jechonias](/source/Jeconiah) begat [Salathiel](/source/Shealtiel);
- and Salathiel begat [Zorobabel](/source/Zerubbabel);

The [World English Bible](/source/World_English_Bible) translates the passage as:

- After the exile to Babylon,
- Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel.
- Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.

For a collection of other versions see [BibleHub Matthew 1:12](http://biblehub.com/matthew/1-12.htm)

## Analysis

[Jeconiah](/source/Jeconiah) was a [King of Judah](/source/Kings_of_Judah), the last of these kings to be included among Joseph's ancestors. He was captured and brought to [Babylon](/source/Babylon) along with many of his subjects, beginning the [Babylonian captivity](/source/Babylonian_captivity). His son [Shealtiel](/source/Shealtiel) was born in Babylon, as was Shealtiel's son [Zerubbabel](/source/Zerubbabel). It was Zerubbabel who led the [Jews](/source/Jew) out of exile in Babylon and he plays a prominent role in the [Book of Ezra](/source/Book_of_Ezra).[citation needed]

Zerubbabel and Shealtiel are also listed in the genealogy of . However, in Luke, Shealtiel is not listed as the son of Jechoniah but rather of Neri. A number of explanations have been advanced to explain this. [Robert H. Gundry](/source/Robert_H._Gundry) believes that Luke gives the actual physical genealogy while Matthew is presenting the ceremonial one. Thus Neri was Shealtiel's natural father, but it was from Jeconiah which came the leadership of the Jewish people. This may link in with the prophecy of [Jeremiah 36:30](/source/Jeremiah_36:30), which states that Jehoiakim's children would never again sit on the throne of [David](/source/David) because of his sins. By having Shealtiel be the biological son of Neri, and only the adopted son of Jechoniah, this prohibition is avoided.[1]

This is further complicated as states that the father of Zerubbabel was Pedaiah, a brother of Shealtiel. Zerubbabel, which means "born in Babylon" was a common name and it is entirely possible that Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel had a cousin also named Zerubbabel.[citation needed]

Gundry notes that the opening line "after the exile to Babylon" clearly does not refer to this verse alone. Jeconiah and Shealtiel were in no way after the exile. Rather, the first line is an introduction to this last third of the biography that covers the period from the captivity to the birth of Jesus.[2]

## References

1. [Gundry, Robert H.](/source/Robert_H._Gundry) *Matthew a Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art.* Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982.

1. [Gundry, Robert H.](/source/Robert_H._Gundry) *Matthew a Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art.* Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982.

## Resources

- [Albright, W.F.](/source/William_F._Albright) and C.S. Mann. "Matthew." *[The Anchor Bible Series](/source/The_Anchor_Bible_Series).* New York: Doubleday & Company, 1971.
- Fowler, Harold. *The Gospel of Matthew: Volume One.* Joplin: College Press, 1968

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