Matthew 1:20

Matthew 1:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But 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.
• New International Version (NIV)But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

Context of Matthew 1:20

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

Matthew 1:20 word by word

Ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου κατ᾽ ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων· Ἰωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυίδ, μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαρίαν τὴν γυναῖκά σου· τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἁγίου.Read the interlinear

• But when he had consideredἐνθυμέομαιenthumeomai · to reflect onG1760
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• beholdἰδούidou · look!G2400
• an angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• appearedφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
• to him in a dreamὄναρonar · dreamG3677
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• JosephἸωσήφIōsēph · JosephG2501
• sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• do not be afraidφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• to takeπαραλαμβάνωparalambanō · to takeG3880
• MaryΜαρίαMaria Mariam · MaryG3137
• as your wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• the Child whoὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• conceivedγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
• in her is of the Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151

Cross-references for Matthew 1:20

• Psalms 25:8Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
• Psalms 94:19When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.
• Psalms 119:125I am Your servant; give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies.
• Psalms 143:8Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.
• Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
• Proverbs 12:5The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
• Isaiah 26:3The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.
• Isaiah 30:21Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
• Judges 13:3Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son.
• Luke 1:10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.
• Luke 2:8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
• Matthew 2:13Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”
• Genesis 31:11Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’
• Numbers 12:6He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream.
• Job 4:13Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,
• Job 33:15In a dream, a vision of the night, When sound sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds,

Commentaries on Matthew 1:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20That which is conceived (or formed) in her - So I think should be translated in this place: as it appears that the human nature of Jesus Christ was a real creation in the womb of the virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The angel of the Lord mentioned here was probably the angel Gabriel, who, six months before, bad been sent to Zacharias and Elisabeth, to announce the birth of Christ's forerunner, John the Baptist. See Luke 1:36.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20He thought on these things - He did not act hastily. He did not take the course which the law would have permitted him to do, if he had been hasty, violent, or unjust. It was a case deeply affecting his happiness, his character, and the reputation and character of his chosen companion. God will guide the thoughtful and the anxious. And when we have looked patiently at a perplexed subject, and know not what to do, then God, as in the case of Joseph, will…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entered into this lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honours of this world, when compared with piety and holiness. The mystery of Christ's becoming man is to be adored, not curiously inquired into. It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been communicated to all the race of Adam…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20The angel of the Lord told Joseph in a dream (see Matthew 2:12–13, 19, 22) that no one had seduced or harmed Mary. Instead, the baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:34–35). The Holy Spirit often plays a creative and life-giving role (Genesis 1:2; Ezekiel 37:1–14; John 3:5–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. But while he thought on these things--Who would not feel for him after receiving such intelligence, and before receiving any light from above? As he brooded over the matter alone, in the stillness of the night, his domestic prospects darkened and his happiness blasted for life, his mind slowly making itself up to the painful step, yet planning how to do it in the way least offensive--at the last extremity the Lord Himself interposes. behold, the angel…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 1:20

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Conception
• Dream
• Faith
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Joseph
• Miracles
• Trinity

In the dictionaries

• David
• Holy Ghost
• Angel of the Lord
• Angel
• Betroth
• Divination
• Dream
• Husband
• Interpret
• Mary

Commentaries on Matthew 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings