The genealogy of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter 1 has sparked much discussion and debate over the centuries. Specifically, questions have arisen over Matthew’s division of the genealogy into three groups of 14 generations each (Matthew 1:17). A careful examination of the names listed reveals that this tidy division does not seem to match the actual number of generations between significant figures like David, the deportation to Babylon, and Jesus.
There are several possible explanations that Bible scholars have proposed for this apparent discrepancy:
1. Matthew skipped generations for symbolic purposes
Matthew specifically says there are 14 generations in each of the three divisions he lists. It seems likely that Matthew arranged and edited the genealogy to highlight this symbolically significant number, even if it meant leaving out some names. The number 14 has symbolic meaning in Matthew’s gospel, representing the numerical value of the name David. By dividing the generations into three sets of 14, Matthew could have been underscoring Jesus’ identity as the promised Messianic “son of David” (Matthew 1:1).
2. Matthew followed the conventions of ancient genealogies
In the ancient world, genealogies were often structured and arranged to make theological, historical, or numerical points, rather than just listing every single generation in precise historical order. Matthew seems to be following this ancient literary practice. Many ancients also only included the most prominent or noteworthy ancestors and left out minor names. So Matthew likely selected and shaped the genealogy as he did to highlight key figures and themes for his readers.
3. The meaning of “generation” is flexible
The Greek word translated “generation” can sometimes refer to a span of time as well as a single generation. So some propose Matthew used a more flexible definition of “generation” as roughly 100 years or the lifespan of a noteworthy person. In this view, Matthew is using symbolic numbers and meanings more than precise chronology.
4. The existence of a gap due to an adoption or levirate marriage
Genealogies sometimes contained gaps due to adoptions, levirate marriages (where a man married his brother’s widow), or other non-biological descents. Some propose that such a gap exists in Matthew’s genealogy, which could reconcile the discrepancy in the number of generations listed. This is plausible, but there is no explicit textual evidence in Matthew for a specific gap.
5. Copyist error in transmission
Another less likely possibility is that a numerical error or omission crept into the transmission of the text of Matthew early in its copying history. But there is no manuscript evidence that points to a definite textual corruption that would impact the counting of generations.
6. Purposeful arrangement to highlight themes
Matthew arranges his genealogy to highlight key themes that point to Jesus’ identity and mission. He breaks the genealogy into three sections to possibly parallel the three stages of biblical history (Abraham to David, David to the exile, the exile to Jesus). This arrangement highlights continuity and culminations in God’s covenant plan through his designated chosen leaders.
Matthew also starts the genealogy with Abraham, highlighting that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham. He ends with Jesus to underscore that he is the culmination of Israel’s history. In between are carefully selected names like David, Solomon, the kings of Judah, and the inclusion of women.
So the arrangement into 14 generations each seems to be a literary device to organize the genealogy and highlight the theological significance of the figures included, rather than a claim about precise chronological accounting. The number 14 itself carries symbolic meaning, so it shapes the presentation more than historical precision.
7. Focus is on the most prominent ancestors
In listing Jesus’ ancestors, Matthew focuses on the most prominent and significant figures in Israel’s history, particularly the Davidic kings. This was common in ancient genealogies. Less important ancestors in between are left out because Matthew’s purpose is not a complete listing, but highlighting Jesus’ connection to key predecessors.
For the first section, Matthew tracks the line of heirs to the throne of Judah from David through Solomon (Matthew 1:6) culminating in Jechoniah. In the second section, he moves from Jeconiah through Zerubbabel and highlights another descendant of David, Shealtiel. Then he culminates with Joseph, Jesus’ legal father. The selective nature of the genealogy allows Matthew to shape it for his purposes, potentially explaining the 14 generations schema.
8. Challenge of tracing ancestry precisely through the Old Testament
Tracing Jesus’ exact ancestry over the span of many centuries presents inherent challenges. The Old Testament includes expansive chronological gaps in places. Also, there are genealogies of Jesus elsewhere in the Gospels that differ from Matthew’s account. So presumably Matthew has honed in on the lineage he sees as most significant for his purposes.
With few precise chronological markers to go by in Old Testament narratives, it can be difficult to establish with certainty the number of generations between figures separated by centuries. So Matthew’s inclusion of 14 generations in each segment may involve some imprecision due to these challenges.
9. Questions around Zerubbabel to Joseph
Most of the questions about the 14 generations schema revolve around the last section from the exile to Jesus. Matthew lists only 13 generations from Zerubbabel to Joseph, so one name appears to be missing after Jechoniah to make 14 generations. But this assumes all the names should align in sequence generation-to-generation, which as discussed above, does not seem to be Matthew’s main concern.
Attempts to find a “missing” generation in this section to make 14 are speculative with no clear textual resolution. But again, the genealogy itself indicates Matthew has already shaped it for theological purposes, so questions about its historicity may be misplaced.
10. Focus is on Jesus’ identity, not chronology
Matthew’s overarching purpose is establishing Jesus’ identity as the Messianic King and rightful heir to the promises God made to David and Israel’s fathers (Matthew 1:1-17). The three sets of 14 generations are likely a literary device to highlight themes and figures Matthew wants to emphasize about God’s covenant faithfulness in preparing the way for Jesus through Israel’s history.
The symbolic use of numbers was common in ancient biblical writings and historical accounts to make spiritual points. So while Matthew’s list does not provide a precise month-to-month genealogy, it accomplishes his purpose of underscoring Jesus’ identity and highlighting the major historical figures through whom Jesus’ kingly ancestry comes.
In the end, Matthew’s genealogy indicates he has shaped the presentation of Jesus’ ancestry around key themes and significant predecessors whose stories set the stage for Jesus’ arrival as Savior-King. The artificial grouping into 14 generations each reflects this literary purpose more than it raises serious historical questions about the factual counting of Jesus’ forebears across many centuries.
