Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Matthew 1:18–20

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
¶ 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.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
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.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

3 selected · 7 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 18

  1. Galatians 4:4–5Rank 1 from verse 18
    Open

    4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

    5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

  2. Luke 1:27–38Rank 2 from verse 18
    Open

    27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

    28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

    29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

    30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

    31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

    32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

    33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

    34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

    35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

    36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

    37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

    38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

  3. Hebrews 10:5Rank 3 from verse 18
    Open

    5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

  4. Job 14:4Rank 4 from verse 18
    Open

    4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

  5. Genesis 3:15Rank 5 from verse 18
    Open

    15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

From verse 19

  1. Deuteronomy 22:21–24Rank 1 from verse 19
    Open

    21Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.

    22¶ If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

    23¶ If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;

    24Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

  2. Deuteronomy 24:1–4Rank 2 from verse 19
    Open

    1WHEN a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

    2And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.

    3And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;

    4Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

  3. John 8:4–5Rank 3 from verse 19
    Open

    4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

    5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

  4. Mark 6:20Rank 4 from verse 19
    Open

    20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

  5. Genesis 38:24Rank 5 from verse 19
    Open

    24¶ And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

From verse 20

  1. Proverbs 3:5–6Rank 1 from verse 20
    Open

    5¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

    6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

  2. Luke 1:19Rank 2 from verse 20
    Open

    19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

  3. Matthew 1:18Rank 3 from verse 20
    Open

    18¶ 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.

  4. Joel 2:28Rank 4 from verse 20
    Open

    28¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

  5. Luke 2:4Rank 5 from verse 20
    Open

    4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 1:18

COMBINED MEANING

birth

↗

Sense 1: The act or process of coming into life or bringing forth. Sense 2: That which is born; offspring. Sense 3: Origin, lineage, or one's place or condition as determined by birth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

Jesus Christ

↗

The eternal Word and Son of God, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Christ

↗

The Anointed One; the same title as Messias.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

on

↗

1. At, upon, or in contact with the named place, object, side, or time. 2. Toward, against, concerning, depending upon, or directed to the named person or thing. 3. Forward or continuing; in joined expressions such as go on, put on, and lay hold on, the other words supply the particular action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wise

↗

Sense 1: Possessing or exercising understanding, knowledge, prudence, judgment, discernment, or skill; also a wise person. Sense 2: In phrases such as in no wise, way, manner, respect, or degree.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mother

↗

Sense 1: A female parent. Sense 2: Figuratively, a source, chief city, or maternal relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

child

↗

1. A son or daughter; an offspring or descendant. 2. A young person or infant, considered by age or development. 3. In 'with child,' pregnant or carrying an unborn child. 4. One described as belonging to, derived from, characterized by, or dependent upon another person, group, or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

holy

↗

Sense 1: Morally pure, righteous, undefiled, and separate from evil; supremely so of God. Sense 2: Hallowed, consecrated, set apart, devoted, or belonging to God or sacred use; distinguished from what is common, profane, or unclean.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ghost

↗

Sense 1: A spirit. Sense 2: In the title Holy Ghost, the divine Spirit of God. Sense 3: The life or spirit yielded up at death, in the expression to give or yield up the ghost.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 1:19

COMBINED MEANING

husband

↗

Sense 1: A married man in relation to his wife. Sense 2: One who manages or cultivates carefully.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

willing

↗

Disposed, ready, or consenting by choice; desiring or intending to do the stated thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

make

↗

To form, create, produce, cause, appoint, perform, or render into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

example

↗

A person, act, event, pattern, representation, or exhibited case set before others for imitation, instruction, admonition, warning, public exposure, or judgment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

minded

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of mind, meaning to attend to, regard, remember, purpose, or be disposed toward something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

put

↗

To place, set, lay, appoint, bring into a condition, or cause to be.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

privily

↗

Secretly, privately, covertly, without public notice, or in a concealed manner.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 1:20

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

thought

↗

Sense 1: Past tense and past participle of think: considered, supposed, intended, purposed, judged, reckoned, or called to mind. Sense 2: A thought, intention, purpose, judgment, or matter of the mind or heart. Sense 3: In the phrase ‘take thought,’ anxious care or concern.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

on

↗

1. At, upon, or in contact with the named place, object, side, or time. 2. Toward, against, concerning, depending upon, or directed to the named person or thing. 3. Forward or continuing; in joined expressions such as go on, put on, and lay hold on, the other words supply the particular action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

angel

↗

Sense 1: A messenger. Sense 2: A heavenly or spiritual messenger, whether holy or fallen as stated.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Lord

↗

1. A title of God or Jesus Christ acknowledging authority and rule. 2. A respectful title or address for one in authority.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

appeared

↗

1. Came into sight or presence; became visible or manifest. 2. Seemed or had an outward appearance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dream

↗

Sense 1: Thoughts, images, or visions experienced in sleep. Sense 2: To experience images or thoughts in sleep, especially a vision in a dream.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fear

↗

1. Alarm, dread, terror, or apprehension. 2. Reverence, awe, or respectful regard. 3. A person, thing, or event feared or revered. 4. To fear, dread, or reverence.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

take

↗

To receive, seize, carry, accept, choose, or lay hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

conceived

↗

Sense 1: Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of conceive, meaning to become pregnant. Sense 2: To form an idea, plan, purpose, or understanding in the mind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

holy

↗

Sense 1: Morally pure, righteous, undefiled, and separate from evil; supremely so of God. Sense 2: Hallowed, consecrated, set apart, devoted, or belonging to God or sacred use; distinguished from what is common, profane, or unclean.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ghost

↗

Sense 1: A spirit. Sense 2: In the title Holy Ghost, the divine Spirit of God. Sense 3: The life or spirit yielded up at death, in the expression to give or yield up the ghost.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

18¶ 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.

Selected passage

19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Selected passage

20But 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.

Selected passage

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.