Matthew 1:4

Letters to the Faithful - Matthew 1:4

Berean Standard Bible
Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.

King James Bible
And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

Greek Text:
Ἀρὰμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀμειναδὰβ, Ἀμειναδὰβ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ναασσών, Ναασσὼν δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Σαλμών,

Transliteration:
Aram de egennēsen ton Ameinadab, Ameinadab de egennēsen ton Naassōn, Naassōn de egennēsen ton Salmōn,

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Ram was the father of Amminadab
Ram, also known as Aram in some genealogies, is a descendant of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. This lineage is significant as it traces the ancestry of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ, fulfilling the prophecy that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10). The genealogical record emphasizes the continuity of God's covenant promises through specific family lines. Amminadab, Ram's son, is noted in the Old Testament as the father-in-law of Aaron, Moses' brother, which connects this genealogy to the priestly line (Exodus 6:23).

Amminadab the father of Nahshon
Amminadab's son, Nahshon, plays a notable role in the history of Israel. Nahshon is recognized as a leader of the tribe of Judah during the Israelites' wilderness journey (Numbers 1:7). His leadership position underscores the prominence of the tribe of Judah among the Israelites. Nahshon's role in the wilderness period is significant as he is mentioned in the context of the census and the arrangement of the camp, highlighting the organizational structure of the tribes as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.

Nahshon the father of Salmon
Nahshon's son, Salmon, is an important figure in the genealogy leading to King David and Jesus. Salmon is traditionally identified as the husband of Rahab, the Canaanite woman who hid the Israelite spies in Jericho (Joshua 2:1-21). This connection illustrates the inclusion of Gentiles in the Messianic line, foreshadowing the universal scope of the Gospel. Salmon's marriage to Rahab also demonstrates God's grace and redemption, as Rahab's faith led to her becoming part of the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:5). This inclusion of a Gentile woman in the genealogy highlights the breaking down of ethnic barriers in God's redemptive plan.

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Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! As we gather in spirit across homes, churches, and communities, I invite you to reflect with me on a single verse from the Holy Scriptures: Matthew 1:4. It reads, in the genealogy of our Savior, “Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.” At first glance, this may seem like a simple list of names, a thread in the tapestry of Christ’s ancestry. Yet, within these names lies a profound testimony to God’s grace, His faithfulness, and His purpose that weaves through generations—including ours.  

You might wonder: why pause here, on this verse, amid the grand narrative of Matthew’s Gospel? The answer is simple yet wondrous: God’s story is not only in the miracles, the sermons, or the cross—though these are central—but also in the quiet, steady unfolding of His plan through ordinary lives. Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, and Salmon were not kings or prophets in the way we often imagine heroes of faith. They were men of Israel, part of a people chosen not for their greatness, but for God’s glory. And yet, through them, the line of the Messiah was carried forward.  

Consider Nahshon, a name that stands out if we look to the Old Testament. In Numbers 1:7, he is named a leader of the tribe of Judah during the exodus—a man who, tradition holds, stepped into the Red Sea before it parted, trusting God’s promise. Whether this story is in view here or not, Nahshon’s inclusion reminds us that God uses those who walk in faith, even when the waters seem deep and the way unclear. Protestant brothers and sisters, is this not our calling today? To trust God’s leading, to step forward in obedience, even when the world around us feels uncertain?  

But let us not miss the broader wonder of this genealogy. Matthew 1 traces the lineage of Jesus through Judah, through men like Ram and Amminadab—figures we know little about—and yet God knew them. He chose them. This is the heartbeat of the Gospel: God works through the overlooked, the ordinary, the flawed. A few verses later, we encounter Rahab and Ruth, women of courage from outside Israel, and even David, a king whose sins were great yet whose heart turned back to God. The lineage of Christ is not a parade of perfection, but a testimony of redemption.  

Dear church, what does this mean for us? First, it assures us that God’s grace is not reserved for the mighty or the spotless. You and I, with our struggles, our quiet faithfulness, our stumbles and recoveries—we are not disqualified from God’s story. The same God who wove Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, and Salmon into the ancestry of Christ is weaving your life into His eternal purpose. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Your name, too, is known to Him.  

Second, this verse calls us to perseverance. These men lived in times of wandering, of waiting, of promise yet unfulfilled. They did not see the Messiah, but they carried the hope forward. So it is with us. We live between Christ’s first coming and His return, and our task is to hold fast, to pass on the faith, to trust that God is building something eternal through us.  

Finally, let us rejoice in the One to whom this genealogy points: Jesus, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the Son of God. Matthew 1:4 is not the climax, but it is a stepping stone to the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb. Every name in this list whispers of God’s faithfulness, culminating in the Name above all names.  

So, beloved, take heart. Whether you feel like a Nahshon, standing at the edge of the sea, or a Ram, known only to God in quiet obedience, you are part of His story. Live in faith, rest in grace, and look to Christ, our Savior and King. May the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Him, now and forever. Amen.  

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O Eternal and Sovereign God, Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, whose hand has woven the tapestry of time and whose mercy endures from generation to generation, we bow before Your boundless majesty, lifting our hearts in fervent prayer and adoration. You are the Alpha and Omega, the One who was, who is, and who is to come, and in Your divine providence, You have ordained the lineage of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, through the generations named in Your holy Word. As we meditate upon the sacred genealogy in Matthew, where Aram begat Aminadab, Aminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, we stand in awe of Your unchanging faithfulness, which stretches across the ages, binding Your promises to Your people with cords of everlasting love.

O Lord, You are the God of covenant and continuity, who calls forth families, tribes, and nations to walk in the light of Your truth. From Aram to Salmon, each name in this lineage whispers of Your purposeful design, a testament to Your unwavering commitment to redeem a fallen world. We praise You for Your meticulous care, for not one step in the journey of Your people has been left to chance. As You guided these ancestors through the wilderness of human history, so too do You guide us, Your children, today. We confess our need for Your wisdom and strength, for we are frail, and the world around us is fraught with trials and temptations. Yet, in Your grace, You have made us heirs of the same promise, grafted into the lineage of Your Son, the King of kings.

Father of all mercies, we pray for the church universal, Your body scattered across the earth. May Your Spirit unite us as one family, regardless of tongue, tribe, or nation, that we might reflect the harmony of Your divine plan. Strengthen those who labor in Your vineyard, pastors and teachers, missionaries and servants, who proclaim the gospel of Christ, the Seed of the woman, born through the line You ordained. Grant them boldness like Nahshon, who led with courage, and humility like Salmon, who served in quiet faithfulness. Equip Your people to shine as lights in a world shrouded in darkness, bearing witness to the hope that is found only in Jesus.

O God of all compassion, we lift before You the weary and the broken, those who wander far from Your fold, those burdened by sin, sorrow, or despair. Just as You never abandoned Your people through the generations, pursue the lost with Your relentless love. Draw them to the cross, where the blood of Your Son, descended from this holy lineage, cleanses and restores. Heal the sick, comfort the grieving, and provide for the needy, for You are the God who sees and sustains. We pray for the leaders of nations, that they might govern with justice and seek the welfare of all, remembering that You alone are the King eternal, whose throne endures forever.

Most gracious Lord, we intercede for the generations yet to come, the children and their children, who will inherit the faith we proclaim. May they know You as the God who keeps His word, who fulfilled Your promise through the line of Aram, Aminadab, Nahshon, and Salmon, culminating in the birth of Emmanuel, God with us. Stir in us a zeal to pass down this sacred trust, teaching our descendants to love You with all their heart, soul, and mind. Let our lives be living epistles, written by Your Spirit, that the story of Your redemption might resound through every age until Christ returns in glory.

We offer this prayer in the precious and holy name of Jesus Christ, the Root and Offspring of David, the Lion of Judah, who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forevermore. Amen.