The King Arrives
But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:25 · Berean Standard Bible
Joseph and Mary didn't come together as husband and wife until after Jesus was born. And Joseph gave the baby the name Jesus, just as the angel had told him to.
By naming the child, Joseph was publicly saying: this is my son, he belongs to my family. It was an act of love and acceptance.
Matthew wraps up the birth story.
Everything the angel said came to pass. Jesus is born, named, and legally established in David's royal line.
The phrase heos hou (until) with the imperfect verb emphasizes that the marriage was not consummated before Jesus's birth, affirming the virgin birth. Joseph's naming of the child exercises paternal authority, establishing legal fatherhood.
In Jewish custom, the father's act of naming a child was a legal declaration of paternity and authority. Joseph's naming of Jesus formalized the adoption.
Matthew, concluding the birth narrative.
The virgin birth is confirmed, and Joseph's naming establishes the legal framework for Jesus's Davidic kingship.
23“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
24When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and embraced Mary as his wife.
25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
Read all of Matthew 1 — The New Testament opens with a genealogy — and every name carries a story. Two great promises converge in one person. This is where it all comes together.
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