What Does Matthew 1:25 Mean in the King James?

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Matthew 1:25 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The child’s name is more than a label: ⁨Ἰησοῦς⁩ (Iēsous, “Jesus”) carries ⁨יֵשׁוּעַ⁩ (Yeshua, “deliverance”), naming a nature that moves from constriction toward wholeness.

THE MEANING

The verse presents a birth without Joseph’s sexual union with Mary before the child arrives, and a name that carries deliverance as nature. For the reader now, “until” marks only the span this sentence names; it does not by itself tell what follows.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The assumption that “Jesus” is only a label gives way to a name that carries the nature of deliverance.

THE ROOT

ὄνομα

onoma

GROWS FROM

ὀνομ-

onom-

The Greek base for name or designation.

The Greek noun ⁨ὄνομα⁩ (onoma, “name”) belongs to the same family as words for naming and designation. Its force here comes from the identity carried by ⁨Ἰησοῦς⁩ (Iēsous, “Jesus”), the Greek form of ⁨יֵשׁוּעַ⁩ (Yeshua, “deliverance”).

ALSO GROWS

onomazō: To name or designate.

ὀνομάζω

This naming verb shares the ⁨ὀνομ-⁩ (onom-) base, linking the name given to the act of naming.

onomasia: Naming or designation.

ὀνομασία

This word shares the ⁨ὀνομ-⁩ (onom-) base and shows the family includes the act or manner of naming.

יֵשׁוּעַ

Yeshua

GROWS FROM

יָשַׁע

yashaʿ

To deliver or rescue, bringing someone out of constriction toward room to live.

“Jesus” in this verse is Yeshua. The Hebrew name ⁨יֵשׁוּעַ⁩ (Yeshua, “deliverance”) belongs to ⁨יָשַׁע⁩ (yashaʿ, “deliver”). Its family names both deliverance and the deliverer, so the name carries movement out of constriction toward spaciousness.

ALSO GROWS

yeshuah: Deliverance or rescue.

יְשׁוּעָה

This noun shares the ⁨י־שׁ־ע⁩ (y-sh-ʿ) root and names the deliverance carried by the child’s name.

moshia: Deliverer or rescuer.

מוֹשִׁיעַ

This word shares the ⁨י־שׁ־ע⁩ (y-sh-ʿ) root and names the one who brings deliverance.

THE PATTERN

Scripture’s names disclose the nature or work carried by the one named.

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Exodus 3:14 · KJVThe name “I AM” discloses the nature presented in the name itself.

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

Matthew 1:21 · KJVThe reason given for the name Jesus ties it directly to the work of deliverance.

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

John 1:42 · KJVThe name Cephas is interpreted as “A stone,” making the name a disclosure of what Simon is called.

THE THREAD

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

Matthew 1:21 · KJV

Matthew 1:21 repeats the naming and makes its deliverance meaning explicit. The Greek name ⁨Ἰησοῦς⁩ (Iēsous, “Jesus”) carries ⁨יֵשׁוּעַ⁩ (Yeshua, “deliverance”), from ⁨יָשַׁע⁩ (yashaʿ, “deliver”); the name is the nature made plain.

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