Matthew 1:18-20

Amplified Bible

Conception and Birth of Jesus

¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been ^[a]betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by [the power of] the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹And Joseph her [promised] husband, being a just and righteous man and not wanting to expose her publicly to shame, planned to send her away and divorce her quietly. ²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been ^[b]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

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Footnotes

Matthew 1:18 The first stage of marriage (called shiddukin in Hebrew) in Jewish tradition and law, usually lasting for a year before the wedding night; unlike an engagement, it was legally binding and required a divorce to nullify it. The woman remained with her parents during the betrothal year and was referred to as a “wife” even though the marriage was not consummated during this period of time (cf Deut 22:23, 24).
Matthew 1:20 Lit begotten.