What significance do the names in Matthew 1:14 hold in biblical history? The verse in focus “Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud.” (Matthew 1:14) Where these men fit in the unfolding story • They stand in the middle section of Matthew’s genealogy—after the Babylonian exile (v.12) and before Joseph (v.16). • They represent four successive generations who carried the covenant promise from roughly 500 BC to 100 BC. • Though Scripture records nothing else about their lives, the Holy Spirit inscribed their names to prove an unbroken, literal line from David to Christ (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:1). Meanings of their names and why they matter • Azor—“Helper” or “Yahweh has helped.” His name quietly announces that God sustained the remnant when royal power seemed lost (Isaiah 41:10-13). • Zadok—“Righteous.” Echoes the famous priest Zadok who remained faithful to David (2 Samuel 8:17). The name reminds readers that righteousness, not mere pedigree, keeps the covenant alive (Proverbs 14:34). • Achim (Akim)—“The LORD will establish.” In an era of political upheaval, his very name preached that God, not Persia or Greece, would raise up the throne of David (Jeremiah 30:17-22). • Eliud—“God is majesty/praise.” His generation’s task was to keep worship alive while waiting for the King of glory (Psalm 24:7-10). Echoes of Israel’s larger story • Priest-King unity: Zadok’s priestly association alongside Davidic descent foreshadows Messiah’s dual role (Zechariah 6:13; Hebrews 7:1-2). • Post-exilic hope: Each name forms a stepping-stone across the “silent years,” assuring that God never forgot His oath (Malachi 3:16-18; Luke 1:55). • From obscurity to fulfillment: Anonymous descendants preserve a line that will burst into public view with Jesus’ birth (Galatians 4:4-5). Lessons woven into the genealogy • God works through ordinary families to accomplish extraordinary redemption. • Name meanings become miniature sermons, announcing help, righteousness, stability, and praise long before the Savior arrived. • The literal accuracy of Scripture’s records undergirds the credibility of every promise God makes (Numbers 23:19; Matthew 24:35). |
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