5 Notorious Women in Jesus' Family Tree

The gospel of Matthew opens with a detailed genealogy of Jesus Christ, from Adam to Joseph. In the time of Jesus, a person’s ancestry was crucial to members of the Jewish faith. A Jew traced his or her tribal lineage to one of the twelve sons of Jacob (also called Israel), which was important for land ownership as well as proof of Jewish heritage.

Most readers of Matthew’s gospel don’t take the time to read through all the unfamiliar names, but those who do will notice something unusual: five women are mentioned. Modern Christians will likely not realize the impact of this inclusion. Biblical scholars, however, will know that women were considered very insignificant during the time of Christ and were not normally mentioned in a person’s genealogy; especially since a Jewish man might have multiple wives. These five women are all mentioned in the Old Testament by name and most are not the type of women one would associate with the Savior.

Tamar: The Liar

The story of Tamar is recounted in chapter 38 of Genesis. She was the wife of Judah’s son and became a widow when her husband died. According to Jewish tradition, Judah, Tamar’s father-in-law, was obligated to marry her to one of his other sons. This second son died, and Judah considered Tamar a source of bad luck. He told her to wait until his youngest son grew up, but then decided not to give him in marriage to his unlucky daughter-in-law. Concerned for her future, Tamar tricked Judah by dressing as a prostitute, covering her face with a veil and sleeping with him. She became pregnant with twins, thus ensuring her future protection by Judah. One of the twins, Perez, is in Jesus’ lineage and fulfills the prophecy that the Messiah will come from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10).

Rahab: The Prostitute

Rahab’s story is related in the Old Testament book of Joshua. Before taking over the city of Jericho, Moses’ successor, Joshua, sends spies into the city to find the best way to conquer it. The spies stay in a house owned by the prostitute Rahab. She hides the men during a search because she has heard of the amazing stories of the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land and decides she wants to be on their side during the battle for control of Jericho. In return, the spies promise protection for her and anyone who is in her house during the onslaught. After the walls of Jericho fall, the promise is kept and Rahab and her family were taken in by the Israelites. She marries Salmon, and interestingly, gives birth to Boaz, who will marry the next woman mentioned in the genealogy, Ruth.

Bathsheba: The Master Manipulator

Matthew does not list Bathsheba by name, but refers to her as “the wife of Uriah.” (Matthew 1:6). Unfortunately, Bathsheba often gets a bad rap for seducing King David by bathing naked where he could see her. However, a careful reading of 2 Samuel 11:1-4 tells another story. Bathsheba was merely following the Jewish law that women must be purified after their monthly periods by bathing in a ritual bath provided by the community. She was just minding her own business and happened to attract the attention of the king, who was standing on the roof, perhaps for a better view of the bathing site. David sends for her, knowing that she was the wife of one of his best soldiers. We don’t know if she was raped or submitted willingly, but she becomes pregnant and David has her husband killed in battle to cover up his sin. Bathsheba gets a certain revenge, however, later in the story. Her son Solomon, is not the rightful heir to the throne, but she convinces David to make him king. As a result, she becomes queen by Jewish tradition that the king’s mother (not his wife) is the queen of Israel.

Mary: The Virgin

The final woman mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy is Jesus’ own mother, Mary. According to the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” It would certainly not be remarkable for a woman who was a virgin to get married and have a son, yet it would be extraordinary for a virgin to “conceive and bear a son.” This famous virgin is Mary, who conceives by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) and gives birth to the Savior. Mary and Joseph end the genealogy of Jesus, but we are all adopted sons and daughters: “He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5).