Matthew 1:18

¹⁶ And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

²⁰ But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
KJV: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
WEB: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
ASV: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
DARBY: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: His mother, Mary, that is, having been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of [the] Holy Spirit.
BLB: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: His mother Mary, having been betrothed to Joseph, before their coming together was found having in womb from the Holy Spirit.

ÅB: Slik gikk det til da Jesus Kristus ble født: Hans mor Maria var lovet i ekteskap til Josef. Men før de var kommet sammen, viste det seg at hun var gravid ved den Hellige Ånd.
OTB: Nå skjedde Jesu Messias' fødsel på denne måten: Da hans mor Maria var trolovet med Josef, før de kom sammen, ble hun funnet med barn ved Den Hellige Ånd.
B1930: Men med Jesu Kristi fødsel gikk det således til: Da hans mor Maria var trolovet med Josef, viste det sig, før de var kommet sammen, at hun var fruktsommelig ved den Hellige Ånd.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Galatians 4:4–5
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Read in context
Luke 1:27–38
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Read in context
Hebrews 10:5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Read in context
Job 14:4
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Read in context
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Read in context
Job 15:14
What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
Read in context
Hebrews 7:26
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Read in context
Luke 1:25
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
Read in context