1:25a
But: After Joseph married Mary, he did not do what is normally expected for a newly married couple. He did not have sexual relations with her. In grammar, when something happens that is not expected, it is called “contra-expectation.” Many English versions introduce this contra-expectation with the conjunction But.
Here are some other ways to introduce this:
However
-or-
Contrary to what was expected
he had no union with her: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as had no union with her is a euphemism. It was a polite way in Jewish culture to say that Joseph did not have sexual intercourse with Mary while she was pregnant.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
he did not lie/sleep with her
-or-
had no marital/sexual relations with her
-or-
kept her a virgin (New American Standard Bible)
Be careful to use an expression that will be appropriate for public reading. Also see the note at 1:18c on “before they came together,” which is a similar expression.
until she gave birth to a Son: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as until refers to the end of a period of time. While Mary was pregnant, Joseph did not have relations with her.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
before she gave birth to her son (Good News Translation)
-or-
up to the time she bore her son
1:25b
And he gave Him the name Jesus: In Jewish culture, it was the father who named the child. Joseph was the legal father (but not the physical father). So he was the one who gave the name to the baby.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Joseph named the child Jesus. (God’s Word)
-or-
Then Joseph named him Jesus. (Contemporary English Version)
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