What Does “Beget” Mean in the Bible?
To be the father of. “Jacob begot Joseph” means that Jacob was Joseph’s father.
It can mean
- In the Bible: this is how the list of Jesus’ ancestors is told, from father to son, starting with Abraham.
- Careful: with Joseph the wording changes: “Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus.”
Where it appears in the Bible
Matthew 1:16; Matthew 1:2
What the Bible says
Matthew 1:16
And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Matthew 1:2
Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Cambridge Dictionary, “beget”