And Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. The genealogy's syntax changes at the last entry: every previous generation was described as father of, but Joseph is described as the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born. The passive of whom makes Mary the grammatical antecedent — Jesus was born of Mary, not of Joseph. The genealogy has been building to this moment: the legal lineage through Joseph establishes Jesus' right to the Davidic throne, but the actual birth is through Mary alone, clearing the curse on Jechoniah while maintaining the royal claim. Christ — the Greek translation of Messiah, the Anointed One — is applied here for the first time in the gospel.

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