The five women in Jesus's family line
Most of the genealogy in Matthew 1 lists fathers and sons. Five women are named or mentioned too, and each has a story worth reading.
1. Tamar (Thamar)
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;Matthew 1:3 (KJV)
Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah. Her story is in Genesis 38, and she became the mother of twins, Pharez and Zarah.
2. Rahab (Rachab)
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;Matthew 1:5 (KJV)
Rahab lived in Jericho and hid Israel's two spies (Joshua 2). She and her family were saved when the city fell (Joshua 6:25), and Hebrews 11:31 names her for her faith. Matthew lists her as the mother of Boaz.
3. Ruth
Ruth was a Moabitess who stayed with her mother-in-law, Naomi. She married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:13–22).
4. Bathsheba (“her that had been the wife of Urias”)
And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;Matthew 1:6 (KJV)
Matthew does not use her name. Her story is in 2 Samuel 11–12, and she was the mother of Solomon.
5. Mary
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.Matthew 1:16 (KJV)
The genealogy ends with Mary, the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1–2).
Old spellings
The King James Version spells several names the Greek way in Matthew 1: Thamar for Tamar, Rachab for Rahab, Booz for Boaz and Urias for Uriah.
“Name a woman in Jesus's family line” is a real Overflow Bible prompt. Mary and Ruth are the common answers. Tamar and Bathsheba score more.