Matthew 1:25 in the King James Version reads:

"And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."

This verse comes at the end of the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, which is the genealogy of Jesus. It is the concluding verse of the chapter, which covers the birth of Jesus Christ.

The context of this verse is that Joseph, who was engaged to Mary, discovered that she was pregnant before they came together. In those days, engagement was as binding as marriage, and adultery was grounds for a divorce. Joseph, being a just man, did not want to make a public example of Mary, so he decided to put her away privately. However, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, and reassured him that the child Mary bore was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and that he should take Mary as his wife.

The verse itself refers to the fact that Joseph refrained from having marital relations with Mary until after she had given birth to Jesus. This highlights Joseph's obedience to the message he received from the angel, and also emphasizes the miraculous nature of Jesus' conception.

One of the dominant themes of this verse is the divine nature of Jesus' birth. The phrase "her firstborn son" serves as a reminder of the virgin birth, which is a central tenet of Christian belief. The Gospel of Matthew establishes this fact to emphasize that Jesus is the Son of God, born to a virgin, and this is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 - "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

The name "Immanuel" means "God with us," and it signifies the presence of God in the birth of Jesus. By calling the child Jesus, Joseph was faithfully carrying out the instruction of the angel, who had told him to name the child Jesus because "he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Thus, the name Jesus not only denotes his human identity but also his divine purpose as the savior of the world.

Another theme that emerges from this verse is the obedience and faithfulness of Joseph. Despite the social stigma and personal struggle he must have faced, he willingly obeyed the commands of God and took Mary as his wife. In doing so, he became the earthly father of Jesus, fulfilling his role in the divine plan of salvation.

Symbolically, the verse signifies the fulfillment of God's promises. Throughout the Old Testament, there are prophecies about the coming Messiah, and the birth of Jesus fulfills those prophecies. This verse, therefore, represents the culmination of God's plan for the redemption of humanity. It symbolizes the beginning of a new era, as Jesus, the Messiah, enters the world to bring salvation to all who believe in him.

In conclusion, Matthew 1:25 is a pivotal verse in the Gospel of Matthew as it solidifies the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth and highlights the obedience and faithfulness of Joseph. It also serves as a reminder of the fulfillment of God's promises and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of humanity. This verse holds significant theological and symbolic meaning, and it continues to be a cornerstone of Christian belief and the proclamation of the gospel.