Reflections on Dissections: S5E20 — Finale
Reversing the curse in 14 tracks
< Previous: S5E19 — “DUCKWORTH.”
This post is a companion to Dissect Podcast Season 5 Episode 20
In our last post we explored the theme of reversals, which was punctuated by Anthony and Ducky reversing the curse of fatherlessness and turning it into a blessing for future generations. We also noted how “DUCKWORTH.” seemed to specifically highlight the theme of reversals that is present throughout the album.
“DUCKWORTH.” initially drew attention to the reversal theme during the track’s intro where Kid Capri said:
Just remember what happens on earth stays on earth.
We gonna’ put it in reverse.”
After Kid Capri’s intro, the song proceeded as normal into the main section of the song, which left us to wonder exactly what Kid Capri meant by “put it in reverse.” Later on the main verse, Kendrick seemed to hint at the thematic significance of “putting it in reverse” when he rapped about Anthony’s decision not to kill Ducky and said:
That one decision changed both of they lives, one curse at a time
Reverse the manifest and good karma, and I’ll tell you why.
If we listened closely to these lyrics in conjunction with Kid Capri’s intro, the lines seemed to suggest that Kid Capri was announcing that it is time to reverse curses into blessings.
However, by the end of the track, the reversal motif becomes simultaneously more prominent and more mysterious after we hear reversed audio segments going backwards through the track order until we arrive at the first track of the album. When we consider these reversed audio segments in conjunction with the phrase “We gonna put it in reverse” one reasonable conclusion is that Kid Capri is telling us to play the album in the reverse track order.
Soon after the release of DAMN., many astute listeners came to this exact conclusion. Some of these listeners even developed elaborate theories which claimed that DAMN has an alternate storyline when played in reverse. Despite the popularity of these theories, there is reason to be skeptical about alternate storylines. In particular, if we try to construct a linear narrative with the reversed track order we will find that Kenny’s mental state often shifts drastically between successive tracks without a clear reason.
For instance, let’s take the song “FEAR.” which begins with a despondent and vengeful Kenny asking God why he has to suffer while also pleading with God to burn up the earth. When we listen to the album in the standard order, “FEAR.” comes after the track “XXX.” Recall that on “XXX.” Kenny went into a rage after finding out that his friend’s son had been killed. The narrative events in “XXX.” thus seem to provide the context that reasonably explains Kenny’s mental state at the beginning of “FEAR.”
In contrast, if we listen to DAMN. in the reverse order “FEAR.” comes after “GOD.” Recall that ”GOD.” is a song whose chorus describes the feeling of being filled with God’s Spirit. Moreover, “GOD.” ends with Kenny’s transcendent realization that his heart is rich and famous because of his relationship with God. Given this context established on “GOD.” there is no clear reason why Kenny is so despondent and vengeful when the reversed-order album transitions to “FEAR.”
Yes, it is possible that Kenny’s mental state suddenly eroded. However, the track “GOD.” does not prepare us for such a narrative development in any significant way. Unless we make up events that are outside of the words spoken on the album, we are left to continue listening to the next track “XXX.” to provide some explanation as to why Kenny is despondent and vengeful on “FEAR.
Hence when we examine the tracks closely it seems that there is not a good case for a truly alternative storyline. Rather, when we listen to the album in reverse we get a non-linear retelling of the linear storyline — the storyline that we hear with the standard order of the album.
Despite the fact that alternative storylines do not seem to hold up to close scrutiny, there is clear evidence that DAMN. was intended to be heard in both the standard and reversed order. The most widely recognized evidence came in December of 2017 when Kendrick released DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION. which consisted of the exact same tracks as the original but in reverse order. Still even before the release of DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION., the fact that the album was designed to played both forward and in reverse was confirmed in an August 2017 interview with MTV News.
KENDRICK LAMAR:
Many of my fans know that my albums get real intricate and there’s always details in there and for the most part they usually have a good listening ear to figure out what’s going on. So I think like a week after the album came out they realized you can listen to the album backwards and it plays as a full story and even a better rhythm. It’s one of my favorite rhythms and tempos within album. So you know they’re pretty on top of the game and its something that we definitely premeditate while we be in the studio
Based on this statement, we might initially assume that Kendrick is confirming that there is an alternate storyline that can be heard if we listen to the album in reverse. However, if we pay close attention we should note that Kendrick never actually said that it was an alternate story, only that it was a “full story.” This distinction became clearer when the interviewer asked a follow up question.
MTV NEWS:
How does the story change playing in the different directions?KENDRICK LAMAR:
I don’t think the story necessarily changes I think the feel changes, you know, and the vibe. The initial vibe when listen from the top all the way to the bottom is just to come in and this aggression and this attitude you know with “DNA.” and exposing who I really am. When you listen from the from the back end it’s almost the duality and the contrast of the intricate Kendrick Lamar. Both of these pieces are who I am
According to Kendrick, DAMN.’s story in the reverse order is not fundamentally different than the story on the standard order. How we experience the story is different. As we noted earlier the story seems to be non-linear when we listen to the album in the reverse order. Moreover, as Kendrick highlighted in the MTV Interview, the feel of the album is different in the reverse order, since more conscientious songs like “LOVE.” “FEAR.” and “GOD.” occur at the beginning of the reverse order before giving way to more combative songs like “ELEMENT.” and “DNA”.
This descent from consciousness to combativeness causes us to feel the more negative effects of moral decay. The idea of a character becoming more combative while moving backwards also illustrates one of the statements that Kendrick made on “m.A.A.d. city”
You movin’ backwards if you suggest that you sleep with a TEC
Go buy a chopper and have a doctor on speed dial, I guess
m.A.A.d. city- from “m.A.A.d. city”
In that line from “m.A.A.d. city”, Kendrick raps about individuals in Compton who are so stuck in a cycle of violence that they have to sleep with a TEC-9 automatic pistol in case a rival gang member tries to take revenge in the middle of the night. While some of Kendrick’s peers might suggest that sleeping with a TEC-9 is the only way to survive in the m.A.A.d. city, Kendrick asserts that these individuals are moving backwards towards death and destruction, much like Kung Fu Kenny when DAMN. is played in the reverse order.
While this explanation of the “feel” of DAMN. changing in reverse is clearly significant, the lack of a truly alternate story might still make us wonder whether there is anything else that makes DAMN.’s reversed track ordering more unique than other albums. After all one could argue that many concept albums will have a different feel if they are heard in the reverse order. Is there something else that’s remarkably different when we listen to the album in reverse?
Ironically, we find more interesting connections between the standard and reverse order when we stop looking for what is different and instead look for what is the same.
1. “BLOOD.” χ “DUCKWORTH.”
For starters, as we noted in the previous post, the tracks “BLOOD.” and “DUCKWORTH.” both tell a self contained story that ends with a gunshot.
She replied, “Oh, yes, you have lost something
You’ve lost… your life”
*Gunshot*- from “BLOOD.”
Because if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be servin’ life
While I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight
*Gunshot*- from “DUCKWORTH.”
Additionally, both “BLOOD.” and “DUCKWORTH.” begin with an introduction in which Bekon presents two interrelated dichotomies.
Is it wickedness? Is it weakness? You decide
Are we gonna live or die?- from “BLOOD.”
It was always me versus the world
Until I found it’s me versus me- from “DUCKWORTH.”
These similarities are even more significant when we recognize that “BLOOD.” is the first track in the standard order and “DUCKWORTH.” is the first track in the reverse order. In a sense, these tracks are mirrors of each other. This pattern of mirrored similarities continues as we go down the track list.
2. “DNA.” χ “GOD.”
In the standard order, the second track, “DNA.” is all about the feelings of power and confidence that Kenny inherited from his earthly father. Similarly, in the reverse order, the second track, “GOD.” is all about the feelings of power and confidence that Kenny inherited from his heavenly Father.
I got power, poison, pain, and joy inside my DNA
I got hustle, though, ambition flow inside my DNA- from “DNA.”
This what God feel like
Laughin’ to the bank like, “A-ha!”
Flex on swole like, “A-ha!”- from “GOD.”
Kenny even links these two songs together during his emotional breakthrough.
’Cause my DNA won’t let me evolve in the light of God
- from “FEAR.”
3. “YAH.” χ “FEAR.”
In the standard order, the third track, “YAH.” makes references to a phone call from Kenny’s cousin Carl Duckworth, the curses of Deuteronomy and Kenny’s identity as an Israelite. Similarly, in the reverse order, the third track “FEAR.” features a phone call from Kenny’s cousin Carl Duckworth who discusses the curses of Deuteronomy and Kenny’s identity as an Israelite.
My cousin called, my cousin Carl Duckworth
Said know my worth
And Deuteronomy say that we all been cursed- from “YAH.”
What’s up, family? Yeah, it’s your cousin Carl, man, just givin’ you a call, man. I know you been havin’ a lot on yo’ mind lately and I know you feel like, you know. People ain’t been prayin’ for you, but you have to understand this, man, that we are a cursed people.
Deuteronomy 28:28 says, “The Lord shall smite thee with madness and blindness, and astonishment of heart”
See, family, that’s why you feel like you feel, like you got a chip on your shoulder, until you follow His commandments, you gonna feel that way…
- from “FEAR.”
Additionally, the musical production of “YAH.” prominently features a reversed sample while “FEAR.” prominently features a section of reversed vocals.
4. “ELEMENT.” χ “XXX.”
In the standard order, on the fourth track, “ELEMENT.” Kenny boasts about using violence to take revenge on anyone who has threatens his family’s livelihood just like Candyman took revenge on people who said his name in front of a mirror. Similarly, in the reverse order, on the fourth track, “XXX.” Kenny advocates using violence to take revenge on anyone who threatens his family’s livelihood and compares America to the mirror that Kenny is standing in front of.
If I gotta slap a pussy-ass nigga, I’ma make it look sexy
If I gotta go hard on a bitch, I’ma make it look sexy
I pull up, hop out, air out, made it look sexy
They won’t take me out my element
…
Just say his name and I promise that you’ll see Candyman- from “ELEMENT.”
I wait in front a nigga’s spot and watch him hit his block
I catch a nigga leavin’ service if that’s all I got
I chip a nigga, then throw the blower in his lap
Walk myself to the court like, “Bitch, I did that!”
…
America’s reflections of me, that’s what a mirror does- from “XXX.”
5. “FEEL.” χ “LOVE.”
In the standard order, on the fifth track, “FEEL.” Kenny questions if his friends and family have pure feelings for him or if they are just around for his money. Similarly, in the reverse order, on the fifth track, “FEEL.”, Kenny questions if his girl has pure feelings for him or if she’s just around for his money.
I feel like friends been overrated
I feel like the family been fakin’
I feel like the feelings are changin’- from “FEEL.”
If I didn’t ride blade on curb, would you still love me?
If I minimized my net-worth, would you still love me?- from “LOVE.”
6. “LOYALTY.” χ “LUST.”
In the standard order, on the sixth track, “LOYALTY.”, Kenny begins by declaring his desire for a girl’s “pussy”, but then turns to God at the very end of the song. Similarly, in the reverse order, on the sixth track, “LUST.”, Kenny begins by declaring his desire for a girls “cat” but turns to God at the very end of the song.
All I want tonight is just get high (High, high, high)
Girl, you look so good, it’s to die for (Die for, fire)
Ooh, that pussy good, it’s to die for
…
I said, tell me who you loyal to
Is it anybody that you would lie for?
Anybody you would slide for?
Anybody you would die for?
That’s what God for- from “LOYALTY.”
I just need you to want me
Am I asking too much?
Let me put the head in
Ooh, I don’t want more than that
Girl, I respect the cat
I promise, just a touch
Let me put the head in
If it’s okay
…
Lately, I lust over self
Lust turn into fear
Lately, in James 4:4 says
“Friend of the world is enemy of the Lord”- from “LUST.”
Additionally, the musical production of “LOYALTY.” prominently features a reversed sample while the musical production of “LUST.” prominently features a reversed drum sample.
7. “PRIDE.” χ “LUST.”
Finally, in the standard order, on the seventh track, “”PRIDE.” Kenny expresses a surprising degree of humility. In contrast, on the track “HUMBLE.” Kenny unexpectedly expresses nothing but pride.
Sick venom in men and women overcome with pride
A perfect world is never perfect, only filled with lies- from “PRIDE.”
Bitch, be humble (Hol’ up, bitch)
Sit down (Hol’ up, lil’, hol’ up, lil’ bitch)- from “HUMBLE.”
DAMN. as a Chiasm
Once we discover the similarities between corresponding tracks in the standard and reverse orders, we see that DAMN.’s track are laid out to form a kind of mirrored symmetry where the first track mirrors the last track, the second track mirrors the second to last track and so on.
Within the world of literature, this mirrored symmetry is a literary device known as a chiasm, in reference to the shape of the Greek letter χ, which is transliterated into the Latin alphabet as “chi”.
Chiasms are utilized in many forms of written and spoken communication. For instance, chiasms are often used in popular sayings and public speeches to construct memorable statements, such as:
Ask not what your country can do for you
— ask what you can do for your country
- John F. KennedyMankind must put an end to war,
or war will put an end to mankind.
- John F. KennedyLet us preach what we practise —
let us practise what we preach.
- Winston ChurchillIf you fail to plan,
then you plan to fail.
In addition to these famous examples of chiasms in modern times we should also note that chiasms are prevalent in many ancient texts. Given the numerous biblical references in DAMN., it is particularly notable that chiasms are used throughout the Bible. For instance, to describe the way that the existing social hierarchy would be reversed in the Kingdom of God, Jesus said.
Many who are first will be last,
and many who are last will be first.- Matthew 19:30
Jesus’s pithy two-phrase chiasms are quite memorable, and seem to serve as a blueprint for the modern use of chiasms in popular sayings and public speeches. Still the Bible contains more elaborate and subtle examples of chiasm.
For instance, one of the earliest and well documented examples of a chiasm in the Bible occurs in the narrative of Noah in Genesis 6–9. In that narrative…
This early example of a chiasm in the very first book of the Bible seems to have inspired later biblical authors to use chiasms to tell other narrative stories. Additionally, later biblical poets often use chiams to reflect back on the themes established in the earlier narratives.
For instance, if we closely examine Psalm 67, we will find a chiastic structure that utilizes a combination of repeated lines and repeated key words.
As we can see when we look at Psalm 67 in the format above, the psalm contains a chiasm that begins and ends with a request for God to “bless us.” The second and second to last sections discuss the tangible ways that God affects the earth. The third section consists of a two line couplet about people praising God. This couplet is repeated verbatim in the third to last section. Finally, the chiasm converges in the fourth section which highlights how God provides guidance to all nations by upholding equality amongst all people.
If we were to read this Psalm without noticing the fact that it is a chiasm, most readers will likely pay most attention to the lines about God blessing us since they occur at the beginning and near the end of the poem. Humans tend to best remember the beginning and end of any form of communication. We thus at some level come to expect that the opening and closing of the psalm will present the main point of the psalm. Assuming that the pronoun “us” refers to the Israelites, it would seem that Psalm 67 is all about how God will bless the Israelites in contrast to other nations.
While God blessing the Israelites is clearly an important idea in Psalm 67, it is not the central idea. Indeed, when we format Psalm 67 as a chiasm it becomes clear that the central point of the poem occurs in the section that says “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy / for You govern the peoples with equality / and guide the nations upon earth.”
As many biblical scholars have attested, the midpoint of a chiasm often contains the most pivotal idea because the entire chiasm quite literally pivots around the midpoint. For instance, in the story of Noah, the central idea is that God remembers Noah — and by proxy all those who turn away from wickedness — in the midst of the chaos that humans have brought upon themselves.
For Psalm 67, the pivotal idea seems to be that God intends to guide all nations toward equality under God’s rule. In fact, this focus on God’s governance over all nations is further emphasized by the very last line of Psalm 67. This final line follows directly after the chiasm and calls on people from all corners of the earth to fear God.
By asserting that bringing God’s governing equality to all nations is the point of God blessing the Israelites, the author of Psalm 67 seems to be restating God’s initial promise to bless Abraham so that all nations would be blessed.
Now the Lord said to Abram,
“Go from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
And I will make you into a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing;
And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”- Genesis 12:1–3
Later on in Abraham’s life, God explained exactly how Abraham would be used to bring blessings to all nations.
The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
- Genesis 18:17–19
As this later passage states, Abraham’s descendants — namely the Israelites — were meant to bring blessings to all nations by living exemplary lives that were guided by God’s way of justice and righteousness. God’s plan to bless Israel as a means of bringing justice and righteousness to all nations echoes the exact same point that is at the center of Psalm 67. Moreover, the themes of blessings and final admonishment to fear God echo the conclusions that Kendrick presented on the final three tracks “FEAR.”, “GOD.” and “DUCKWORTH.” All of these thematic connections seem to support the idea that DAMN.’s chiastic structure was inspired by the use of chiasms within the Bible.
Moreover, if we suspect that DAMN. is modeled after chiasms in the Bible, we should also expect that the midpoint of DAMN. will contain the central point of the album. Interestingly, because DAMN. has an even number of tracks, there are two tracks that collectively form the middle of the chiasm, namely “PRIDE.” and “HUMBLE.”
Recall that DAMN. begins by presenting us with a counterintuitive and dichotomous choice between wickedness and weakness. Later at the beginning of the track “PRIDE.”, we hear the same voice presenting a similarly counterintuitive and dichotomous choice between love and pride. These two counterintuitive dichotomies seem to lead us directly to the central point of the album — which is a much more intuitive choice between pride and humbleness.
Fittingly, the choice between pride and humbleness — or humility as it is more commonly referred to — is one of the most central themes throughout the Bible. This theme becomes particularly apparent in the Book of Samuel, which begins with a story about a mother named Hannah who gives birth to the prophet Samuel and subsequently prays the following words:
My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
Do not go on boasting so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the Lord is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.
The bows of the strong are broken to pieces,
But those who have stumbled strap on strength.
Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry are satisfied.
Even the infertile woman gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.
The Lord puts to death and makes alive;
He brings down to the Grave and brings up.
The Lord makes poor and rich;
He humbles, He also exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the garbage heap
To seat them with princes,
And He gives them a throne of honor as an inheritance;
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the world on them.
He watches over the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by strength shall a person prevail.
Those who contend with the Lord will be terrified;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The Lord will govern the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn of His anointed.
1 Samuel 2:1–10
According to this mother’s prayer, God counters the intuition of the world by bringing down those who are strong, rich and proud while conversely lifting up those who are weak, poor and humble. The themes established in this introductory prayer are then illustrated throughout the rest of 1 and 2 Samuel, which tells the story of the first two kings of Israel.
King Saul, the first of these two kings, is depicted as a strong man whose pride leads to him being brought down all the way to the grave. Simultaneously, the narrative introduces us to a small and weak boy named David who is anointed to be the second king of Israel. Initially, David’s humility leads God to exalt David to become the greatest king in the history of Israel. However, at the height of his power, King David is overcome by lust and chooses to follow his own intuition to use sex, money and murder to get what he wants. In response to David’s destructive pride, God humbles David until David is a shell of his former self. Moreover, David’s fall from grace begins a recurring pattern of Israel’s kings being overcome by pride — which ultimately leads to the Israelites being conquered and exiled from their land.
As later prophets look back at the history of Israel’s downfall, they tend to highlight the failures of David and subsequent kings. At the same time, these prophets looked forward to a day when God would anoint a king who would emulate the righteousness and humility that David displayed earlier half of his story without falling prey to wickedness and pride that doomed the latter half of his story.
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch of David sprout; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.”
- Jeremiah 33:14–15
These prophecies about a righteous king from the line of David lead directly to the New Testament Gospel accounts, most notably to the first chapter of Luke where an angel tells a young virgin woman named Mary that she will give birth to a son named Jesus and that “the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:32). In response to this news, Mary utters a prayer that seems to echo the prayer of Samuel’s mother.
My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant;
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
And He is compassionate to generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And sent the rich away empty-handed.
He has given help to His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
Just as He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.- Luke 1:46–55
Just like the prayer from the introductory section of 1 Samuel, Mary’s prayer declares how God is bringing down those who are rich, powerful and proud while simultaneously lifting up those who are poor, weak, and humble. This counterintuitive re-ordering of the social order subsequently becomes a major theme of Jesus’s teaching. Most notably, on two separate occasions Jesus told a parable that ended with Jesus saying
Everyone exalts himself will be humbled
And the one who humbles himself will be exalted.- Luke 14:11 and Luke 18:14
Fittingly, Jesus used a pithy, two-line chiasm which summarizes the lesson that we should have learned from reading David’s story in the Book of Samuel. Moreover, when Jesus’s messenger Paul, looked back on Jesus’s life, death and resurrection, he presents Jesus as a prototypical example of choosing humility instead of pride.
- Philippians 2:3–11
In this iconic passage, Paul calls on all of Jesus’s followers to emulate Jesus’s humble mindset. Paul then goes on to summarize the narrative arc of the Gospels in the form of a thematic chiasm. The first section focuses on Jesus letting go of his equality with God the Father while the last section depicts Jesus being worshiped as an equal to God the Father. The second section focuses on Jesus becoming indistinguishable from any other human while the second to last section focuses on Jesus being distinguished by receiving a name that is greater than the names of all other humans. Lastly, at the center of the chiasm, one section focuses on how Jesus humbled himself and the following section focuses on how Jesus was exalted by God.
When we look at the trajectory of Jesus’s story arc we see that it is the exact opposite of King David’s. David started off low and went up until God reversed his direction. David then fell back down. In contrast, Jesus started high and lowered himself until God reversed his direction. Jesus was then lifted back up to even greater heights. This difference in trajectory largely comes down to the central choice between exalting oneself or humbling oneself, between pride and humility. This is exactly the same dichotomous choice that Kendrick presents at the center of DAMN.
Interestingly enough, Jesus’s identity as the anointed descendant of David and the motif of reversed directions may also be connected to the number of tracks that exist on DAMN. This connection can be found at the very beginning of the Gospel according to Matthew, which sets the stage for the narrative by providing a genealogical record of Jesus’s ancestors.
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
[1] Abraham fathered Isaac [2], Isaac fathered Jacob [3], and Jacob fathered Judah [4] and his brothers. Judah fathered Perez [5] and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron [6], and Hezron fathered [7] Ram. Ram fathered [8] Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and [9] Nahshon fathered Salmon [10]. Salmon fathered Boaz [11] by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed [12] by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse [13]. Jesse fathered David the king [14].
David fathered Solomon [1] by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon fathered Rehoboam [2], Rehoboam fathered Abijah [3], and Abijah fathered Asa [4]. Asa fathered Jehoshaphat [5], Jehoshaphat fathered Joram [6], and Joram fathered Uzziah [7]. Uzziah fathered Jotham [8], Jotham fathered Ahaz [9], and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah [10]. Hezekiah fathered Manasseh [11], Manasseh fathered Amon [12], and Amon fathered Josiah [13]. Josiah fathered Jeconiah [14] and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
After the deportation to Babylon [1]: Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel [2], and Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel [3]. Zerubbabel fathered Abihud [4], Abihud fathered Eliakim [5], and Eliakim fathered Azor [6]. Azor fathered Zadok [7], Zadok fathered Achim [8], and Achim fathered Eliud [9]. Eliud fathered Eleazar [10], Eleazar fathered Matthan [11], and Matthan fathered Jacob [12]. Jacob fathered Joseph [13] the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah [14].
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
- Matthew 1:1–17
While it is common for most casual readers to skip over this seemingly boring list of names, the author clearly has crafted this genealogy to highlight the significance of Jesus’s birth in a particular place and time.
To begin with the author declares that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David and the son of Abraham. As we’ve previously noted, the word Messiah is a Hebrew word which means “anointed one” and refers to the prophesied king who would be empowered by God’s Spirit in order to lead God’s people. Israel’s prophets consistently declared that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David who would fulfill the promise of God blessing all nations through Abraham’s descendants.
After highlighting Jesus’s connection to King David and Abraham, the author then provides a genealogical list of descendants from Abraham to King David. The author then provides a list of descendants from King David to King Jeconiah, who was exiled and taken prisoner by the Babylonian Empire when the empire conquered the kingdom of Judah. Finally, the author provides a list of descendants from King Jeconiah to Jesus, who the author identifies as the Messiah, the anointed king.
After presenting this list of names, the author summarizes the genealogy by drawing our attention to the fact that the genealogy contains 14 generations from Abraham to King David, 14 generations from King David to the exiled King Jeconiah, and 14 generations from King Jeconiah to the anointed King Jesus.
Although the author doesn’t add any additional explanation, it is clear that readers are supposed to find significance in the common number of generations between Abraham, David, Jeconiah, and Jesus. The first layer of this significance seems to be tied to the number 14 itself.
Throughout the Bible numbers often have symbolic meaning. For instance, periods of 40 often occur when characters are undergoing a period of prolonged testing, such as Noah facing 40 days of flooding, Moses facing God for 40 days on Mount Sinai, the Israelites facing 40 days wandering in the wilderness and Jesus fasting for 40 days in the wilderness.
Another example of numerical symbolism is the number 7, which is frequently used to convey the idea of completion, such as the 7 day creation cycle in Genesis 1. Interestingly enough, one of the places where the number 7 shows up is in the Bible’s first two sets of genealogical records in Genesis 4 and Genesis 5. In both of those two genealogies, important individuals such as Enoch are born in the 7th generation. Given that 14 is a multiple of 7, the author of Matthew’s Gospel seems to be iterating on this established pattern from Genesis.
In addition to recurring use of a specific number in numerous stories, sometimes biblical authors will use a number to encode a proper name. This encoding is much more apparent in Hebrew because each Hebrew letter has an associated numerical value. The most famous example of this encoding is found in the Book of Revelation, where an evil beast is associated with the number 666. 666 happens to be the numerical sum of all the Hebrew letters that spell “Nero Caesar”, the Roman Emperor who enacted the first state-sponsored persecution of Christians.
In the case of Matthew’s genealogy, the number 14 seems to be highlighted in part because 14 is the numerical sum of the Hebrew letters that spell “David”, the man who was born 14 generation after Abraham and whose descendant was prophesied to be the anointed king. Hence, the choice to have 14 tracks on DAMN. may be a subtle nod to Kendrick’s identity as an anointed leader who can show his community how to overcome. The link to David also may be a subtle nod to the inspiration Kendrick has taken from the story of David’s rise and fall, as noted on the track “The Heart Part 3”
And if they said that I’m the one, why you asking me, nigga?
’Cause when the whole world see you as Pac reincarnated
Enough pressure to make you just open the Book of David
And pray to God that you make it or live your life in the Matrix
’Cause falling off is a sickness — I heard that it’s quite contagious- from “The Heart Part 3”
Interestingly, the rise and fall that we see in the story of David and the story of DAMN. is also encapsulated in Matthew’s genealogy. This additional layer of significance seems to be hinted at when the author notes that Jeconiah was sent into exile in Babylon.
Throughout the Bible, Babylon routinely shows up as the place where God punishes and purifies those who have gone astray. This geographic motif is most vividly illustrated during the narratives surrounding the conquest of Jerusalem by the Babylonian empire. The prophets who recounted this historic event clearly depict the conquest and resulting enslavement to the Babylonians as a fulfillment of curses from Deuteronomy 28.
At the same time, the negative associations with Babylon actually begin much earlier in the biblical narrative during the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. In that story, humans from all ethnic groups in the pre-historic world speak a common language and attempt to exalt themselves by building a tower up to the heavens. In response, God brings confusion upon the humans so that they can no longer understand each other. The human society soon becomes divided as various families scatter across the known world.
As it turns out, one of the families that left pre-historic Babylon was Abraham’s family of origin. Subsequently, God called Abraham to leave his family of origin and go to a new land that God promises to give to Abraham’s descendants.
14 generations later, Abraham’s Israelite descendants had taken hold of almost all of the promised land except for the city of Jerusalem, which remained occupied by a group of people known as the Jebusites. After uniting all of the tribes of Israel under his rule, King David conquered Jerusalem and established the city as Israel’s political capital and the site of God’s temple.
For 14 generations, the Israelites went to the temple in Jerusalem to experience God’s blessing until the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians during the reign of King Jeconiah. In the years after King Jeconiah, the Israelites returned to the promised land to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.
However, 14 generations later Jesus declared that his body was the true temple where people of all nations would receive God’s blessing. This declaration was ultimately fulfilled when Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem and rose from the dead on the third day.
Hence, when we focus on the locations associated with Abraham, David, Jeconiah, and Jesus we see that Matthew’s genealogy takes us from Babylon to Jerusalem, back to Babylon and then back to Jerusalem. In other words, each set of 14 generations takes us from a curse to a blessing, back to a curse and ultimately to a blessing.
This back and forth journey between curses and blessings is essentially what we would experience if we listen to the 14 tracks on DAMN. forward, reversed, and then forward. Moreover, just like the sets of 14 generations ultimately led to Jesus, Kung Fu Kenny’s breakthrough occurred when he recognized that it would take 14 tracks to work through his emotions as he waits for the only one capable of providing the true resolution he has been searching for.
What happens on Earth stays on Earth
And I can’t take these feelings with me, so hopefully, they disperse
Within fourteen tracks, carried out over wax
Searchin’ for resolutions until somebody get back- from “FEAR.”
Thus, within the lyrics, narrative, track listing, and literary structure of DAMN. Kendrick ultimately points us to the hope that he has found in Jesus Christ, the anointed king who Kendrick declared to be his Lord and Savior.
Lord God, I come to You a sinner.
And I humbly repent for my sins.
I believe that Jesus is Lord.
I believe you raised Him from the dead.
I would ask that Jesus come into my life.
And be my Lord and Savior.
I receive Jesus to take control of my life.
And that I may live for Him from this day forward.
Thank you, Lord Jesus
For saving me with Your precious blood.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Resources:
- “Overview: 1 Samuel” video by Bible Project
- “Overview: 2 Samuel” video by Bible Project
- “Overview: Luke 1–9” video by Bible Project
- “Overview: Philippians” video by Bible Project
- “Exile” video by Bible Project
- “Day of the Lord” video by Bible Project
