Luke 3:27
the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse, while seemingly just a list of names, points to a profound truth about God's faithfulness across generations. Even through seemingly obscure figures like Rhesa and Neri, God was meticulously working out His redemptive plan, highlighting that His purposes unfold even when human lineage appears disconnected from grander narratives. This offers comfort, assuring us that God sees and works within all our family stories, not just the ones that make it into the Bible.
This passage is part of Luke's extensive genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage all the way back to Adam. It follows a section detailing Jesus' baptism and the beginning of his public ministry, highlighting that he was about thirty years old when he started his work. This detailed lineage, presented in reverse chronological order, emphasizes Jesus' connection to Israel's history and to all of humanity, ultimately leading to Adam, the first man, and then to God.
In the sweeping genealogy of Jesus, two names, Zerubbabel and Shealtiel, stand out as key figures. But what makes them so significant, especially in the context of the promised Messiah?
Zerubbabel was a central leader in the post-exilic period, instrumental in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He represented a crucial continuation of David's royal line, even in a time of diminished political power. His lineage connects directly to the promised Davidic kingship, making him a vital link in the Messianic line. The mention of Shealtiel (also called Salathiel) further solidifies this connection, as he was Zerubbabel's father, also a significant figure in the restoration.
These names bridge the gap between the Davidic monarchy and the time of Jesus, showing that the royal promises, though seemingly dormant, were being preserved through specific individuals.
Matthew and Luke both provide genealogies for Jesus, but they differ significantly. Why would Luke choose a different path, tracing Jesus' lineage through figures like Neri and Joanna?
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Luke 3:27 is available in the Sola app.
While Matthew's genealogy focuses on the legal line of descent through Joseph, emphasizing Jesus' rightful claim to David's throne from a Jewish perspective, Luke's genealogy takes a different approach. Scholars debate whether Luke's list follows the natural line of Mary or a different legal line through Joseph than Matthew's. Regardless of the precise explanation, Luke's tracing of the lineage back through Nathan (a son of David, unlike Matthew's focus on Solomon) and further back to Adam, ultimately to God, broadens the scope.
This extended genealogy underscores that Jesus is not just the King of Israel, but the Savior of all humanity, tracing His ancestry to the first man, Adam, and thus to the Creator Himself. The inclusion of names like Joanna and Rhesa, who appear in Luke's account but not Matthew's royal line, highlights this distinct theological purpose.
Understand the original words
Zorobabel · Greek (derived from Hebrew) Proper Noun
A name of Hebrew origin (Zerubbabel) meaning 'seed of Babylon,' referring to the post-exilic leader who oversaw the rebuilding of the second Temple in Jerusalem. He is a pivotal figure in the royal lineage leading to the Messiah.
Salathiēl · Greek (derived from Hebrew) Proper Noun
A name of Hebrew origin (Shealtiel) meaning 'I have asked of God,' referring to the father of Zerubbabel. He represents a critical link in the Davidic line preserved during the Babylonian exile.
Luke's genealogy traces Jesus' lineage back through prominent figures like Zerubbabel, a leader during the post-exilic period, highlighting Jesus' connection to the Davidic line and the fulfillment of God's promises following the nation's restoration.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports Judean nobles, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile, a significant period of displacement and crisis for the Jewish people.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroys Solomon's Temple, and deports the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This event represents the nadir of Jewish national and religious life.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks a pivotal moment of restoration and national re-establishment.
c. 515 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
The Second Temple in Jerusalem is completed and dedicated, symbolizing the restoration of worship and national identity after the Babylonian Exile.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Reforms and Religious Renewal
Ezra the scribe leads a group of Jews back from Babylon to Jerusalem, initiating significant religious reforms to re-establish adherence to the Law.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, is appointed governor of Judah and leads the rebuilding of Jerusalem's defensive walls, strengthening the city's security.
c. 30 BC - AD 10— this verse
Birth of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem during the reign of Caesar Augustus. This event, the culmination of centuries of Messianic expectation, is the central focus of Luke's genealogy.
This passage also lists Zerubbabel and Shealtiel in Jesus's lineage, providing a parallel account that helps trace this specific ancestral line.
1 Chronicles 3:17-19This Old Testament passage provides further details on the descendants of Zerubbabel, including Shealtiel, offering a historical backdrop to this part of the genealogy.
Nehemiah 12:1This verse mentions Zerubbabel and lists his descendant Shemaiah, connecting these key figures in the post-exilic period and highlighting their significance.
Luke 3:31This verse immediately following lists David as an ancestor, directly linking the lineage mentioned in Luke 3:27 back to the royal line of Israel, from which the Messiah was prophesied to come.
gillLuke 3:27: "Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,"
Which was the son of Joanna,.... Johannes, or John, the son of Rhesa Mesullam, who governed fifty three years: which was the son of Rhesa, called, by the above writer, Rhesa Mesullam; 1 Chronicles 3:19 and said, by him, to govern sixty six years: which was the son of Zorobabel who governed fifty eight years: which was the son of Salathi…
henryLuke 3:23-38: "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,"
3:23-38 Matthew's list of the forefathers of Jesus showed that Christ was the son of Abraham, in whom all the families of the earth are blessed, and heir to the throne of David; but Luke shows that Jesus was the Seed of the woman that should break the serpent's head, and traces the line up to Adam, beginning with Eli, or Heli, the father, not of Joseph,…
The verse, while seemingly just a list of names, points to a profound truth about God's faithfulness across generations. Even through seemingly obscure figures like Rhesa and Neri, God was meticulously working out His redemptive plan, highlighting that His purposes unfold even when human lineage appears disconnected from grander narratives. This offers comfort, assuring us that God sees and works within all our family stories, not just the ones that make it into the Bible.
This passage is part of Luke's extensive genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage all the way back to Adam. It follows a section detailing Jesus' baptism and the beginning of his public ministry, highlighting that he was about thirty years old when he started his work. This detailed lineage, presented in reverse chronological order, emphasizes Jesus' connection to Israel's history and to all of humanity, ultimately leading to Adam, the first man, and then to God.
This passage is part of Luke's extensive genealogy of Jesus, tracing his lineage all the way back to Adam. It follows a section detailing Jesus' baptism and the beginning of his public ministry, highlighting that he was about thirty years old when he started his work. This detailed lineage, presented in reverse chronological order, emphasizes Jesus' connection to Israel's history and to all of humanity, ultimately leading to Adam, the first man, and then to God.
"the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri," — The verse, while seemingly just a list of names, points to a profound truth about God's faithfulness across generations. Even through seemingly obscure figures like Rhesa and Neri, God was meticulous…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
