the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss here is that Luke's genealogy, unlike Matthew's, intentionally goes through Nathan, David's other son. This highlights Jesus' connection not just to the royal line (through Solomon, Matthew's choice) but to a broader lineage, emphasizing his role as Savior for all people, not just kings. It subtly points to his humanity as part of God's universal plan.
the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage continues Jesus' genealogy, tracing his lineage back through David's son Nathan. While Matthew's Gospel traces Jesus' legal or royal line through Solomon, Luke presents a different, possibly Mary's natural, lineage, emphasizing Jesus' connection to all humanity by tracing it all the way back to Adam. This detailed ancestry serves to prove Jesus'Messianic identity, grounding his claim to David's throne and highlighting his role as Savior for everyone.
You might notice that Jesus's family tree in Luke looks quite different from the one in Matthew. Why two lists, and what's the significance of Luke's specific route?
The genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke present a fascinating puzzle, but they ultimately highlight different aspects of Jesus's identity. Matthew's genealogy, written for a Jewish audience, traces Jesus's lineage through Joseph's legal line, emphasizing his right to the throne of David and his connection to Abraham, the father of Israel. Luke, however, traces Jesus's lineage through his mother Mary's line (though presented as Joseph's legal descent), going all the way back to Adam. This highlights Jesus not just as the fulfillment of Israel's promises but as the Savior for all humanity, the Seed of the woman who would crush the serpent's head.
Notice how this specific verse (Luke 3:31) brings us to Nathan, a son of David, rather than Solomon, who appears in Matthew's line. This different path doesn't invalidate either genealogy; it enriches our understanding of Jesus's multifaceted identity. Luke's focus on Nathan ultimately connects Jesus to a broader royal lineage, emphasizing God's overarching plan for redemption that extends beyond the immediate kingship.
The genealogies mention Joseph as Jesus's father, but we know Mary was his mother. How do these genealogies navigate this seemingly tricky situation?
The genealogies, particularly Luke's, navigate the unique conception of Jesus by stating he was "supposed" to be the son of Joseph. This phrasing acknowledges the Jewish custom of tracing lineage through the father, even when the son was born out of wedlock or, in Jesus's case, conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Ask a follow-up
Luke's genealogy, though presented through Joseph, is understood by many scholars to reflect Mary's lineage. This maintains the legal line of descent through Davidic kingship (since a woman would typically marry within her tribe, and David's line was in Judah) while honoring the miraculous virgin birth. The focus remains on Jesus's rightful claim to the throne through David, even though Joseph was not his biological father.
This concept highlights that the genealogies are not just biological records but also legal and theological statements about Jesus's identity and his right to fulfill God's promises.
Understand the original words
David · Hebrew Proper Noun
The Hebrew term for 'beloved' or 'friend', referring to the second king of Israel. He is the central figure in the Davidic Covenant, through whose lineage the Messiah was promised to come.
Yishay · Hebrew Proper Noun
The father of David and the grandson of Boaz and Ruth. He is significant as the progenitor of the royal line that culminates in Jesus Christ.
Boaz · Hebrew Proper Noun
A Moabite woman who married into an Israelite family and later married Boaz. She is a key figure in the lineage of David and Jesus, demonstrating God's grace extending to Gentiles.
Luke's genealogy, tracing Jesus' line through Nathan, highlights that the Messianic promise wasn't limited to the direct line of kings who ruled from Solomon, but extended through other significant Davidic branches, showing God's broader plan for salvation.
c. 1015 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
King David establishes a united monarchy in Israel, with Jerusalem as its capital. This sets the stage for the Davidic dynasty and the Messianic prophecies tied to David's lineage.
c. 970 BC
Solomon Reigns
Solomon, David's son, inherits the throne. While Matthew's genealogy traces Jesus' lineage through Solomon, Luke's follows a different, yet equally valid, royal line through David's son Nathan.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divides
After Solomon's reign, the united kingdom splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Davidic line continues in Judah.
c. 587 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and exile many Judeans. This marks a significant disruption to the Davidic monarchy and the nation's history.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem. While the monarchy is not fully restored, a remnant of David's line, like Zerubbabel, plays a key role in rebuilding.
c. 20 BC
Joseph and Mary's Families
Joseph and Mary, both descendants of David, live in Galilee. Their families, while belonging to the royal line, are not of royal status due to the loss of the throne.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus Begins Ministry
Jesus, around age 30, begins his public ministry, initiating the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah descended from David.
This passage contains God's promise to David that his descendant would establish an everlasting kingdom, directly connecting to the significance of Jesus' lineage tracing back to David.
Matthew 1:6-7This verse parallels Luke's genealogy by also tracing Jesus' lineage back to David, though it specifies Solomon as the son, highlighting the different ancestral lines presented by each Gospel.
Jeremiah 23:5This prophetic verse speaks of a future king from David's line who will reign righteously, underscoring the Messianic expectation tied to David's royal lineage that Luke's genealogy fulfills.
Psalm 132:11This Psalm reiterates the covenant promise to David that one of his descendants would sit on his throne, reinforcing the importance of Jesus' royal ancestry as presented in Luke's list.
pooleLuke 3:31: "Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,"
See Poole on "Luke 3:24"
bengelLuke 3:31: "Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,"
Luke 3:31 . Τοῦ Ναθὰν , Nathan ) [Luke substitutes him for Solomon, who is put down by Matthew here in this series, because that Mary drew her descent from Nathan, or else because Joseph derived his genealogy alike from Solomon and from Nathan; for it was a common practice of the Jews to adopt some one of their nearest relatives in the plac…
What's easy to miss here is that Luke's genealogy, unlike Matthew's, intentionally goes through Nathan, David's other son. This highlights Jesus' connection not just to the royal line (through Solomon, Matthew's choice) but to a broader lineage, emphasizing his role as Savior for all people, not just kings. It subtly points to his humanity as part of God's universal plan.
This passage continues Jesus' genealogy, tracing his lineage back through David's son Nathan. While Matthew's Gospel traces Jesus' legal or royal line through Solomon, Luke presents a different, possibly Mary's natural, lineage, emphasizing Jesus' connection to all humanity by tracing it all the way back to Adam. This detailed ancestry serves to prove Jesus'Messianic identity, grounding his claim to David's throne and highlighting his role as Savior for everyone.
This passage continues Jesus' genealogy, tracing his lineage back through David's son Nathan. While Matthew's Gospel traces Jesus' legal or royal line through Solomon, Luke presents a different, possibly Mary's natural, lineage, emphasizing Jesus' connection to all humanity by tracing it all the way back to Adam. This detailed ancestry serves to prove Jesus'Messianic identity, grounding his claim to David's throne and highlighting his role as Savior for everyone.
"the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon," — What's easy to miss here is that Luke's genealogy, unlike Matthew's, intentionally goes through Nathan, David's other son. This highlights Jesus' connection not just to the royal line (through Solo…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026