the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This genealogy doesn't just list names; it's a carefully constructed link to the entire human family, ultimately connecting back to Adam. This shows Jesus isn't just the Messiah for Israel, but the Redeemer for all of humanity, fulfilling God's promise from the very beginning.
the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is a small fragment within the lengthy genealogies of Jesus presented by Luke. Luke traces Jesus' lineage all the way back to Adam, highlighting His connection to all of humanity. This contrasts with Matthew's genealogy, which focuses on Jesus' lineage from Abraham and David, emphasizing His royal and covenantal heritage for the Jewish people.
Why does Luke include such a detailed list of names leading up to Jesus? It's more than just a historical record.
While Matthew's genealogy focuses on Jesus' legal line through Joseph, tracing back to Abraham and David to highlight His kingship, Luke's gospel takes a broader view. Luke traces Jesus' lineage all the way back to Adam, and ultimately to God. This shows Jesus not only as the promised King of Israel but as the Savior for all of humanity, the 'seed of the woman' destined to crush the serpent's head, connecting everyone back to the very beginning of creation.
Genealogies can be tricky, especially when comparing Matthew and Luke. What's the difference between their approaches?
The key difference lies in how they present Jesus' lineage. Matthew presents the legal line of Joseph, emphasizing Jesus' right to David's throne as the heir through adoption. Luke, however, seems to present the natural line, often understood as Mary's lineage (though stated through Joseph as her husband, following Jewish custom for genealogies). This difference accounts for the varied names and the different starting and ending points in their lists. While Matthew's line shows Jesus as the rightful King of Israel, Luke's line highlights His humanity and connection to all people through Adam.
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Yehudah · Hebrew Proper Noun
The son of Jacob who became the head of one of the twelve tribes. The Messiah is prophesied to arise from his tribe, as he is the ancestor of David and Jesus.
Luke's genealogy, tracing Jesus' lineage back to Adam, emphasizes His role as the Savior for all humanity, not just Israel. This stands in contrast to Matthew's Gospel, which primarily focuses on Jesus' Davidic and Abrahamic descent relevant to Jewish expectations.
~1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
King David unites the tribes of Israel and establishes Jerusalem as the capital, initiating a dynasty that would be central to Messianic expectations.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Reign and Temple
David's son Solomon succeeds him, building the First Temple in Jerusalem. The kingdom, however, begins to show signs of division.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of the ten tribes. This event intensifies focus on the survival of the Davidic line in Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple, and deport much of the population. The Davidic monarchy is effectively ended.
c. 539 BC
Return from Exile
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus the Great, allows the Jews to return from Babylonian captivity and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 20 BC - AD 10— this verse
Joseph's Marriage to Mary
Joseph, a descendant of David, marries Mary, who is also of Davidic lineage. Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit while Mary is betrothed to Joseph.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus, around the age of thirty, begins his public ministry, fulfilling prophecies and establishing his identity as the Messiah.
This passage lists a portion of the same lineage, highlighting key figures like Perez, Hezron, and Amminadab, directly connecting Jesus' ancestry to the tribe of Judah and its prominent families.
Matthew 1:3-6Matthew's genealogy also includes figures like Perez, Hezron, and Amminadab, showing the direct line from Judah to David, and then continuing down to Joseph, providing a parallel account of this significant ancestral line.
1 Chronicles 2:9-15This Old Testament passage provides a more detailed account of the lineage from Hezron down to David, offering further confirmation and context for the names mentioned in Luke's Gospel.
2 Samuel 7:12-16This foundational promise from God to David speaks of an everlasting kingdom through his offspring, giving profound significance to the royal lineage traced through Judah, Perez, and their descendants like Amminadab.
pooleLuke 3:33: "Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,"
See Poole on "Luke 3:24"
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,…
This genealogy doesn't just list names; it's a carefully constructed link to the entire human family, ultimately connecting back to Adam. This shows Jesus isn't just the Messiah for Israel, but the Redeemer for all of humanity, fulfilling God's promise from the very beginning.
This verse is a small fragment within the lengthy genealogies of Jesus presented by Luke. Luke traces Jesus' lineage all the way back to Adam, highlighting His connection to all of humanity. This contrasts with Matthew's genealogy, which focuses on Jesus' lineage from Abraham and David, emphasizing His royal and covenantal heritage for the Jewish people.
This verse is a small fragment within the lengthy genealogies of Jesus presented by Luke. Luke traces Jesus' lineage all the way back to Adam, highlighting His connection to all of humanity. This contrasts with Matthew's genealogy, which focuses on Jesus' lineage from Abraham and David, emphasizing His royal and covenantal heritage for the Jewish people.
"the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah," — This genealogy doesn't just list names; it's a carefully constructed link to the entire human family, ultimately connecting back to Adam. This shows Jesus isn't just the Messiah for Israel, but the R…
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Last reviewed October 2026