Luke 3:34-36
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This list, tracing Jesus' lineage back through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, isn't just a historical record. It powerfully highlights that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's ancient promises made to these very patriarchs, connecting His mission directly to their story of faith and covenant.
This passage is part of Luke's extensive genealogy of Jesus, which traces his lineage all the way back to Adam. Unlike Matthew's genealogy, which focuses on Jesus' legal descent through Joseph from Abraham and David, Luke's account (starting from verse 23) emphasizes his actual lineage and traces it back to Adam and ultimately God. This section highlights Jesus' connection not just to the chosen people of Israel, but to all of humanity as the second Adam.
Jesus' genealogy doesn't just list names; it echoes God's ancient promises to Abraham and David. It's a reminder that Jesus is the fulfillment of a long-held plan.
The Abrahamic Promise
Luke, like Matthew, starts tracing Jesus' lineage back to Abraham. This isn't accidental. God promised Abraham that through his offspring, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). By connecting Jesus to Abraham, Luke highlights that salvation isn't just for the Jewish people, but for everyone.
The Davidic Covenant
The lineage is also deeply connected to King David. God promised David that his royal line would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:16). Jesus, as a descendant of David, is the promised King who brings an everlasting kingdom.
These foundational promises show that Jesus' arrival wasn't a surprise, but the culmination of God's faithful covenant plan unfolding over centuries.
While Matthew focuses on Abraham, Luke's genealogy reaches all the way back to Adam. Why this difference, and what does it reveal about Jesus' saving work?
Beyond a Specific People
Matthew's genealogy, aimed primarily at a Jewish audience, emphasizes Jesus' connection to Abraham and David, highlighting His role as the rightful heir to Israel's promises. It roots Jesus firmly within the covenant people.
For All of Humanity
Luke, however, extends the line to Adam, the first man, and ultimately to God Himself (Luke 3:38). This broadens the scope dramatically. If Jesus is the 'son of Adam,' He is related to every single human being. This underscores that His work of salvation is not limited to one nation but is intended for the entire human family, as the "seed of the woman" destined to crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15).
Understand the original words
Abraham · Hebrew Proper Noun
The patriarch originally named Abram, with whom God established a covenant, promising that through his offspring all nations would be blessed. He is recognized as the father of faith.
Yitschaq · Hebrew Proper Noun
The son of Abraham and Sarah, born in fulfillment of God's promise. He is the child of the covenant, representing the promised heir through whom the blessing would continue.
Ya'aqov · Hebrew Proper Noun
The son of Isaac who was renamed 'Israel' by God. He is the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, representing the chosen people of God.
Eber · Hebrew Proper Noun
A descendant of Shem and an ancestor of Abraham. He represents the post-diluvian line through which the knowledge of the true God was preserved.
c. 2000 BC
Abraham called by God
God calls Abraham from Ur to establish a covenant, promising to make him a great nation and bless all peoples through his descendants.
c. 1800 BC
Isaac and Jacob
Isaac, Abraham's son, and his son Jacob continue the lineage. Jacob's twelve sons become the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel.
c. 1400 BC - 1000 BC
Exodus and Judges
The Israelites are freed from slavery in Egypt, wander in the desert, and eventually conquer the Promised Land. This period sets the stage for a unified kingdom.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital and a unified monarchy, solidifying the lineage from which the Messiah would come.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its tribes and leading to a decline in national identity for many.
This verse highlights God's promise to Abraham that through his offspring, all the nations of the earth would be blessed, setting the stage for the significance of Abraham's lineage.
2 Samuel 7:12-13Here God promises David that his descendant will establish an everlasting kingdom, directly linking the royal lineage to the coming Messiah.
Matthew 1:1-17Matthew's genealogy focuses on Jesus' legal lineage through Joseph, starting from Abraham and emphasizing Jesus' connection to both Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, complementing Luke's broader scope.
Romans 15:8Paul explains that Jesus came to confirm the promises made to the fathers, underscoring the importance of these genealogies in showing Jesus' fulfillment of God's historic covenants.
Galatians 4:4This verse speaks of Jesus being born under the law 'when the fullness of time had come,' showing that his arrival was the divinely appointed culmination of the long history presented in these genealogies.
pooleLuke 3:34: "Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,"
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 list, tracing Jesus' lineage back through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, isn't just a historical record. It powerfully highlights that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's ancient promises made to these very patriarchs, connecting His mission directly to their story of faith and covenant.
This passage is part of Luke's extensive genealogy of Jesus, which traces his lineage all the way back to Adam. Unlike Matthew's genealogy, which focuses on Jesus' legal descent through Joseph from Abraham and David, Luke's account (starting from verse 23) emphasizes his actual lineage and traces it back to Adam and ultimately God. This section highlights Jesus' connection not just to the chosen people of Israel, but to all of humanity as the second Adam.
This passage is part of Luke's extensive genealogy of Jesus, which traces his lineage all the way back to Adam. Unlike Matthew's genealogy, which focuses on Jesus' legal descent through Joseph from Abraham and David, Luke's account (starting from verse 23) emphasizes his actual lineage and traces it back to Adam and ultimately God. This section highlights Jesus' connection not just to the chosen people of Israel, but to all of humanity as the second Adam.
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586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiles much of the population, marking a significant disruption for the people of God.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry around the age of 30, fulfilling prophecies and initiating the salvation promised to Abraham's descendants and all humanity.
"the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, th…" — This list, tracing Jesus' lineage back through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, isn't just a historical record. It powerfully highlights that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's ancient promises made to thes…
