concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse emphasizes Jesus's humanity and His lineage from David, not just as a historical detail, but as a fulfillment of ancient promises. The phrase "according to the flesh" highlights that this human lineage is only one aspect of who Jesus is, setting up the contrast in the next verse with His divine nature.
concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is introducing the central theme of his letter: the gospel of God. This gospel is not merely human teaching, but a divine message centered on Jesus Christ, who is God's own Son. To understand Jesus' true identity and the gospel's significance, Paul immediately establishes Jesus' lineage as a descendant of David, a crucial aspect for fulfilling Old Testament promises about the Messiah.
Paul kicks off his letter to the Romans by announcing the 'good news' isn't just from God, but about His Son. Who is this Son, and why is He the central message?
The Gospel's Foundation
Paul begins Romans by declaring the gospel is "concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." This isn't just one aspect of the gospel; it's the entire message. The good news of God's saving work hinges on who Jesus is.
The Dual Nature
What follows in verses 3 and 4 is a profound unpacking of Jesus' identity. Paul immediately highlights His dual nature:
Paul emphasizes this dual identity to show that Jesus is the bridge between God and humanity, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the divine agent of salvation.
Why does Paul make a point of mentioning Jesus' lineage from David? What's so important about this earthly connection?
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Fulfilling Ancient Promises
When Paul states Jesus was "descended from David according to the flesh," he's directly connecting Jesus to the Old Testament prophecies. God promised King David that his royal line would endure forever, and that a descendant would sit on his throne eternally (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
The Messiah's Identity
The Jewish people eagerly awaited the Messiah, who they understood would be a king from David's lineage. By emphasizing Jesus' Davidic descent, Paul is powerfully arguing that Jesus is that promised Messiah.
This isn't just about historical accuracy; it's about theological significance. It shows that Jesus' mission is rooted in God's covenant faithfulness to Israel and that He is the rightful King who fulfills God's redemptive plan.
Understand the original words
huios · Greek Noun
In a messianic context, it denotes the divine Person who shares the Father's nature and authority, serving as the mediator between God and humanity. He is the eternal heir and the unique object of the Father's love.
sarx · Greek Noun
Refers to the physical, human nature of Christ. It highlights the reality of His humanity and His genealogical link to the line of King David, fulfilling messianic prophecy.
The verse hinges on the ancient promise of a descendant of David. This lineage wasn't just a genealogical detail; it was central to Jewish hopes for a divinely appointed king and fulfiller of God's promises.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
King David establishes a unified kingdom of Israel, with Jerusalem as its capital. This reign marks a golden age and sets the stage for messianic expectations tied to his lineage.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Exile
The Babylonian conquest leads to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of many Judeans. This event raises questions about God's promises to David's line but also intensifies hope for a future restoration.
c. 516 BC
Return from Exile
Exiles return from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. While the monarchy is not restored in its former glory, the lineage of David remains a point of significant national and religious identity.
c. 1st Century BC
Messianic Expectations Intensify
A period of fervent expectation for a descendant of David to restore Israel's glory and rule. This hope is deeply embedded in Jewish religious and political thought.
c. AD 4 BC - AD 30/33— this verse
Jesus's Life, Ministry, Death, and Resurrection
Jesus of Nazareth lives, teaches, performs miracles, dies, and is resurrected. His lineage is traced back to David, fulfilling prophecies and igniting new questions about the Messiah's identity and kingdom.
c. AD 40s-50s
Paul's Missionary Journeys
Paul travels extensively, establishing churches and proclaiming the gospel. His ministry often involves explaining how Jesus, the descendant of David, is the promised Messiah and Son of God.
This passage prophesies that David's 'offspring' will rule forever, directly linking the Messiah's lineage to David, which Paul highlights here.
Psalm 132:11This Psalm is a direct prayer and prophecy that God will place an 'heir of your body' on David's throne, reinforcing the Davidic lineage of the promised king.
Matthew 1:1-16This genealogy explicitly traces Jesus's lineage back to David, demonstrating how His birth 'according to the flesh' fulfills the Old Testament expectation.
Luke 1:31-33The angel Gabriel tells Mary that her son will be given the throne of his ancestor David and rule forever, affirming Jesus's Davidic descent.
John 7:42This verse directly states that Scripture says the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town of David, highlighting the expected Davidic connection.
ellicottRomans 1:3: "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;"
(3, 4) Who, on the human side—as if to show that the prophecies were really fulfilled in Him—was born of the seed of David, the rightful lineage of the Messiah; who, on the divine side, by virtue of the divine attribute of holiness dwelling in His spirit, was declared to be the Son of God, by that mighty demonstration, the resurrection of the dead. According to the flesh.—The word…
meyerRomans 1:3: "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;"
Romans 1:3-4 .[286] We must, with Lachmann and Tischendorf, set aside the view which treats τοῦ γενομένου .… νεκρῶν , and Romans 1:5-6 , as parentheses, because we have to deal with intervening clauses which accord with the construction, not with insertions which interrupt it. See Winer, p. 526 [E. T. 707]. περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ ] “Hoc refertur ad illud quod praecessit εὐαγγέλιον ;…
This verse emphasizes Jesus's humanity and His lineage from David, not just as a historical detail, but as a fulfillment of ancient promises. The phrase "according to the flesh" highlights that this human lineage is only one aspect of who Jesus is, setting up the contrast in the next verse with His divine nature.
Paul is introducing the central theme of his letter: the gospel of God. This gospel is not merely human teaching, but a divine message centered on Jesus Christ, who is God's own Son. To understand Jesus' true identity and the gospel's significance, Paul immediately establishes Jesus' lineage as a descendant of David, a crucial aspect for fulfilling Old Testament promises about the Messiah.
Paul is introducing the central theme of his letter: the gospel of God. This gospel is not merely human teaching, but a divine message centered on Jesus Christ, who is God's own Son. To understand Jesus' true identity and the gospel's significance, Paul immediately establishes Jesus' lineage as a descendant of David, a crucial aspect for fulfilling Old Testament promises about the Messiah.
"concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh" — This verse emphasizes Jesus's humanity and His lineage from David, not just as a historical detail, but as a fulfillment of ancient promises. The phrase "according to the flesh" highlights that this…
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Last reviewed October 2026