Luke 3:34

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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,

Complete Jewish Bible:

of Ya`akov, of Yitz'chak, of Avraham, of Terach, of Nachor,

Berean Standard Bible:

the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

American Standard Version:

the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Which was the son of Jacob{G2384}, which was the son of Isaac{G2464}, which was the son of Abraham{G11}, which was the son of Thara{G2291}, which was the son of Nachor{G3493},

Cross-References (KJV):

Genesis 21:3

  • And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

Genesis 25:26

  • And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac [was] threescore years old when she bare them.

1 Chronicles 1:34

  • And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.

Matthew 1:2

  • Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

Genesis 11:24

  • And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

Genesis 11:32

  • And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Joshua 24:2

  • And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, [even] Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

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Commentary for Luke 3:34

Luke 3:34 is part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ as recorded by Luke in his Gospel. This particular verse traces the ancestral line of Jesus back to Abraham, a foundational figure in the Jewish faith. The verse emphasizes the historical and theological significance of Jesus' ancestry, connecting him to the patriarchs of Israel: Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. Jacob, also known as Israel, was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham. He had twelve sons, leading to the twelve tribes of Israel. Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah, and his birth was a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, as it was seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.

The inclusion of Thara (Terah) and Nachor (Nahor) extends the lineage further, showing Jesus' roots in the ancient Near East and highlighting his connection to the broader history of the region. Terah was Abraham's father, and Nahor was Abraham's grandfather, making Jesus a direct descendant of these early figures mentioned in the book of Genesis.

The historical context of this verse is set in the period after the Babylonian Exile, when there was a strong emphasis on lineage and identity among the Jewish people. Genealogies were crucial for establishing one's tribal affiliation and rights within the community. By detailing Jesus' lineage, Luke is affirming Jesus' credentials as the Messiah who was anticipated in the Jewish scriptures. He is presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises made to the patriarchs, connecting the New Testament narrative with the foundational stories of the Jewish faith.

In summary, Luke 3:34 is a key verse in establishing Jesus' ancestry, rooting his identity in the history of Israel and the promises made to Abraham. It serves to authenticate Jesus' position within the salvation history that the Gospel writers are keen to convey, showing that God's plan, as revealed through the covenants with the patriarchs, is reaching its culmination in Jesus Christ.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: G2384
    There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Ἰακώβ
    Transliteration: Iakṓb
    Pronunciation: ee-ak-obe'
    Description: of Hebrew origin (יַעֲקֹב); Jacob (i.e. Ja`akob), the progenitor of the Israelites:--also an Israelite:--Jacob.
  2. Strong's Number: G2464
    There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Ἰσαάκ
    Transliteration: Isaák
    Pronunciation: ee-sah-ak'
    Description: of Hebrew origin (יִצְחָק); Isaac (i.e. Jitschak), the son of Abraham:--Isaac.
  3. Strong's Number: G11
    There are 3442 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Ἀβραάμ
    Transliteration: Abraám
    Pronunciation: ab-rah-am'
    Description: of Hebrew origin (אַבְרָהָם); Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch:--Abraham. (In Acts 7:16 the text should probably read Jacob.)
  4. Strong's Number: G2291
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Θάρα
    Transliteration: Thára
    Pronunciation: thar'-ah
    Description: of Hebrew origin (תֶּרַח); Thara (i.e. Terach), the father of Abraham:--Thara.
  5. Strong's Number: G3493
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Ναχώρ
    Transliteration: Nachṓr
    Pronunciation: nakh-ore'
    Description: of Hebrew origin (נָחוֹר); Nachor, the grandfather of Abraham:--Nachor.