Which was [the son] of Simeon, which was [the son] of Juda, which was [the son] of Joseph, which was [the son] of Jonan, which was [the son] of Eliakim,
Which was the son of Simeon {G4826}, which was the son of Juda {G2455}, which was the son of Joseph {G2501}, which was the son of Jonan {G2494}, which was the son of Eliakim {G1662},
of Shim`on, of Y'hudah, of Yosef, of Yonam, of Elyakim,
the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
the son of Symeon, the son of Judas, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
No cross-references found for this verse.
Luke 3:30 is a segment of the extensive genealogy of Jesus Christ presented by the Gospel writer Luke. Unlike Matthew's genealogy, which begins with Abraham and traces forward, Luke's account traces Jesus's lineage backwards from Joseph (His legal father) all the way to Adam, emphasizing Jesus's connection to all humanity.
Context of Luke 3:30
This verse is part of a longer list found in Luke 3:23-38. Following the baptism of Jesus and the divine affirmation of His sonship, Luke provides this detailed lineage. The phrase "which was [the son] of" (implied in the KJV, but clearly indicating descent in the original Greek) connects each generation, establishing Joseph's (and by extension, Jesus's) direct ancestry. In ancient Jewish culture, genealogies were crucial for establishing identity, inheritance rights, and claims to specific tribal or royal lines.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insight
The repetitive structure "which was [the son] of" (Greek: tou + genitive name) simply denotes descent. It's a common way to list ancestry in ancient texts. The absence of an explicit "son" in the Greek is natural for this kind of list, where the genitive case already implies possession or origin.
Practical Application
While a list of names might seem dry, Luke's genealogy, including Luke 3:30, serves as a powerful testament to God's faithfulness and meticulous planning. It shows that God works through generations, orchestrating history to bring about His purposes. For believers today, it reinforces the historical reality of Jesus Christ and His rootedness in human experience. It assures us that God's promises, like those concerning the Messiah from David's line, are indeed fulfilled in Jesus.