Luke 3:31

Which was [the son] of Melea, which was [the son] of Menan, which was [the son] of Mattatha, which was [the son] of Nathan, which was [the son] of David,

Which was the son of Melea {G3190}, which was the son of Menan {G3104}, which was the son of Mattatha {G3160}, which was the son of Nathan {G3481}, which was the son of David {G1138},

of Mal'ah, of Manah, of Mattatah, of Natan, of David,

the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

Luke 3:31 is a crucial link in the extensive genealogy of Jesus Christ presented in Luke's Gospel. Unlike Matthew's genealogy which traces Jesus's lineage forward from Abraham to Joseph, Luke’s account works backward from Joseph (or Heli, his father-in-law, understood as the father of Mary's line) all the way to Adam, emphasizing Jesus's universal humanity and divine sonship.

Context of Luke 3:31

This verse is part of a longer list found in Luke 3:23-38. Following the account of Jesus's baptism and the divine affirmation of His identity, Luke meticulously details His ancestry. The purpose of this genealogy is not merely historical record-keeping, but theological declaration. By tracing Jesus's line through Melea, Menan, Mattatha, and Nathan, this verse specifically highlights His direct descent from King David.

Key Themes and Significance

  • Messianic Lineage: The most significant aspect of this verse is its explicit connection to King David. Old Testament prophecies repeatedly foretold that the Messiah would come from David's royal line (e.g., 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Jeremiah 23:5). Luke 3:31, along with the rest of the genealogy, serves as a powerful affirmation that Jesus fulfills these prophecies, establishing His legitimate claim as the promised King of Israel and the world's Savior.
  • Historical Veracity: The inclusion of such detailed lineages underscores the historical reality of Jesus. These were verifiable records in ancient Jewish society, lending credibility to the Gospel accounts.
  • Divine Faithfulness: This meticulous tracing of generations demonstrates God's faithfulness in executing His long-term plan for salvation, meticulously bringing about the Messiah "in the fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4).

Linguistic Insight

The repetitive structure "which was [the son] of..." (Greek: tou, meaning "of" or "the son of") is characteristic of ancient genealogies. It emphasizes the direct, unbroken succession through generations, ensuring that the lineage from father to son is clearly established, even if "son" could sometimes imply a descendant rather than a direct son in a broader sense. In this specific context, it highlights the unbroken chain leading to David.

Practical Application

For believers today, Luke 3:31 reinforces the foundational truth that Jesus Christ is indeed the promised Messiah, the "root and the offspring of David" (Revelation 22:16). It reminds us that God's plan is meticulously unfolding through history, and His promises are trustworthy. Understanding Jesus's lineage provides a deeper appreciation for the fulfillment of prophecy and the historical grounding of our faith. It grounds the universal message of the Gospel in a specific, verifiable historical person.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Samuel 5:14

    And these [be] the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

  • 1 Chronicles 3:5

    And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:

  • Zechariah 12:12

    And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

  • 1 Chronicles 14:4

    Now these [are] the names of [his] children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,

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