Luke 3:38

KJV

Which was [the son] of Enos, which was [the son] of Seth, which was [the son] of Adam, which was [the son] of God.

KJV (with Strong's)

Which was the son of Enos {G1800}, which was the son of Seth {G4589}, which was the son of Adam {G76}, which was the son of God {G2316}.

Complete Jewish Bible

of Enosh, of Shet, of Adam, of God.

Berean Standard Bible

the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

American Standard Version

the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 3:38 concludes the extensive genealogy of Jesus Christ, uniquely tracing His lineage backward through Joseph (His legal father) all the way to Adam, and ultimately to God Himself. This final verse, "Which was [the son] of Enos, which was [the son] of Seth, which was [the son] of Adam, which was [the son] of God," serves as a profound theological statement, establishing Jesus' universal connection to all humanity and affirming His divine origin as the ultimate Son of God, thereby setting the stage for His redemptive mission.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Luke's genealogy immediately follows Jesus' baptism and the divine declaration, "[You are] my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased" ([Luke 3:22](/luke/3-22 "Luke 3:22 - God's Affirmation of Jesus")). This placement is highly significant, as the genealogy then traces Jesus' human lineage back to God, underscoring both His divine sonship and His full identification with humanity before He embarks on His public ministry and faces temptation in the wilderness. Unlike Matthew's genealogy, which begins with Abraham and moves forward to Joseph, emphasizing Jesus' royal and Jewish heritage, Luke's account meticulously reverses the flow, beginning with Joseph and moving backward through seventy-six generations to Adam, and finally, to God. This backward progression highlights a broader, universal scope for Jesus' identity and mission, connecting Him to the entirety of the human race.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Genealogies were critically important in ancient Jewish culture, serving to establish identity, inheritance rights, tribal affiliation, and prophetic fulfillment, particularly for the Messiah. While Matthew's genealogy emphasizes Jesus' Davidic and Abrahamic lineage to appeal to a Jewish audience, Luke, writing for a broader Gentile audience, extends the lineage to Adam. This move transcends ethnic boundaries, presenting Jesus as the Savior for all humankind. The phrase "son of" (implied in the Greek) denotes direct descent. The culminating phrase, "Adam, which was [the son] of God," refers to Adam's unique origin as being directly created by God without human parents, as recorded in [Genesis 2:7](/genesis/2-7 "Genesis 2:7 - The Creation of Adam"). This direct creation made Adam uniquely "son of God" in a created sense, setting him apart from all subsequent human births and establishing a profound parallel with Jesus' unique divine sonship.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 3:38 contributes significantly to several major themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully establishes **Jesus' universal humanity**, demonstrating His full identification with all people by tracing His ancestry back to the common progenitor, Adam. This underscores that Jesus is the Savior not just for Israel, but for every nation and individual, a theme central to Luke's Gospel (e.g., [Luke 2:30-32](/luke/2-30-32 "Luke 2:30-32 - Simeon's Prophecy of Universal Salvation")). Secondly, the genealogy culminates in **Divine Sonship and Origin**, not only for Jesus but also for Adam. By calling Adam "the son of God," Luke sets up a typological connection: if Adam was God's son by creation, Jesus is the ultimate "Son of God" by eternal relationship and divine essence, as affirmed at His baptism and throughout the New Testament (e.g., [John 1:1-3](/john/1-1-3 "John 1:1-3 - The Word Was God")). Thirdly, this verse implicitly introduces the crucial theological concept of **Jesus as the "Second Adam."** Where the first Adam's disobedience brought sin and death into the world ([Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Romans 5:12 - Sin Through Adam")), Jesus, the perfect "Son of God," comes to reverse the Fall, bringing righteousness and eternal life through His obedience and sacrifice ([1 Corinthians 15:45-49](/1_corinthians/15-45-49 "1 Corinthians 15:45-49 - Christ as the Last Adam")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Adam (Hebrew, _Adám'_):** G76. This is the first man, the progenitor of all humanity. In this context, it signifies the common ancestor of all people, emphasizing Jesus' connection to the entire human race. The term also carries a typological weight, pointing to Adam as a figure who foreshadows Christ.
* **God (Greek, _theós'_):** G2316. This refers to the supreme Divinity, the Creator of all things. In the phrase "son of God" referring to Adam, it highlights Adam's unique origin directly from God's creative act, not through human procreation. This sets up a profound theological parallel with Jesus' own unique relationship with God as His divine Son.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Which was [the son] of Enos":** This clause continues the backward lineage, identifying Jesus' ancestor Enos, a descendant of Seth and Adam. The implied "son of" is standard for genealogies, indicating direct paternal descent through the male line. Enos's name is associated with humanity, as it is derived from the Hebrew word for "man."
* **"which was [the son] of Seth":** Moving further back, the genealogy names Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve, born after the murder of Abel. Seth's birth is presented in Genesis as a new beginning for humanity, a "replacement" seed through whom the line of promise would continue.
* **"which was [the son] of Adam":** This crucial step connects Jesus directly to Adam, the first man and the head of all humanity. By linking Jesus to Adam, Luke emphasizes Jesus' full identification with the human race, making Him the representative of all people. This connection is foundational for understanding Jesus' role as the "Second Adam."
* **"which was [the son] of God":** This culminating phrase is the theological apex of Luke's genealogy. It declares Adam's unique origin as being directly created by God, not born of human parents. Adam was "son of God" by creation. This statement serves as a powerful theological bookend, linking the origin of humanity directly to God and setting the stage for Jesus, who is "Son of God" in an even more profound, eternal, and redemptive sense.

#### Literary Devices
Luke's genealogy, culminating in this verse, masterfully employs several literary devices. The entire passage functions as a **Genealogy**, a literary form common in ancient Near Eastern and biblical texts, used to establish lineage, legitimacy, and historical continuity. By tracing the lineage backward to God, Luke creates a powerful **Inclusio** or framing device, connecting Jesus' divine origin (implied by the genealogy's end) with the divine affirmation at His baptism (the beginning of the narrative section). There is a clear **Parallelism** established between Adam and Jesus: Adam, the first "son of God" by creation, and Jesus, the ultimate "Son of God" by eternal essence and redemptive purpose. This parallelism is a foundational element of **Typology**, where Adam serves as a type or foreshadowing of Christ. Adam's unique creation by God, making him "son of God," sets the stage for understanding Jesus as the unique, pre-existent Son of God who comes to reverse the effects of Adam's fall.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 3:38 offers a profound theological statement about Jesus' identity and mission, affirming His deep connection to all humanity while simultaneously highlighting His unique divine origin. By tracing Jesus' lineage back to Adam, who was "the son of God" by creation, Luke subtly yet powerfully sets up the theological framework for understanding Jesus as the "Second Adam." Where the first Adam's disobedience introduced sin and death into the world, Jesus, the perfect Son of God, comes to inaugurate a new humanity, offering righteousness and eternal life through His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice. This universal scope of salvation, rooted in Jesus' shared humanity with all people, underscores that His redemptive work is available to everyone, regardless of their background or ancestry, demonstrating God's expansive love for the entire world.

* [Romans 5:12-19](/romans/5-12-19 "Romans 5:12-19 - Adam and Christ Compared")
* [1 Corinthians 15:21-22](/1_corinthians/15-21-22 "1 Corinthians 15:21-22 - Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ")
* [Hebrews 2:14-17](/hebrews/2-14-17 "Hebrews 2:14-17 - Jesus Shares in Humanity")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 3:38, the culmination of Jesus' genealogy, offers profound encouragement and a deep sense of belonging for all believers. It assures us that Jesus fully identifies with our human experience, having a lineage that connects Him to every person who has ever lived. He is not a distant deity but one who has entered into the fabric of our humanity, experiencing life from within our shared lineage. This means His compassion for our struggles, His understanding of our weaknesses, and His victory over sin and death are profoundly relevant to each of us. Moreover, the declaration that Adam was "the son of God" by creation, leading to Jesus, the ultimate Son of God, affirms the divine origin and authority of our Savior. His salvation is not limited by ethnicity, social status, or any human barrier; it is universally available, extending to all who believe, regardless of their background or ancestry. Just as Adam was uniquely created by God, Jesus, the new Adam, uniquely provides a path back to God for all humanity, offering a new beginning and a restored relationship with our Creator.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' genealogy, tracing back to Adam and God, deepen your understanding of His humanity and divinity?**
* **In what ways does the concept of Jesus as the "Second Adam" bring you hope and assurance regarding the reversal of sin's effects?**
* **How does the universal scope of Jesus' lineage challenge you to share the Gospel with people from all backgrounds?**
* **Considering Adam was "son of God" by creation, and Jesus is "Son of God" by eternal essence, what does this tell you about the nature of true sonship with God?**

### FAQ

**Why does Luke trace Jesus' genealogy all the way back to Adam, and ultimately to God?**

Answer: Luke's decision to trace Jesus' genealogy back to Adam, unlike Matthew who stops at Abraham, serves several key theological purposes. Firstly, it emphasizes Jesus' universal humanity, presenting Him as the Savior not just for the Jewish people, but for all humankind. By connecting Jesus to Adam, the common ancestor of all people, Luke underscores that Jesus' redemptive work is for every nation, tribe, and tongue. Secondly, it highlights Jesus' unique divine origin. The culminating phrase, "Adam, which was [the son] of God," sets up a powerful parallel with Jesus, the ultimate Son of God, reinforcing His unique relationship with the Father and His divine authority. This broadens the scope of salvation, showing that God's plan of redemption encompasses all of creation, not just a select group. The genealogy thus establishes Jesus as the new head of humanity, the one who reverses the curse of the first Adam.

**How is Adam considered "the son of God" in this verse, and what is its significance for understanding Jesus?**

Answer: In Luke 3:38, Adam is called "the son of God" because he was directly created by God, as described in [Genesis 2:7](/genesis/2-7 "Genesis 2:7 - God Forms Adam"). Unlike all subsequent humans who are born through human procreation, Adam had no human parents; his life originated directly from God's creative act. This unique origin made him God's "son" in a created sense. This statement is profoundly significant for understanding Jesus. By ending the genealogy with Adam as "son of God," Luke sets up a theological parallel and contrast. If Adam was God's son by creation, Jesus is the Son of God in an even more profound, eternal, and essential sense. This connection foreshadows Jesus' role as the "Second Adam," the one who perfectly fulfills God's original intention for humanity and reverses the effects of the first Adam's fall, bringing new life and righteousness to all who believe ([1 Corinthians 15:45-49](/1_corinthians/15-45-49 "1 Corinthians 15:45-49 - Christ as the Last Adam")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 3:38 culminates Jesus' genealogy with the profound declaration that Adam was "the son of God," setting the stage for understanding Jesus' ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment. Jesus is presented as the supreme and eternal Son of God, who perfectly embodies and fulfills the divine sonship that Adam, as the first created human, only partially reflected. Where Adam, as the head of the old humanity, brought sin and death into the world through his disobedience ([Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Romans 5:12 - Sin Through One Man")), Jesus, the "last Adam" and new head of humanity, brings righteousness and eternal life through His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice ([1 Corinthians 15:45](/1_corinthians/15-45 "1 Corinthians 15:45 - The Last Adam")). His lineage tracing back to Adam underscores His full identification with humanity, making Him the perfect High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our Sympathetic High Priest")). Yet, His ultimate origin in God, as affirmed by the genealogy's end, highlights His divine authority and power to redeem. Jesus, the true "Son of God," comes to restore humanity to its intended relationship with the Father, offering a new creation and a new spiritual lineage for all who are "born again" into Him ([John 3:3](/john/3-3 "John 3:3 - You Must Be Born Again")). He is the one through whom all things are made new, fulfilling God's original purpose for humanity and creation itself ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - Behold, I Make All Things New")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 2:7

And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

1 Corinthians 15:45

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:47

The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven.

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.

Genesis 4:25

¶ And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, [said she], hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

Genesis 5:3

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

Acts 17:26

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;