### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term Ἀρφαξάδ (Arphaxád - `{{G742}}`) is a proper noun, directly transliterated from the Hebrew אַרְפַּכְשַׁד (Arpakhshad - `{{H779}}`). As a proper name, its primary semantic function is to identify a specific individual within the biblical narrative. While the precise etymological meaning of the Hebrew root is uncertain and debated among scholars (suggestions include "healing-releaser," "fortress of Chaldea," or related to a geographical region), its significance in biblical usage is tied exclusively to the identity and lineage of this particular post-diluvian patriarch. Its semantic range is therefore limited to this specific person.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Arphaxad appears exclusively in the genealogical records of the Old Testament (Septuagint) and the New Testament, marking his role as a crucial link in the patriarchal line.
In the Septuagint, Arphaxad is identified as the son of Shem and father of Shelah (or Cainan, depending on the textual tradition).
* [[Genesis 10:22]] lists Arphaxad as one of the sons of Shem.
* [[Genesis 10:24]] states that Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, though some Septuagint manuscripts and the Lucan genealogy insert "Cainan" between Arphaxad and Shelah.
* [[Genesis 11:10]] through [[Genesis 11:15]] detail his lineage and lifespan within the post-Flood chronology, noting that Shem was 100 years old when Arphaxad was born, two years after the Flood.
* [[1 Chronicles 1:17]], [[1 Chronicles 1:18]], and [[1 Chronicles 1:24]] reiterate his position in the genealogies, confirming his descent from Shem and his fatherhood of Shelah (and implicitly Cainan in the LXX tradition).
In the New Testament, Arphaxad is found in the genealogy of Jesus presented in the Gospel of Luke:
* [[Luke 3:36]] lists Arphaxad as an ancestor of Jesus, specifically stating, "the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah..." This verse is notable for its inclusion of "Cainan" between Arphaxad and Shelah, a feature found in the Septuagint but absent from the Masoretic Text of Genesis. This textual difference highlights the diverse manuscript traditions but does not diminish Arphaxad's foundational role in the lineage.
### Related Words & Concepts
Arphaxad is intrinsically linked to several key biblical concepts and figures:
* **Genealogy (γενεαλογία - `{{G1076}}`):** His very existence in the biblical text serves a genealogical purpose, tracing the lineage from Noah to Abraham and ultimately to Jesus.
* **Patriarchs:** He is one of the post-Flood patriarchs, figures whose long lifespans and successive generations were vital for the repopulation of the earth and the continuation of the covenant line.
* **Shem (Σήμ - `{{G4588}}`):** As the son of Shem, Arphaxad is part of the blessed line through which God's promises would be carried forward, distinguishing it from the lines of Ham and Japheth.
* **Shelah (Σαλά - `{{G4520}}`):** Arphaxad is identified as the father of Shelah, who in turn is an ancestor of Abraham.
* **Abraham (Ἀβραάμ - `{{G11}}`):** Arphaxad represents a critical link in the ancestral chain leading directly to Abraham, the father of faith and recipient of the foundational covenant.
* **Messianic Line:** His inclusion in Luke's genealogy underscores his place in the divine plan leading to the incarnation of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
* **Textual Criticism:** The presence of "Cainan" in the Septuagint and Luke's genealogy (e.g., [[Luke 3:36]]), but not in the Masoretic Text of Genesis, is a significant point of textual comparison and study, illustrating the complexities of biblical manuscript traditions.
### Theological Significance
Arphaxad's presence in the biblical record, though seemingly brief, carries profound theological significance:
* **Continuity of Divine Promise:** Arphaxad embodies the unwavering faithfulness of God in preserving a chosen lineage through which His redemptive plan would unfold. After the catastrophic Flood, the continuation of humanity and, more specifically, the line leading to the Messiah, was paramount. His existence testifies to God's active superintendence over history.
* **Historical Foundation of Redemption:** The meticulous listing of names like Arphaxad grounds the biblical narrative in a historical framework. These are not mythical figures but individuals within a real historical progression, emphasizing that God's redemptive work is enacted within human history.
* **Preparation for the Abrahamic Covenant:** As a direct ancestor of Abraham, Arphaxad represents a vital link in the chain that prepared the way for the establishment of the Abrahamic Covenant, through which all nations would eventually be blessed. His life, however briefly recorded, was part of the divine unfolding towards this pivotal covenant.
* **Christological Connection:** In Luke's genealogy of Jesus [[Luke 3:36]], Arphaxad's inclusion connects Jesus not only to Abraham but further back to Noah and Adam. This underscores Jesus's identity as the Son of Man, the representative head of all humanity, and the one who fulfills God's original purposes for creation and redemption. Regardless of textual variants concerning "Cainan," Arphaxad remains a crucial ancestral link demonstrating the universal scope of Christ's salvific work.
### Summary
Ἀρφαξάδ (Arphaxád - `{{G742}}`) is a proper noun denoting a key post-diluvian patriarch, the son of Shem and an ancestor of Abraham. His significance is primarily genealogical, serving as an indispensable link in the lineage from Noah to Abraham, and ultimately to Jesus the Messiah, as recorded in Genesis, 1 Chronicles, and Luke's Gospel [[Luke 3:36]]. While the precise etymology of his Hebrew name אַרְפַּכְשַׁד (Arpakhshad - `{{H779}}`) remains debated, his role in the biblical narrative clearly demonstrates the continuity of God's redemptive plan through a divinely preserved line. His inclusion underscores the historical grounding of the biblical account and the unwavering faithfulness of God in preparing the way for the fulfillment of His promises through the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man.
TRV