Jesus Genealogy
Notes
Transcript
What Do We Learn from Reading Jesus’ Genealogy?
Heather Adams
Contributing Writer
Updated April 19, 2023
Why Is Jesus’ Genealogy (and even Other Genealogies) Included in Scripture?
God has provided many genealogies for us in His Word, in books such as Kings, Chronicles, Numbers and Ezra. And every one of these passages is there for our benefit.
· They demonstrate Gods redemptive plan through the lives of ordinary people
· They teach us to appreciate the rich history of the past
· They encourage us to thank God for always being present and active
· They inspire us to reach for righteousness in our own lives
· They convict us to step up and play the part God has for us
If we can look at genealogies, the “books of generations” in a new way, we’ll not only unlock treasures from the past, but discover a desire within us to help build the future of God’s family.
“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham…”
1 Libro de la genealogía de Jesucristo, hijo de David, hijo de Abraham:
Genealogies
· Not simply lists of names,
· some unfamiliar and difficult to pronounce.
· But if we just skip over them, we’ll be missing some meaningful verses.
Where Do We Find Jesus' Genealogy in Scripture?
In Hebrew, “genealogy” means “the book of the generations.”
· And the lineage of Jesus in particular is listed in two different Gospels of the New Testament books - Matthew (1:2-16) and Luke (3:24-32).
· Matthew’s account is teleological, which means it begins with declaring Jesus the Messiah, the Promised One, and then goes on to name the descendants from Abraham on down to Him.
Paul to Galatianas
4 Pero cuando vino el cumplimiento del tiempo, Dios envió a su Hijo, nacido de mujer y nacido bajo la Ley,
Matthew writes to a Jewish audience
· “Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah (Matthew 1:17).
Luke’s version also acknowledges Jesus first, but then works backward to Adam.
· “Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph…” (Luke 3:23).
Other books give us glimpses into the line as well.
· Genesis, for instance, offers the beginning of it, from Adam to NoahGEN 10.
· And Ruth contains a section going from Perez to David Ruth 4:20-22
In Romans, the Apostle Paul mentions Jesus’ heritage to remind us that He was both Messiah and a man.
“...regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:3-4).
3 evangelio que se refiere a su Hijo, nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que era del linaje de David según la carne, 4 que fue declarado Hijo de Dios con poder, según el Espíritu de santidad, por su resurrección de entre los muertos.
Avoid foolish genealogies
· Titus 3:9
9 Pero evita las cuestiones necias, como genealogías, contiendas y discusiones acerca de la Ley, porque son vanas y sin provecho.
Some Questionable People in Jesus' Genealogy
includes both royalty and common people.
· Some faithfully followed God all their lives,
· while others came to Him later.
· Certain ones were born into comfortable circumstances,
· and a few faced personal hardship and danger.
· They all experienced the goodness of the Lord in their own situations, though, and responded by submitting their hearts to Him.
Jesus’ ancestry included a prostitute, a polygamist, and a pagan. Even a rapist!
Don’t believe me? Read for yourself the opening passage in the first chapter in Jesus’ story, Matthew 1, and check out some of the colorful characters listed there. Here are some of the most infamous.
Rahab the Prostitute
One of the most surprising members of Jesus’ family tree is Rahab, who has been known for generations as Rahab the Prostitute. She was the one who welcomed Israelite spies safely into her home in the city of Jericho—an act that eventually led to the city’s destruction.
Because of her willingness to help Israel, she was welcomed into the community of God’s people, where she married into one of the leading families of Israel and became one of Jesus’ ancestors. This non-Jewish prostitute became one of Jesus’ great-grandmothers!
THE BIBLE IS BLUNT! NO HIDING NOTHING!
King Solomon the Polygamist
That Solomon was an ancestor of Jesus doesn’t seem all that surprising. After all, he was the son of the famous King David and was responsible for one of the most important building projects in Israel’s history: the building and dedication of the Lord’s glorious temple. The temple served as a point of overlap for heaven on Earth, where daily and yearly sacrifices were performed to atone for the sins of the people. It was Israel’s central and most sacred religious monument, as well as Solomon’s crowning achievement.
There’s only one problem: while overseeing this sacred project, Solomon kept a harem of 700 wives and 300 concubines, as 1 Kings 11:3 reveals. He was hardly a model of family values! What’s more, most of these wives worshipped false foreign gods, and turned his heart away from the Lord. Solomon’s career began in glory but ended in great moral disappointment.
COMPLETO PODER - CORROMPE COMPLETAMENTE
And yet there he is: polygamist king Solomon, one of the great-grandfathers of the Son of God.
King Manasseh the Pagan
One of the most remarkable members of Jesus’ family tree is Manasseh. Like many of Israel’s ancient kings, “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations…” (2 Kings 21:2).
2 Pero hizo lo malo ante los ojos de Jehová, imitando las abominaciones de las naciones que Jehová había expulsado de delante de los hijos de Israel.
How detestable? He created places to worship false gods. He built altars and shrines to the pagan gods Baal and Asherah—even within the Temple of the Lord that Solomon built! He worshiped the stars, moon, and planets; he practiced witchcraft and consulted spirits and mediums. All of these acts flew in direct contrast to God’s law and wishes for his people.
But that’s not all! Manasseh sank to an even greater moral depth: he sacrificed his own son in pagan worship. Yet this reviled king was also one of Jesus’ ancestors, which Matthew’s gospel exposes for all the world to see.
Repented 2 Chron 33:10-13
10 Y habló Jehová a Manasés y a su pueblo, pero ellos no escucharon; 11 por lo cual Jehová trajo contra ellos los generales del ejército del rey de los asirios, los cuales apresaron con grillos a Manasés, y atado con cadenas, lo llevaron a Babilonia. 12 Pero cuando se vio en angustia, oró a Jehová, su Dios, y se humilló profundamente en la presencia del Dios de sus padres. 13 Oró a él, y fue atendido; pues Dios oyó su oración y lo hizo retornar a su reino en Jerusalén. Entonces reconoció Manasés que Jehová era Dios.
King David the Rapist
Then there’s David, the most celebrated, beloved king of Israel—a man the Bible says as a man after God’s own heart. Surely David was a worthy ancestor for the Messiah… right?
While in many respects he was an upright king who led Israel to worship the Lord and follow his commands, there’s a dark stain on David’s legacy that many people overlook: he was also a rapist and murderer.
The infamous story of David and Bathsheba describes David surveying his kingdom from a position of power. When he saw a beautiful woman bathing, he sent a servant to find out more about her. Then he slept with her. All this even though he was married and she was married—to one of David’s own loyal and elite warriors!
This episode in David’s life has traditionally been described as “adultery,” but it was much more than that. The original Hebrew indicates that David sent people to “take” Bathsheba. David exploited the unequal power dynamic between king and commoner in order to use Bathsheba for his pleasure.
By most definitions, that’s rape.
But there’s more: in order to cover up his sin (which had resulted in pregnancy), David arranged to have Bathsheba’s husband Uriah killed. David had abused his power and position to take Bathsheba for sex. Now he compounded that sin by using his position to carry out a murder.
Several of the names should be familiar to those of us who study Scripture. Here are just a few:
Adam - The first man that God created
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
Noah - The head of the only family God saved when He destroyed the Earth with a flood
“‘I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark — you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you’” (Genesis 6:17-18).
Abraham - The man chosen by God to become “the father of many nations”
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him” (Genesis 12:1-4).
David - The king of Israel who wrote songs of worship to God
“But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people...” (1 Samuel 13:14).
Ruth - The Moabite woman who gave up her former life to follow God
“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son…The women living there said, ‘Naomi has a son!’ And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David” (Ruth 4:13, 17).
Rahab - The woman of Jericho who recognized God’s sovereignty and protected some of His people while they were in that city
“So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: ‘Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.’ But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them” (Joshua 2:3-4).
And, amazingly, we’re given the chance to become part of Jesus’ family as well. When we accept Him as our Savior, we are added to His family tree. As the Apostle John wrote:
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13).
4 Things We Learn from Reading Jesus' Genealogy
Taking the time to study the lineage of Jesus will give us a bigger picture of God’s character. And through each person’s life, we can see God’s promises in action.
1. God’s Purposes Are Always Accomplished
He has moved through the ages to bring about sending His Son into the world.
“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:11).
11 El plan de Jehová permanecerá para siempre; los pensamientos de su corazón, por todas las generaciones.
2. God Uses All Sorts of People
He has been willing to accept and save all people who love Him.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
18 Cercano está Jehová a todos los que lo invocan, a todos los que lo invocan de veras.
3. God Redeems Those Who Turn to Him
He has longed to show goodness to anyone who seeks and obeys Him.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
9 El Señor no retarda su promesa, según algunos la tienen por tardanza, sino que es paciente para con nosotros, no queriendo que ninguno perezca, sino que todos procedan al arrepentimiento.
4. God Sees the End from the Beginning
He has revealed His plan to us in both the Old and the New Testaments.
“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’” (Isaiah 46:10).
10 que anuncio lo por venir desde el principio, y desde la antigüedad lo que aún no era hecho; que digo: “Mi plan permanecerá y haré todo lo que quiero;
The Good News About Jesus’ Family Tree
Hopefully your ancestors are far less colorful than Jesus’!
Remarkably, the Bible doesn’t cover up all the broken, sinful people in Jesus’ family tree. Rather than discrediting Jesus, his broken family tree makes Jesus the perfect candidate to identify with our own sin, brokenness, and rebellion.
That’s the good news about Jesus: he was one of us. He lived our life, experiencing the same everyday joys and frustrations that we do. He heard the sordid tales of prostitution, polygamy, paganism, rape and murder in his family tree, and he knew the ghastly and long-lasting effects of all that family sin. While Jesus himself never sinned—he lived in perfect holiness and obedience—he understands our own sinful impulses. He knows what temptation feels like.
We don’t always think about the fact that Jesus was a real, live person. But it is vital to the good news about Jesus that he was. The book of Hebrews reminds us about this crucial aspect of the world’s Savior:
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. — Hebrews 2:14–15 (NIV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. — Hebrews 4:15–16 (NIV)
Because Jesus shared in our humanity, he was able to pay the penalty for our sins in our place. He stands in as a substitutionary sacrifice to God, in order to give us freedom. And because Jesus lived our life, he experienced all that life can throw at us—including messy family trees, slander and accusation, and even temptation.
Jesus experienced life’s full spectrum. Which means he can sympathize with our weakness and with all the messy bits of our lives. And beyond merely sympathazing with us, he paves the way for us to come boldly to God to get the grace and mercy we so desperately need.
Free grace. For messy lives, painful experiences, and awkward family trees.
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Image notes: the paintings above depict Rahab meeting with Israelite spies, King Solomon holding court, and King David being rebuked by a prophet for his sins against Bathsheba and her husband.
BOOK OF LUKE 3:23-38
Joseph in the Bible
Joseph appears as a narrative character only in Matthew and Luke, and no words of Scripture are attributed to him.
He is identified as a τέκτων (tektōn) (Matt 13:55), which often is translated as “carpenter” but can indicate any kind of craftsman working with wood, stone, or metal.
An angel instructs Joseph to name Mary’s child Jesus (Matt 1:18–22).
Due to the census decreed by Caesar Augustus, Joseph and pregnant Mary have to travel to Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral home (Luke 2:1–5).
After the Magi visit, Joseph is warned in a dream that he and his family must flee to Egypt to escape Herod, and Joseph obeys (Matt 2:13–15).
After Herod’s death, an angel appearing to Joseph in a dream tells him it is safe to return home (Matt 2:19–20).
Fearing the wrath of Herod’s son Archelaus, Joseph does not return to Bethlehem but settles the family in Nazareth instead (Matt 2:21–23).
According to Jewish law, Joseph and Mary present Jesus to the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem, where they are astonished by the words of Simeon (Luke 2:22–35).
During another trip to Jerusalem (when Jesus is 12), Joseph and Mary discover that Jesus is missing and, after three days, they find Him sitting with the teachers in the temple (Luke 2:41–52).[1]
Zerubbabel, Son of Shealtiel (זְרֻבָּבֶל, zerubbavel; Ζοροβαβέλ, Zorobabel). Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah following the Babylonian exile. He rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem (ca. 516 bc; Zech 4:6–10
6 Entonces siguió diciéndome: «Esta es palabra de Jehová para Zorobabel, y dice: “No con ejército, ni con fuerza, sino con mi espíritu, ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos. 7 ¿Quién eres tú, gran monte? Delante de Zorobabel serás reducido a llanura; él sacará la primera piedra entre aclamaciones de: ¡Qué bella, qué bella es!”. 8 »Después me fue dirigida esta palabra de Jehová: 9 “Las manos de Zorobabel echarán el cimiento de esta Casa, y sus manos la acabarán. Así conocerás que Jehová de los ejércitos me envió a vosotros. 10 Porque los que menospreciaron el día de las pequeñeces, se alegrarán al ver la plomada en la mano de Zorobabel”. »Estos siete son los ojos de Jehová, que recorren toda la tierra».
). Zerubbabel is identified as a descendant of David Hag 1:1
1 En el año segundo del rey Darío, en el mes sexto, en el primer día del mes, fue dirigida esta palabra de Jehová, por medio del profeta Hageo, a Zorobabel hijo de Salatiel, gobernador de Judá, y a Josué hijo de Josadac, el sumo sacerdote:
grandson of King Jehoiachin, and listed in Matthew and Luke’s genealogies of Jesus (Matt 1:12–13; Luke 3:27).
Is Zerubbabel the Same Person as Sheshbazzar?
Shealtiel is listed as the father of Zerubbabel (Ezra
What Does the Bible Say about Zerubbabel?
• He led a group of exiles back to Judah (Ezra 2:2; Neh 7:7; 12:1).
• Aided by Joshua, he “set out to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem” (Ezra 5:2 NRSV).
• Along with the elders of the community, he determined that the temple’s reconstruction would be a Judaean affair (Ezra 4:2–3).
The book of Haggai refers to Zerubbabel as “governor” (Hag 1:1, 14; 2:2, 21). His exact duties remain uncertain. Zerubbabel may have shared leadership with the priesthood, but evidence and historical precedent do not support this proposal (Meyers and Meyers, Haggai, Zechariah 1–8, xxix; Rose, Zemah and Zerubbabel, 66–68; 200–06).
During his 10 years as an administrator, Zerubbabel was a critical supporter of temple reconstruction (Meyers and Meyers, Haggai, Zechariah 1–8, 14). His obedience to the prophetic word was a catalyst for the reconstruction (Hag 1:12, 14).
What Was Zerubbabel’s Role in the Prophecy in Haggai 2:20–23?
In Haggai 2:20–23 , the prophet announces the Lord’s choice of Zerubbabel as His servant and Zerubbabel’s status as the “signet ring.” Considering this passage and the phrase “I will make you like a signet ring” (Hag 2:23 NRSV) in the Persian imperial context results in three interpretations.
20 Hageo recibió por segunda vez esta palabra de Jehová, a los veinticuatro días del mismo mes: 21 «Habla a Zorobabel, gobernador de Judá, y dile: Yo haré temblar los cielos y la tierra; 22 trastornaré el trono de los reinos y destruiré la fuerza de los reinos de las naciones; trastornaré los carros y a los que en ellos suben; caballos y jinetes caerán bajo la espada de sus propios hermanos. 23 En aquel día, dice Jehová de los ejércitos, te tomaré, Zorobabel hijo de Salatiel, siervo mío, dice Jehová, y te pondré como anillo de sellar, porque yo te he escogido, dice Jehová de los ejércitos».
SHEALTIEL (שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל, she'alti'el). Also called Salathiel. The son of Jeconiah, king of Judah and the father of Zerubbabel (1 Chr 3:17; Ezra 3:8; 3:2; 5:2; Neh 12:1; Hag 1:1, 12, 14; 2:2, 23; Matt 1:12; Luke 3:27; 1 Esdras 5:5, 48, 56; 2 Esdras 3:1). In Luke 3:27, Shealtiel is the son of Neri. In 1 Chronicles 3:17 the father of Zerubbabel is listed as Pedaiah.
NATHAN, SON OF DAVID (נָתָן, nathan). One of David’s sons, born to Bathsheba (2 Sam 5:14; 1 Chr 3:5; 14:4). He is included in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:31).
DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL (דָּוִיד, dawid). Second king of Israel, after Saul. Reigned ca. 1010–970 bc. Brought Israel to a position of power. In some ways, became the ideal for his people’s future messianic leader.
Biblical Importance
God raised David from humble origins as a shepherd from Bethlehem to rule as Israel’s second king. David led Israel to its pinnacle of power and glory, and became the ideal for a future messianic leader that ultimately found fulfillment in David’s descendant—Jesus. He showed success in various roles, including:
• Shepherd
• Military leader
• King
• Covenantal recipient
• Poet
• Musician
• Religious example
OBED, SON OF BOAZ (עוֹבֵד, oved; Ἰωβήδ, Iōbēd). Son of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:17–22). Grandfather of King David; listed in the genealogies of Jesus in both Matthew and Luke (Matt 1:5; Luke 3:32).
BOAZ, SON OF SALMON (בֹּעַז, bo'az). The husband of Ruth and father of Obed, the grandfather of King David. Famous for his role as the kinsman redeemer in the book of Ruth.
Role in the Book of Ruth
The book of Ruth mentions Boaz—whose name likely means “in him (bo) [there is] might (‘oz)”—20 times (Ruth 2:1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14, 15, 19, 23; 3:2, 7; 4:1, 5, 8, 9, 13, 21). He is one of the three main characters in the book of Ruth, along with Ruth and Naomi. The description of Boaz’s character and actions reflect his crucial role in the book of Ruth.
Character
Boaz first appears in Ruth 2:1 as a “relative” (moyda’; Qere) or “acquaintance” (myuda; Ketib) of Naomi’s deceased husband, Elimelech. Based on which reading of the word one prefers, this description of Boaz is variously interpreted:
SALMA, SON OF NAHSHON (שַׂלְמָא, salma'; שַׂלְמָה, salmah; Σαλά, Sala; Σαλμών, Salmōn). Also called Salmon or Sala. The husband of Rahab and father of Boaz (1 Chr 2:11; Ruth 4:20–21; Matt 1:5; Luke 3:32).
NAHSHON, SON OF AMMINADAB (נַחְשׁוֹן, nachshon; Ναασσών, Naassōn). The brother of Elisheba and an ancestor of David (Exod 6:23; Num 1:7; Num 2:3; 7:12, 7:17; 10:14; Ruth 4:20; 1 Chr 2:10–11; Matt 1:4; Luke 3:32).
AMMINADAB, SON OF RAM (עַמִּינָדָב, amminadav; Ἀμιναδάβ, Aminadab). Father of Nahshon, who was head of the tribe of Judah during Israel’s desert wanderings (Num 1:7; 2:3; 7:12–17; 10:14). He was an ancestor of David (Ruth 4:18–22; 1 Chr 2:10) and of Jesus (Matt 1:4; Luke 3:32–33). He was also the father of Elisheba, who was the wife of Aaron (Exod 6:23).
PEREZ, SON OF JUDAH (פֶּרֶץ, perets). Son of Judah and Tamar (Gen 38:29; 46:12). Perez was conceived when Tamar deceived Judah, after he refused to give her a husband. The story of Perez’s birth (Gen 38:27–29) is an example of a younger son becoming pre-eminent over his older brother—a common theme in the Old Testament. Perez appears in the genealogies of both King David and Jesus.
Judah—praise, the fourth son of Jacob by Leah. The name originated in Leah’s words of praise to the Lord on account of his birth: “Now will I praise [Heb. odeh] Jehovah, and she called his name Yehudah” (Gen. 29:35).
It was Judah that interposed in behalf of Joseph, so that his life was spared (Gen. 37:26, 27). He took a lead in the affairs of the family, and “prevailed above his brethren” (Gen. 43:3–10; 44:14, 16–34; 46:28; 1 Chr. 5:2).
Soon after the sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites, Judah went to reside at Adullam, where he married a woman of Canaan. (See ONAN; TAMAR.) After the death of his wife Shuah, he returned to his father’s house, and there exercised much influence over the patriarch, taking a principal part in the events which led to the whole family at length going down into Egypt. We hear nothing more of him till he received his father’s blessing (Gen. 49:8–12).
JACOB, SON OF ISAAC (יַעֲקֹב, ya'aqov). The younger son of Isaac and Rebekah. Patriarch of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Introduction
Jacob is the grandson of Abraham and the inheritor of the patriarchal promises to Abraham concerning possession of the land of Canaan (Gen 28:3–4, 13; compare Gen 12:7), abundant descendants, and blessing to all humanity (Gen 28:14–15; compare Gen 12:2–3). He is the third and last of the major patriarchs whose experiences with God form the basis for Yahweh’s later identification of Himself as the “God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (see Exod 3:6, 15; 4:5; see also 1 Kgs 18:36; 1 Chr 29:18, as “Israel”). Like many other figures from Israel’s early history, Jacob is unknown outside of the Bible. However, the customs and lifestyle of the patriarchs have been shown to be broadly consistent with that of the pastoral nomads of the ancient Near East in the Middle Bronze Age (see Hamilton, The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1–17, 59–67).
ISAAC, SON OF ABRAHAM (יִצְחָק, yitschaq; חקשׂי, chqsy). The son of promise (Gen 17). Born to Abram and Sarah (Gen 21). Received the promise given to his father (Gen 12) and passed it to his son Jacob. Saw his father willing to sacrifice him to God. Stands as a traditional member of Israel’s patriarchal fathers but takes active control only after his father’s death.
Old Testament Testimony
Birth of Isaac
Isaac was born into a family feud. Abram accepted Hagar’s son Ishmael as the child of promise, pleading with God on Ishmael’s behalf and laughing at God’s promise of a son in his old age (Gen 17:17–18). This gave rise to the son’s name, Isaac, which means, “he laughs” (Gen 17:17). Hearing the promise later, Sarah also laughed at the impossibility—she was 90 and Abraham was 100 years old (Gen 18:9–15). The divine announcement of Isaac’s birth also introduced the covenant of circumcision and the change of names from Abram to Abraham and from Sarai to Sarah. God fulfilled his promise of a son the next year (Gen 21:2), and Abraham obediently circumcised him (Gen 21:4). The covenant marked Isaac as the bearer of the promises to Abraham (Gen 17:21)
ABRAHAM (אַבְרָהָם, avraham, אַבְרָם, avram; Ἀβραάμ, Abraam). Originally called Abram until God changed his name; first of the Old Testament patriarchs; father of Isaac and Ishmael and uncle of Lot. Abraham lived either in the 22nd to 20th centuries bc (during the transition from Early Bronze IV to Middle Bronze I) or in the 19th to 17th centuries bc (Middle Bronze II)—roughly a millennium before the Greek writer Homer.
Introduction
Abraham holds a key place in the unfolding narrative of the Bible and the history of Israel. With Abraham, God narrows his plan for the world to a specific family. This plan will lead to blessing for all people through Abraham (Gen 12:1–3). God is often referred to as “the God of Abraham,” and the promise to Abraham in Gen 12 and its reiterations in Gen 15 and Gen 17 provide the basis for understanding circumcision, the promised land, the work of Christ, and faith in the Gospel.
Abraham in the Bible
Abraham’s life is narrated in Gen 12–25, but his memory and significance run through the entire canon.
TERAH (תֶּרַח, terach). The father of Abraham, Nahor, and Haran. Son of Nahor (Gen 11:22–32; Josh 24:2; 1 Chr 1:26; Luke 3:34). Terah is associated with idolatry (Josh 24:2; compare Jubilees 12). He lived in Ur but migrated with his family to Haran where he died at 205 (Gen 11:28–32). His descendants include the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Midianites, Moabites, and Ammonites.
PELEG, SON OF EBER (פֶּלֶג, peleg). The brother of Joktan. The explanation for the name is given in Gen 10:25: “for in his days the earth was divided.” (see also 1 Chr 1:19). This division probably refers to the scattering of the world’s population after the Tower of Babel incident recorded in Gen 11:1–9.
EBER, SON OF SHELAH (עֵבֶר, ever; Ἔβερ, Eber). An Old Testament patriarch descended from Shem. The father of Peleg and Joktan (Gen 10:25).
Eber and the Term “Hebrew”
The term “Hebrew” (עִבְרִי, ivriy) may have derived from the name Eber (עֵבֶר, ever). Josephus makes this connection between the terms in his Antiquities of the Jews: “his son was Heber, from whom they originally called the Jews Hebrews” (Josephus, Antiquities 17). This suggestion also aligns with the general nomenclature practices of the ancient Near East as attested in Scripture. For example, Genesis 19:37–38 identifies the Moabites and the Ammonites as descendants of Moab and Ammon or Ben-ammi.
SHEM, SON OF NOAH (שֵׁם, shem; Σὴμ, Sēm). One of Noah’s three sons, along with Ham and Japheth. All three brothers, along with their wives, accompanied Noah and his wife on the ark.
Shem in the Bible
In Genesis, Shem’s name always appears first when listed alongside those of his brothers—possibly implying that he is the eldest son (Gen 5:32; 6:10; 7:13; 9:18; 10:1; compare 1 Chr 1:4). Shem, along with his brothers, is blessed by God in Gen 9:1 and is included in the covenant God makes with humanity after the flood (Gen 9:8–9). Shem, along with Japheth, carries a garment while walking backward to cover Noah’s nakedness after Ham tells them he has “seen” it (Gen 9:22–23). As a result, Noah exalts Shem and Japheth over their brother.
NOAH, SON OF LAMECH (נֹחַ, noach). Obeyed God’s command to build an ark to escape the great flood. A son of Lamech and father of Shem, Japheth, and Ham.
Overview
Noah, the son of Lamech, was the last of the ten antediluvian patriarchs listed in Gen 5:1–32. When God decided to destroy all people because of their corrupt nature (Gen 6:11–12), He recognized Noah’s righteousness and spared him. Under God’s supervision, Noah built an ark that allowed him and his family (including his wife and three sons, Shem, Japheth, and Ham), along with the animals, to escape the flood that possibly encompassed the entire planet and destroyed all human and animal life (Gen 6:17). Like Adam, Noah became the father of the human race. Noah lived 350 years after the flood, dying at the age of 950.
LAMECH, SON OF METHUSELAH (לֶ֫מֶךְ, lemekh; Λάμεχ, Lamech). Descendant of Seth and father of Noah (Gen 5:28–29). The son of Methuselah (Gen 5:25) and grandson of Enoch (Gen 5:21). Not to be confused with Lamech, son of Methushael, who is mentioned in Gen 4:18.
Lamech in the Bible
In Genesis 5:29 Lamech assigns his son the name Noah and prophesies, “This one will bring us comfort from our labor and from the painful toil of our hands because of the ground that the Lord has cursed”
29 y le puso por nombre Noé, pues dijo: «Este nos aliviará de nuestras obras y del trabajo de nuestras manos en la tierra que Jehová maldijo».
METHUSELAH, SON OF ENOCH (מְתוּשֶׁלַח, methushelach; Μαθουσαλά, Mathousala). The father of Lamech and grandfather of Noah (1 Chr 1:3–4; Luke 3:36–37). He was also a descendant of Seth and the son of Enoch (Gen 5:21; 1 Chr 1:1–4; Luke 3:37–38). Methuselah is said to have lived 969 years; this is the longest human lifespan recorded in the Bible.
ENOCH (חֲנוֹךְ, chanokh). The great-grandfather of Noah and the seventh generation directly descended from Adam. The first character in the Bible to be assumed into God’s dwelling place without having died first.
Biblical Relevance
According to Genesis 5:18, Jared fathered Enoch when he was 162 years old. Genesis 5:22–24 states that Enoch lived 365 years, walked with God, and was no more. His life-span of 365 years is unusually short compared to other members of Seth’s lineage. Davies and Rogerson suggest that there may be a link between Enoch’s age and the solar year of 365 days (Davies and Rogerson, The Old Testament World, 203). Enoch was the father of Methuselah, the longest-lived person in the Bible.
JARED, SON OF MAHALALEL (יֶרֶד, yered; Ἰάρετ, Iaret). The father of Enoch and a fifth generation descendant of Adam (Gen 5:15–20; 1 Chr 1:2; Luke 3:37). He lived for 962 years.
ENOSH, SON OF SETH (Ἐνώς, Enōs; אֱנוֹשׁ, enosh). Son of Seth, who was a son of Adam (Gen 4:26; 5:6; 1 Chr 1:1; Luke 3:38). Enosh’s name—like Adam’s—means “man.” After Enosh’s birth, “people began to call upon the name of the Lord” (Gen 4:26 ESV).
Adam – Gen 1:26-27, Gen 2:7