Luke 3 24

Luke 3:24 kjv

Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,

Luke 3:24 nkjv

the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph,

Luke 3:24 niv

the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

Luke 3:24 esv

the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

Luke 3:24 nlt

Heli was the son of Matthat.
Matthat was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Melki.
Melki was the son of Jannai.
Jannai was the son of Joseph.

Luke 3 verses

Luke 3 24 Meaning

Luke 3:24 details the commencement of Jesus' public ministry at approximately thirty years of age, simultaneously clarifying His legal or public identity as "the son of Joseph." The crucial parenthetical phrase "(as was supposed)" by Luke serves to uphold the virgin birth, indicating that while Joseph was legally recognized as Jesus' father in the community, he was not Jesus' biological parent. This verse marks the transition from Jesus' private life to His public mission, anchoring His divine nature within a historical human lineage for the purpose of His work on Earth.

Luke 3 24 Context

Luke chapter 3 sets the historical stage for John the Baptist's ministry and Jesus' anointing. Immediately preceding verse 24, John the Baptist has been imprisoned by Herod (v. 19-20), and Jesus has just been baptized, at which moment the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and God's voice affirmed Him as "My beloved Son" (v. 21-22). This affirmation establishes Jesus' divine Sonship and marks the commencement of His public ministry. Verse 24, by stating Jesus' age and lineage, smoothly transitions into the detailed genealogy that follows (v. 25-38), establishing His credentials as a man, historically situated within God's redemptive plan, and fully identifying Him with humanity while implicitly protecting His divine origin. It underscores His readiness to embark on His Messianic mission, which Luke highlights in the subsequent chapters.

Luke 3 24 Word analysis

• And Jesus (kai Iesous): Simple conjunction and subject. "Iesous" (Ἰησοῦς) is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew "Yeshua" or "Joshua," meaning "Yahweh saves" or "The Lord is salvation."
• Himself (autos): (αὐτὸς) An emphatic pronoun. It emphasizes that this initiation of ministry was Jesus' own decisive action, His personal stepping forth.
• began (ēn archomenos): (ἦν ἀρχόμενος). This is a periphrastic imperfect construction in Greek, literally "was beginning." It denotes an action in progress or on the verge of commencing. It does not mean Jesus merely "was" thirty years old, but that His public ministry "was beginning" at that age. This signals a new phase.
• to be (used in construction with 'began'): No direct standalone Greek word. Part of the verbal construction indicating the state or initiation.
• about (hōsei): (ὡσεί). This word means "approximately" or "about." Luke uses it to indicate that the age of thirty was not precise to the day, but a close estimate. This common usage prevents rigid calculations.
• thirty years of age (etōn triakonta): (ἐτῶν τριάκοντα). Thirty years old. In Jewish tradition, this age marked maturity and was the age at which Levites began their service in the tabernacle (Num 4:3) and priests their full ministry. It was also considered the age of readiness for teaching and leadership in many ancient cultures. For Jesus, it signified His complete maturity and readiness to fully assume His public role as the Messiah and Great High Priest.
• being (hōs): (ὡς). This Greek particle translates as "as," "just as," or "as if." It introduces a comparison or explanation.
• as was supposed (enomizeto): (ἐνομίζετο). This is the imperfect passive of the verb nomizō (νομίζω), meaning "to custom, to think, to suppose, to hold by custom, to believe." In this passive form, it means "as it was supposed," "as he was reckoned," or "as was the custom to believe." This is a pivotal phrase in Luke's account. It directly addresses the common belief in the community that Joseph was Jesus' father, while simultaneously asserting the supernatural reality of the virgin birth (Lk 1:35). Luke acknowledges the human perspective while safeguarding theological truth.
• the son of Joseph (huios Ioseph): (υἱὸς Ἰωσήφ). Joseph was legally and publicly recognized as Jesus' father. This forms the immediate entry point into the genealogy, linking Jesus to a known, historical figure.
• the son of Heli (tou Heli): (τοῦ Ἡλί). This indicates the next generation in the genealogy. Luke's genealogy here is traditionally understood to trace Jesus' lineage through Mary's father, Heli, thereby establishing Jesus' natural lineage and descent from David through Mary, ensuring His qualification for the Messianic office.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age: This phrase emphatically declares the critical moment of transition for Jesus into His public ministry. The age "about thirty" denotes spiritual and cultural maturity, preparing Him for significant public leadership and service as the new Adam and the High Priest (following Mosaic and general cultural patterns for spiritual teachers and leaders). It also reflects a period of preparation and growth before His unveiling.
• being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph: This is Luke's careful theological precision. The parenthetical "(as was supposed)" functions as an inspired corrective or clarification to the common human understanding. It asserts that while Joseph was legally recognized as Jesus' father, thereby fulfilling Messianic prophecies concerning Davidic lineage through Joseph's adoptive role, Jesus' biological father was God Himself, maintaining the virgin birth doctrine without needing to re-explain it here. This phrasing allows Luke to present Jesus' human ancestry and divine origin simultaneously and without contradiction. It is Luke’s unique phrasing to subtly clarify the unique birth of Christ within the common perception of His lineage.

Luke 3 24 Bonus section

• Luke's genealogy (following v. 24) differs from Matthew's (Mt 1) primarily in tracing back through Mary's line via Heli (Joseph's father-in-law) rather than Joseph's biological line through Jacob. Luke also ascends Jesus' lineage back to Adam, and ultimately to God Himself (Lk 3:38), highlighting Jesus' universal redemptive role for all humanity, not just Israel.
• The age of "thirty" holds ancient significance beyond just Levitical service. In the ancient Near East, it was often associated with assuming significant public roles and leadership, implying maturity, wisdom, and the completion of a preparatory phase. For example, Joseph began his administrative duties for Pharaoh at age thirty (Gen 41:46).
• The subtle yet powerful "as was supposed" highlights Luke's skill as a meticulous historian who considers popular understanding but remains faithful to divine revelation regarding Jesus' unique identity. It implicitly affirms the virgin birth in a context focused on human lineage.
• This verse also acts as a bridge, grounding the miraculous baptism event (Lk 3:21-22) and the following divine affirmation of sonship (Lk 3:22) with the human historical reality and a traceable lineage, confirming Jesus' full humanity and fulfillment of prophetic expectations.

Luke 3 24 Commentary

Luke 3:24 serves as a precise chronological and theological marker for Jesus' ministry. His age, "about thirty," signifies His readiness to step into public leadership, consistent with traditional Jewish practice for entering into priestly service or teaching roles. Luke, known for his historical meticulousness, carefully records the common perception of Jesus' parentage—"the son of Joseph"—while ingeniously inserting the clarifying phrase "(as was supposed)." This vital qualification prevents any misunderstanding about Jesus' supernatural birth (Lk 1:35) even as His legal human lineage through Joseph, connecting Him to the Davidic line, is traced. The verse therefore establishes Jesus' fully human identity and His legitimate place in the history of Israel, which is foundational for His redemptive work as both man and God. This delicate balance of acknowledging public understanding and preserving divine truth is central to Luke's portrayal of Christ as the fully human and fully divine Savior.