Luke 3:31 kjv
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,
Luke 3:31 nkjv
the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
Luke 3:31 niv
the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
Luke 3:31 esv
the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
Luke 3:31 nlt
Eliakim was the son of Melea.
Melea was the son of Menna.
Menna was the son of Mattatha.
Mattatha was the son of Nathan.
Nathan was the son of David.
Luke 3 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | ...I will raise up your offspring after you...I will establish his kingdom.. | God's eternal covenant with David's line. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | I have made a covenant with my chosen one...I will establish your offspring. | God's oath regarding David's enduring throne. |
| Ps 132:11 | The LORD swore to David a sure oath...One of your sons I will set on your throne. | Promise of a royal descendant on the throne. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | ...to us a son is given...On the throne of David and over his kingdom. | Prophecy of the Messiah's reign on David's throne. |
| Jer 23:5-6 | ...a righteous Branch to David...he shall execute justice...Judah will be saved. | The Messiah as a descendant of David. |
| Amos 9:11 | In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen. | Prophecy of the restoration of David's line. |
| Zech 12:8 | On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that...the house of David shall be as God. | David's house honored and divinely protected. |
| Matt 1:1 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David... | Establishes Jesus's Davidic lineage immediately. |
| Matt 1:6 | Jesse was the father of King David...David was the father of Solomon... | Highlights Matthew's genealogy through Solomon. |
| Matt 2:4-5 | ...that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written... | Messiah's birthplace connected to David. |
| Mark 10:47-48 | Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! | Blind Bartimaeus acknowledging Jesus's Davidic claim. |
| Luke 1:27 | ...to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. | Joseph's Davidic lineage stated for Jesus's legal claim. |
| Luke 1:32-33 | He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. | Angel Gabriel confirms Jesus's Davidic royal destiny. |
| Luke 2:4 | And Joseph also went up from Galilee...to Bethlehem, the city of David. | Joseph's travel to David's city for census. |
| Rom 1:3 | Concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh. | Paul affirming Jesus's Davidic human ancestry. |
| Acts 2:29-31 | David died and was buried...but God raised him from the dead...the Christ. | Peter linking David's prophecy to Christ's resurrection. |
| Acts 13:22-23 | And from the offspring of this man [David], God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus. | God's fulfillment of Davidic promise in Jesus. |
| Rev 5:5 | ...the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome... | Jesus identified as the Davidic conquering Messiah. |
| Rev 22:16 | "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you...I am the root and the offspring of David." | Jesus affirms His dual Davidic connection. |
| Luke 3:23 | Jesus...being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph. | Contextualizes Joseph's relationship to Jesus in the genealogy. |
| Luke 3:32 | ...the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon... | Broader context of David's lineage back to Judah and Abraham. |
| Luke 3:38 | ...the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. | Luke's ultimate reach of genealogy to all humanity. |
| Heb 7:14 | For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah... | Confirms Jesus's tribal origin as prophesied. |
| Rom 15:12 | ...as Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come..." | Jesse's lineage linked to the coming Messiah. |
Luke 3 verses
Luke 3 31 Meaning
Luke 3:31 details a segment of Jesus's ancestral lineage, tracing back through Joseph's family line to King David. Specifically, it lists Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, and finally, David. This connection to Nathan, a lesser-known son of David, distinguishes Luke's genealogy from others, solidifying Jesus's legal claim as a direct descendant of the promised Messianic king, David.
Luke 3 31 Context
Luke 3:31 is part of a detailed genealogy of Jesus Christ found in Luke 3:23-38. This list immediately follows the account of Jesus's baptism by John the Baptist and the divine affirmation of Jesus as the beloved Son. Unlike Matthew's genealogy, which traces forward from Abraham to Jesus and begins with Joseph, Luke's genealogy traces backward from Jesus all the way to Adam and God. This backward progression highlights Jesus's universal significance as the Savior of all humanity, not just Israel. The verse specifically details Joseph's ancestry back to King David, via a different branch of David's family, thus underscoring Jesus's fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's lineage from David. Genealogies were critical in ancient Jewish culture for establishing legal rights, inheritance, and claims to important roles, such as kingship.
Luke 3 31 Word analysis
- the son of Melea (τοῦ Μελεᾶ - tou Meleā):
- τοῦ (tou): Greek genitive article, meaning "of the" or "belonging to," indicating paternal lineage.
- Melea (Μελεᾶ): A name not mentioned elsewhere in the biblical record outside of Luke's genealogy. It signifies an individual link in the extensive chain.
- the son of Menna (τοῦ Μεννᾶ - tou Mennā):
- Menna (Μεννᾶ): Like Melea, this name is unique to Luke's record of Jesus's ancestors. Its inclusion highlights Luke's unique and specific research into the historical lineage.
- the son of Mattatha (τοῦ Ματταθὰ - tou Mattathā):
- Mattatha (Ματταθὰ): A name likely related to the Hebrew "Mattithiah" or "Matthat," meaning "gift of Yahweh." It appears in other biblical contexts as well (e.g., 1 Chr 9:31, Neh 12:41), suggesting a common, though not universally known, name in Israelite history.
- the son of Nathan (τοῦ Ναθὰν - tou Nathān):
- Nathan (Ναθὰν): This is King David's son, specifically named in 2 Samuel 5:14 and 1 Chronicles 3:5. Critically, Nathan is a different son of David than Solomon, through whom Matthew's genealogy traces Jesus's lineage. This distinction is paramount.
- Significance: Following Nathan's line ensures Jesus's legal claim to the throne of David through a branch distinct from the primary royal Solomonic line. It also allows for reconciling Luke's genealogy (often linked to Mary's biological lineage) with Matthew's (Joseph's legal line). This double validation strengthens the messianic claim.
- the son of David (τοῦ Δαυίδ - tou Dauid):
- David (Δαυίδ): The revered second king of Israel (circa 1000 BCE). Central to God's covenant promising an everlasting kingdom through his descendants (2 Sam 7:12-16).
- Significance: This final direct connection explicitly roots Jesus in the prophetic lineage from which the Messiah must arise, confirming His rightful identity as the King of Israel and the fulfillment of Old Testament promises.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "the son of... the son of... the son of...": This repetitive genitive construction, standard in ancient genealogies, powerfully conveys an unbroken and verifiable line of descent. It methodically connects each generation, establishing a meticulous historical record leading to Jesus. The emphasis is on clear, legitimate succession.
- "Nathan, the son of David": This phrase marks a pivotal point in Luke's genealogy. By explicitly connecting to Nathan, rather than Solomon, Luke highlights a distinct yet equally legitimate branch of David's family. This differentiation has led to theological discussions about whether Luke represents Mary's physical lineage through Heli (sometimes identified as a descendant of Nathan and father of Mary) or an alternative legal lineage for Joseph, thereby further substantiating Jesus's multifaceted Davidic claim.
Luke 3 31 Bonus section
While Luke's genealogy explicitly states "son of Joseph," scholars generally agree that Joseph was not Jesus's biological father, but His legal one, connecting Him to David's royal lineage (Luke 3:23). The difference between Luke's lineage (via Nathan) and Matthew's (via Solomon) has been extensively discussed. Some theories propose Luke traced Mary's ancestry (as a "son" or descendant through her father, Heli, if Heli was a descendant of Nathan), while Matthew provided Joseph's legal line. Regardless of interpretation, both genealogies independently validate Jesus's necessary Davidic descent. This divergence strengthens the claim by demonstrating multiple authentic pathways through David, proving Jesus's indisputable eligibility as the Christ, the anointed King.
Luke 3 31 Commentary
Luke 3:31, within Jesus's genealogy, decisively affirms His descent from King David, a fundamental requirement for the Messiah. The unique path through Nathan, rather than David's better-known royal son Solomon (as in Matthew's Gospel), provides a complementary but equally valid proof of Jesus's royal lineage. This precision highlights Luke's thorough historical research and strengthens the Messianic claim by showing multiple authentic connections to David. Ultimately, the meticulous record underscores that Jesus is the long-awaited Son of David, commissioned to reign.