Luke 3 35

Luke 3:35 kjv

Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,

Luke 3:35 nkjv

the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

Luke 3:35 niv

the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

Luke 3:35 esv

the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

Luke 3:35 nlt

Nahor was the son of Serug.
Serug was the son of Reu.
Reu was the son of Peleg.
Peleg was the son of Eber.
Eber was the son of Shelah.

Luke 3 verses

Luke 3 35 Meaning

Luke 3:35 continues the meticulous backward genealogy of Jesus, identifying Him as the "son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah." This specific verse traces Jesus' ancestry through prominent patriarchal figures listed in Genesis 10 and 11, extending the line back towards Noah and Adam. By including these names, Luke emphasizes the historical continuity of God's redemptive plan and connects Jesus not only to the Abrahamic covenant but to the foundational history of all humanity from creation. It underscores Jesus' universal identity and His role as the Savior for all people.

Luke 3 35 Context

Luke 3:35 is part of Luke's extensive genealogy of Jesus Christ, which begins in verse 23 and concludes in verse 38. Unlike Matthew's genealogy, which starts from Abraham and moves forward, Luke traces Jesus' lineage backward from His apparent father, Joseph (Lk 3:23), all the way back to Adam, and ultimately to God Himself (Lk 3:38).

This verse, Luke 3:35, lists several significant patriarchs who lived after the Great Flood and before Abraham: Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, and Shelah. These names are directly derived from the genealogies found in Genesis 10 and 11, which describe the descendants of Noah's son, Shem. By including these pre-Abrahamic figures, Luke emphasizes the universal scope of Jesus' mission and identity. His Messiahship is not just for the Jewish people (as emphasized by Matthew's focus on Abraham and David) but for all humanity. This broad genealogical sweep connects Jesus to every person on earth as a descendant of Adam, portraying Him as the new head of a renewed humanity and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan that extends back to creation.

The historical context reflects a time when precise family records were paramount for identity, land rights, tribal affiliations, and religious roles. Genealogies served as legal and historical documents. For Luke's Greek-speaking Gentile audience, this detailed and inclusive lineage underscored Jesus' deep historical roots and His relevance to a wider world beyond Israel, confirming His position as the Son of God and the long-awaited Redeemer for all.

Luke 3 35 Word analysis

• the son of (τοῦ - tou): This Greek definite article functions possessively, commonly used in genealogies to mean "the son of" or "descendant of." Its repeated use throughout Luke's genealogy establishes an unbroken chain of ancestry, emphasizing a direct and verifiable link between each successive generation and ensuring the historical integrity of the lineage presented.
• Serug (Σαροὺχ - Sarouch): This is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Saruch or Serug (שָׂרוּג, Gen 11:20). He is identified in the Old Testament as the son of Reu and the father of Nahor (Abraham's grandfather). His inclusion establishes a vital link in the direct line leading to Abraham, demonstrating God's consistent preservation of the promised seed.
• Reu (Ῥαγαὺ - Ragau): Greek form of Hebrew Reu (רְעוּ, Gen 11:18), meaning "friend" or "shepherd." He is the son of Peleg and the father of Serug. Reu continues the patrilineal descent, forming another link in the chain that meticulously bridges the gap between the post-Flood era and the time of Abraham.
• Peleg (Φαλέγ - Phaleg): Greek for Hebrew Peleg (פֶלֶג, Gen 10:25, 11:16). His name means "division." Genesis 10:25 states, "for in his days the earth was divided." This strongly connects Peleg to the Tower of Babel event (Gen 11:1-9), where humanity's languages were confounded and they were dispersed. His presence in Jesus' genealogy highlights God's sovereignty over historical events, even those of judgment, while preserving the redemptive line. It also connects Jesus' lineage directly to the scattering of nations, fitting Luke's universal theme.
• Eber (Ἔβερ - Eber): Greek for Hebrew Eber (עֵבֶר, Gen 10:21, 11:14), meaning "beyond" or "region across." He is the son of Shelah and the father of Peleg. Eber is widely considered the eponymous ancestor of the "Hebrews" ('ibri), implying that the special lineage destined to bring forth the Messiah originated through him. This highlights the particularity of the Abrahamic covenant yet embedded within a universal ancestry.
• Shelah (Σαλά - Sala): Greek for Hebrew Shelah (שֶׁלַח, Gen 10:24, 11:12). He is listed as the son of Arphaxad (or Cainan in the Septuagint and Luke 3:36) and the father of Eber. Shelah's place firmly situates Jesus' ancestry within the generations immediately following the Great Flood, rooted deeply in early post-deluvian biblical history.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the son of Serug, the son of Reu": These two links bridge the gap between Nahor (Abraham's grandfather) and Peleg, reinforcing the steady continuation of the ancestral line in the periods between significant historical figures. Their rapid succession underscores the unbroken and divinely maintained thread of generations leading to Christ.
• "the son of Peleg, the son of Eber": This group contains particularly significant names. Peleg links directly to the "division of the earth" (Babel), while Eber is traditionally associated with the origin of the Hebrews. Their presence underscores that God's plan for salvation, destined to culminate in Jesus, was in motion even amidst humanity's earliest failures and the formation of distinct nations. It shows God preserving His chosen lineage through crucial moments of human history.
• "the son of Shelah": Shelah, as the immediate descendant from Arphaxad (and by extension Shem), roots Jesus' lineage in the immediate post-Flood world, connecting Him to humanity's earliest foundational origins after the great deluge, thereby supporting a universal human connection to Christ.

Luke 3 35 Bonus section

• Septuagint vs. Masoretic Text: While not explicitly in Luke 3:35, Luke's genealogy, particularly in the verse following (3:36), includes "Cainan" between Arphaxad and Shelah, which is found in the Septuagint (LXX) version of Genesis 10 and 11 but is absent from the Masoretic Text (the standard Hebrew Bible). This difference highlights Luke's reliance on the LXX, the Greek translation of the Old Testament commonly used by early Christians. This inclusion indicates that early biblical accounts were subject to slight textual variations but the core genealogical purpose remained clear for tracing divine promise.
• Chronological implications: The lengthy lifespans attributed to these patriarchs in Genesis (which Luke echoes by including them) place them at crucial intersections of early human history. For example, Eber is often believed to have been a contemporary of Abraham. These connections emphasize a long-standing continuity of tradition and divine knowledge that could be passed down through few direct patriarchs over long periods.
• Purpose of long genealogies: In ancient cultures, genealogies conferred legitimacy, legal rights, and a sense of identity. Luke’s detailed list asserts Jesus’ authentic human roots and his connection to historical events and covenants, affirming His right to kingship and His qualifications to fulfill the Messianic prophecies as a legitimate human descendant.

Luke 3 35 Commentary

Luke 3:35, though seemingly a dry list of names, is crucial to understanding Luke's theological agenda. These five patriarchs—Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, and Shelah—form an unbroken chain between Abraham and the generations that immediately followed the Great Flood, firmly grounding Jesus' identity within the ancient records of humanity. Luke, writing primarily for a Gentile audience, extends Jesus' lineage beyond the traditional Jewish focus (Abraham and David) all the way back to Adam, and then to God Himself. This emphasizes Jesus' universal Lordship and His role as the Savior not only of Israel but of all mankind.

The inclusion of names like Peleg, whose era saw the division of humanity (Babel), and Eber, from whom the "Hebrews" derive their name, is significant. It subtly conveys that even in moments of human disunity and specific tribal identities, God's singular redemptive purpose, manifest in Jesus, has always been moving through history. This genealogy is not merely a record; it's a testimony to God's faithfulness in meticulously preserving the messianic line through diverse generations, demonstrating a continuous divine hand guiding human history towards its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The unbroken succession speaks to the authenticity and divine appointment of Jesus as the prophesied Redeemer.