Luke 3 36

Luke 3:36 kjv

Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,

Luke 3:36 nkjv

the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

Luke 3:36 niv

the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

Luke 3:36 esv

the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

Luke 3:36 nlt

Shelah was the son of Cainan.
Cainan was the son of Arphaxad.
Arphaxad was the son of Shem.
Shem was the son of Noah.
Noah was the son of Lamech.

Luke 3 verses

Luke 3 36 Meaning

Luke 3:36 presents a continuation of Jesus’s genealogy, tracing His ancestry through Noah and his son Shem, further establishing His lineage within the broader history of humanity as recorded in the Old Testament. This verse lists a sequence of generations: Cainan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, and Lamech. Notably, the inclusion of Cainan here reflects Luke’s reliance on the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament, which differs from the Masoretic Text (MT) of Genesis regarding this specific ancestral link. This part of the genealogy emphasizes the continuity of God's redemptive plan through history and prepares for the ultimate lineage tracing back to Adam, and then to God Himself, thereby underscoring Jesus's universal significance to all humankind.

Luke 3 36 Context

Luke 3:36 is part of Jesus’s genealogy found in Luke 3:23-38. This lineage immediately follows the account of Jesus’s baptism, where He is affirmed as the beloved Son of God (Luke 3:21-22). The placement suggests that just as Jesus is revealed as God’s Son through divine proclamation, His earthly lineage also demonstrates His identity. Unlike Matthew's genealogy, which begins with Abraham and traces Jesus's legal and royal lineage through David, Luke's genealogy starts with Jesus and traces backward, ultimately culminating in Adam and "the son of God" (Lk 3:38). This direction underscores Jesus’s identity not only as the Jewish Messiah but also as the savior of all humanity, identifying Him with the entire human race from its beginning. The verses within this segment meticulously list each generation to demonstrate the authenticity and historical continuity of Jesus’s descent.

Luke 3 36 Word analysis

• the son of (υἱός, huios): Repeated numerous times throughout Luke’s genealogy. "Huios" means "son," "descendant," or "member of a family/group." Its consistent use emphasizes a direct, continuous lineage. In biblical genealogies, "son of" does not always imply a direct biological offspring but can also mean a descendant further down the line, an heir, or belonging to a certain lineage, though here it consistently means direct paternal descent.
• Cainan (Καϊνάμ, Kainam): The most notable and debated name in this verse. His inclusion is directly linked to the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures popular among Hellenistic Jews and early Christians. The Masoretic Text (MT) of Genesis (Gen 10:24, 11:12-13), which is the basis for most modern Old Testament translations, omits Cainan between Arphaxad and Shelah (or Sala as in Luke 3:35). Luke's adoption of the LXX reading indicates his primary source for the Old Testament genealogies. Scholars suggest various reasons for the MT omission or LXX inclusion (copying error, variant tradition, intentional insertion for chronological calculations). Luke, writing to a predominantly Gentile audience who would have been familiar with the LXX, likely used the text readily available and accepted in his context without intending to challenge specific Hebrew textual traditions. This reflects Luke's focus on universal appeal and utilizing sources comprehensible to his readers.
• Arphaxad (Ἀρφαξάδ, Arphaxad): According to Genesis, he was a son of Shem, born two years after the flood. His name suggests a connection to Chaldea or the land of Arrapachitis, northeast of Nineveh. He is a key link in the Abrahamic and ultimately the Davidic/Messianic line in both textual traditions of Genesis.
• Shem (Σήμ, Sēm): One of Noah’s three sons (Gen 5:32). He is particularly significant because the lineage leading to Abraham, and therefore to the nation of Israel and eventually the Messiah, comes through him (Gen 10:21, 11:10). His name means "name" or "renown," fitting his importance as the ancestor of many nations, notably the "Semitic" peoples, and more importantly, the line of the covenant promise.
• Noah (Νῶε, Nōe): The righteous man through whom God preserved humanity and creation during the Great Flood (Gen 6-9). His presence signifies humanity’s second beginning after the Flood, establishing the universal reach of God’s plan of salvation from this fresh start. He is also notable for the covenant God made with him and all living creatures (Gen 9:8-17), a covenant foundational to understanding God’s dealing with mankind.
• Lamech (Λάμεχ, Lamech): The father of Noah (Gen 5:28-29). There are two Lamechs in Genesis 4 and 5, one from Cain’s line and this one from Seth’s line, who is Noah’s father. He expressed hope regarding Noah, believing Noah would bring relief from the toil of the ground. His inclusion bridges the gap between the pre-Flood generations leading from Adam to the new beginning with Noah.
• "the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech": This cumulative phrasing, where each name is introduced as "the son of" the previous, systematically traces the ancestry backward. It demonstrates meticulous attention to continuity and sequence. The rhythm reinforces the chain of generations, connecting the present (Jesus) with the ancient past and demonstrating the historical depth of His divine plan for humanity. This method also creates a deliberate and solemn cadence, emphasizing the weight and certainty of the lineage.

Luke 3 36 Bonus section

The unique presence of "Cainan" in Luke's genealogy, which stems from his use of the Septuagint (LXX) text, highlights the diversity in textual traditions of the Old Testament during the first century. While most modern Bibles (based on the Masoretic Text) omit Cainan, Luke's inclusion of him is not seen as an error on his part but rather a faithful transcription of the common scriptural version available to and widely used by his audience. This emphasizes that Luke was careful to provide a verifiable historical lineage within the accepted framework of his time. Theologically, Luke's expanded genealogy to Adam, bypassing the emphasis on a specific national lineage as in Matthew, paints a portrait of Jesus as the Head of a new creation, relating His redemptive work to all of humanity, not just the Jewish people. He is the Son of God not merely in an individual sense but as the climactic fulfillment of God's redemptive dealings with mankind from creation onwards.

Luke 3 36 Commentary

Luke 3:36, as a vital segment of Jesus's genealogy, affirms the historical reality of the Lord Jesus's humanity and His deep roots within the broader human story. Its primary significance lies in showing that Jesus is not just the Messiah for Israel but the universal Savior, tracing His ancestry through key figures like Shem, Noah, and ultimately back to Adam and God. This differentiates Luke's account from Matthew's, highlighting Jesus's solidarity with all people. The inclusion of "Cainan," though a textual variant based on the Septuagint, points to Luke's intentional use of a widely accessible Greek Old Testament. This detail underscores Luke’s historical precision in presenting the account as he understood it from available traditions, affirming Jesus's identity as the "second Adam," a new head of humanity, whose saving work extends to all.