What does Luke 3:32 mean?

Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, Luke 3:32

Explanation

Luke 3:32 lists part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ as understood in the Christian New Testament, tracing Jesus’ lineage through His earthly father Joseph (though Joseph was not His biological father, as Christian teaching holds that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit). This particular verse enumerates the ancestors of King David, going back five generations to Naasson.

It forms part of a longer genealogy presented in Luke 3:23-38, which differs from the genealogy of Jesus presented in Matthew 1:1-17. Luke’s genealogy traces Jesus’ lineage through David’s son Nathan, whereas Matthew traces it through Solomon, reflecting different theological emphases in each Gospel.

The inclusion of the genealogy serves not only to establish the legitimacy of Jesus’ claim to messiahship through His Davidic line but also contributes to the broader theological narrative of God’s covenant with Israel and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

Historical Context

Luke’s Gospel is believed to have been written around AD 80-110, a few decades after Jesus’ crucifixion and during the early days of the Christian Church, when it was spreading through the Roman Empire. Genealogies were very important to Jews at the time as they established a person’s lineage, inheritance rights, and tribal affiliation, and were especially significant regarding messianic claims, as the Messiah was prophesied to come from the line of David.

In the historical context, the mention of these names also aligns with the historical records of the time, affirming that these individuals were historically recognized figures from the Old Testament, and their lineages were important to Jewish history.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints may place varying emphasis on this genealogy. For instance:

• Traditional Christian theology highlights that Jesus, being related to these significant ancestors, fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah.
• Another point of view is that Luke wanted to emphasize Jesus’ connection to all humanity, not just to the Jews, hence tracing his lineage all the way back to Adam in the following verses to show that Jesus is related to all people.
• Some theologians examine how the presence of gentiles in the genealogy (Rahab and Ruth) implies the inclusivity of salvation through Jesus.
• Critics may argue about the differences in genealogies between Matthew and Luke, although many Christian scholars offer harmonization attempts, suggesting reasons for the different lineages provided.

Practical Applications

For modern readers, this verse can have several practical applications:

• It encourages individuals to reflect on their heritage and their place in the history of their faith or family.
• It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness over many generations, as seen in how the lineage of Jesus was preserved.
• For Christians, understanding the lineage of Jesus can enhance their appreciation for the continuity and fulfillment of God’s promises.

Cross-References

• Ruth 4:18-22: “Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,”
• Matthew 1:5-6: “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse, And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;”

Language Study

The names in Luke 3:32 have meanings and significance in the original Hebrew language:

• Jesse (יִשַׁי – Yishai) means “gift” or “wealth.”
• Obed (עוֹבֵד – Oved) means “servant” or “worshipper.”
• Boaz (בֹּעַז – Bo’az) means “swiftness” or “in him is strength.”
• Salmon (שַׂלְמוֹן – Salmon) is not clearly defined in its meaning but is associated with “garment” or “peaceful.”
• Naasson (נַחְשׁוֹן – Nahshon) means “diviner” or “enchanter,” and he is recognized as a leader of the tribe of Judah during the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.

The genealogy in Luke is written in Greek, and the names are transliterated from the Hebrew texts and their Septuagint equivalents.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Genealogies were important not just in Judaism but also in other ancient cultures. They were a common way of establishing a person’s rights to kingship and land ownership. In Christianity, Jesus’ genealogy links him to the Jewish patriarchs and to King David, validating his messianic role in the eyes of first-century Jews.

Comparatively, ancient mythologies, like the Greek and Roman mythos, also often provide extensive genealogies of their gods and heroes, as seen in works like Hesiod’s “Theogony.” However, in the genealogy of Luke, the emphasis is on historical, real-world figures rather than mythological ones.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, genealogies like the one in Luke provide limited information. While genetics and ancestry studies can show the migration patterns, family relations, and ethnic backgrounds of individuals, biblical genealogies do not provide DNA evidence or direct scientific data. Modern genetics has shown the complexity of ancestry that is vastly more intricate than linear biblical genealogies imply.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentators offer insights on Luke 3:32:

• Commentators like John Calvin and Matthew Henry note that genealogies confirm the historical reality of Jesus and his fulfillment of the prophecies as the Messiah.
• Modern scholarly commentaries might focus on the differences between the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, exploring why Luke might trace the lineage through a different line than Matthew.
• Some commentaries also consider the literary style, structure, and purpose of Luke’s genealogy, suggesting that it is crafted to reveal theological truths about Jesus’ identity and mission.