The Bible Says
Luke 3:28-31 Meaning

The parallel of Luke 3:28-31 is Matthew 1:6-12, but Luke records the line between David and Shealtiel through David’s son Nathan, while Matthew records the royal line through David’s son King Solomon.

The Gospel parallels for the entire genealogical accounts of Jesus are Luke 3:23-38 and Matthew 1:1-17.

In Luke 3:28-31, Luke follows the lineage of Jesus from Melchi through King David via Nathan.

Having completed the lineage of Jesus’s mother, Mary, to a common ancestor with Jesus’s adoptive father, Joseph (the common ancestor was most likely Zerubbabel (see commentary for Luke 3:24-27), Luke then began to trace the royal line back to David from Zerubbabel.

Luke recorded that Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel, who was the son of Neri (Luke 3:27b).

As discussed in the previous commentary, Shealtiel was the biological son of the deposed and cursed King Jeconiah. Because of Jeconiah and his father’s (Jehoiakim) wickedness, the LORD cut them out of the Messianic lineage (Jeremiah 22:24-30).

Matthew points out that Shealtiel was born in captivity after Jeconiah was imprisoned in Babylon to indicate that Shealtiel did not inherit the throne from his accursed father (Matthew 1:12).

But Luke does not say that Shealtiel was the son of Jeconiah; he instead records that Shealtiel was “the son of Neri” (Luke 3:27). This likely means that Neri was Shealtiel’s surrogate or adoptive father.

Both Matthew and Luke’s treatments effectively cut Jeconiah out of the lineage and thus are in compliance with Jeremiah’s prophetic curse:

“Write this man down childless,
A man who will not prosper in his days;
For no man of his descendants will prosper
Sitting on the throne of David
Or ruling again in Judah.”
(Jeremiah 22:30b)

For more, see “What is the Curse of Jeconiah?”

But because they handle this curse differently, Matthew and Luke’s genealogies diverge once again.

• Matthew 1:6-12 records the royal lineage of Shealtiel’s biological father, Jeconiah (who was no longer a king) as descending from David’s son, King Solomon, to Jeconiah.

• Luke 3:27-31 traces the royal lineage from Shealtiel’s adoptive/surrogate father, Neri, back to Nathan, the son of David (v 31b).

So this is why after briefly linking up at Zerubbabel and Shealtiel, Matthew and Luke’s genealogies split once again until they join back together at King David.

the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er (vs 28)

…the son of Melchi… (v 28a)

Melchi was the father of Neri.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to Melchi is in verse 28 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

This is the second of two people named Melchi in Luke’s genealogy list. The first “Melchi” was listed in Luke 3:24.

In Hebrew, the name Melchi comes from the Hebrew word for king (“melek”) and the “i” at the end adds the pronoun “my.” Therefore, Melchi means “my king.”

Jesus is the fulfillment of the name Melchi, because He is the King of Kings (Revelation 19:16) and He has been given reign over every spiritual and physical realm (Philippians 2:9-11).

…the son of Addi… (v 28b)

Addi was the father of Melchi.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to Addi is in verse 28 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

The meaning of the Hebrew name, Addi, is uncertain. It may be linked to the Hebrew word, “adah.” “Adah” means “adornment,” “ornament.” When an “-i” is at the end of a name, it often adds the pronoun “my” to the word. If the name Addi is based on “adah,” then it likely means something like “my adornment,” “my adorned one,” or “my splendor,” or “my splendid one.”

Jesus embodies both of these possible meanings of Addi.

During His first advent, Jesus was adorned with a purple robe and crown of thorns in mockery of His claim to be a king (Matthew 27:28-29). In His next advent, Jesus will be adorned with many crowns, and all will see that He truly is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:12-16).

Jesus is also the LORD’s splendid One in whom God’s soul takes delight (Isaiah 42:1) and His beloved Son in whom the Father is well-pleased (Matthew 4:17).

…the son of Cosam… (v 28c)

Cosam was the father of Addi.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to Cosam is in verse 28 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

The name Cosam appears only in Luke’s genealogy and has no preserved Hebrew spelling in the Old Testament. The name Cosam appears to be linked to the Hebrew root word “qasam” which means “to divine,” “to determine,” “to discern.”

Jesus embodied the meaning of the name Cosam in two ways.

1. Jesus knows all things and is able to divine and see through appearances to reality.
   (Matthew 9:4, Luke 6:8, 9:47, John 2:24-25)
   
   
2. Jesus is the ultimate judge of the world and will rightly decide everyone’s eternity.
   (Matthew 25:31-33, John 5:22, 5:27, Acts 10:42, 2 Timothy 4:1)

…the son of Elmadam… (v 28d)

Elmadam was the father of Cosam.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to Elmadam is in verse 28 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

The name Elmadam appears only in Luke’s genealogy and has no preserved Hebrew spelling in the Old Testament, but the name clearly contains two highly recognizable Hebrew elements:

1. “El” which means “god.”
   
   
2. “Adam” which means: “man,” “human,” or “mankind.”

Jesus, more than any other person, embodies the meaning of this name. He is God and He is man. “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

Elmadam could also be a Greek rendering of the Hebrew name “Almodad” which means “not measured.” The Bible identifies another figure named Almodad, who was a descendent of Shem (Genesis 10:26, 1 Chronicles 1:20).

If Elmadam is a form of Almodad and means “not measured,” then Jesus embodied the meaning of this name because He was not highly regarded by the religious authorities when He came to earth (Isaiah 53:2-3, John 1:10-11).

…the son of Er… (v 28e)

Er was the father of Elmadam.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this Er is in verse 28 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

The only other person in the Bible of this name is Er, Judah’s firstborn son (Genesis 38:3)

The Hebrew name Er most likely comes from the Hebrew root “ur,” which means “to wake” or “awaken.”

Jesus embodies the meaning of Er’s name because He has the power to awaken people from their sin (Ephesians 5:13-14). Jesus awakened Jairus’s daughter and Lazarus from the dead (Mark 5:39-42, John 11:11) After three days in the tomb, Jesus was awakened from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:4). As the “Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25-26), Jesus will awaken those who have fallen asleep and resurrect them upon His return (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi (v 29)

…the son of Joshua… (v 29a)

Joshua was the father of Er.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this particular Joshua is in verse 29 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

In Hebrew, the name Joshua means “Yahweh saves.” The name Jesus is a variation of Joshua.

Other Biblical figures with this same name are:

1. Joshua, son of Nun
   (Exodus 33:11)
   
   Joshua, son of Nun, was Moses’s successor (Numbers 27:18). His leadership and deeds are primarily recorded in the Book of Joshua which describe the historical account of Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land.
   
   Joshua prefigured Jesus as a leader who brought Israel into the Promised Land.
   
   
2. Joshua of Beth-shemesh on whose land the ark was kept
   (1 Samuel 6:14)
   
   
3. Joshua, the governor of Jerusalem
   (2 Kings 23:8)
   
   
4. Joshua, son of Jehozadak, who was the high priest
   (Haggai 1:1)

Jesus’s own name is a variation of Joshua. The angel told Joseph that Mary’s Son shall be called Jesus, because He will save people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

…the son of Eliezer… (v 29b)

Eliezer was the father of Joshua.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this particular Eliezer is in verse 29 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

It appears as though Eliezer was a common name in the Old Testament. Other men named Eliezer in the Bible include:

1. Eliezer of Damascus—Abraham’s servant
   (Genesis 15:2)
2. Eliezer, son of Moses
   (Exodus 18:4)
3. Eliezer, of the tribe of Benjamin
   (1 Chronicles 7:8)
4. Eliezer, the priest, in the time of David who blew the trumpet before the ark of God
   (1 Chronicles 15:23)
5. Eliezer, the prophet, who rebuked King Jehoshaphat
   (2 Chronicles 20:37)
6. Eliezer, among the leaders returning from Babylon
   (Ezra 8:16)
7. Eliezer, the Levite who was guilty of intermarriage
   (Ezra 10:18)
8. Eliezer, son of Harim
   (Ezra 10:31)

In Hebrew, the name Eliezer is derived from the Hebrew words “El” and “ezer.” “El” is the Hebrew word for “God.” “Ezer” means “help,” “aid,” “support,” and/or “rescuer.” The name Eliezer means “God is my help,” “God my helper,” or “God is my rescuer.” It is a name that depicts divine deliverance.

Jesus embodies the meaning of Eliezer’s name in three significant ways.

1. Jesus is the Rescuer whom God sent to save us from our sins,
   
   “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”
   (Romans 5:6)
   
   
2. Jesus is the living source of help in our time of need,
   
   “Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
   (Hebrews 4:16)
   
   
3. Jesus helped and healed many who were physically hurting and/or tormented by demons,
   
   “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee… healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people… and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.”
   (Matthew 4:23-24)

…the son of Jorim… (v 29c)

Jorim was the father of Eliezer.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this particular Jorim is in verse 29 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

This is also the only mention of anyone named Jorim in the Bible, though multiple figures have a similar name “Joram” (2 Samuel 8:9-10, 2 Kings 1:17, 8:16)

The name Jorim appears to be composed of the Hebrew elements “ya” and “rûm.” “Ya” is a shortened form of “Yahweh”—God’s covenant name. “Rûm” means “to lift up,” “to exalt,” “to elevate” or “to raise.” Therefore, the Hebrew name Jorim means: “Yahweh lifts ups,” “the LORD exalts” or “Exalted by the LORD,” “the LORD’s exalted One,” or “the LORD raises.”

Jesus embodies all these meanings of Jorim. And He does so in five ways.

1. As the Messiah, Jesus is the LORD’s exalted One.
   (Psalm 110:1, Matthew 28:18, Hebrews 1:3)
   
   
2. Because of His obedience unto death on a cross, Jesus is exalted.
   (Philippians 2:6-11—especially Philippians 2:9)
   
   
3. Jesus was raised from the dead by God.
   (Acts 2:24, 3:15, 10:40, Romans 6:4, Galatians 1:1)
   
   
4. Jesus will raise those who believe in Him from the dead.
   (John 6:39-40)
   
   
5. Jesus exalts those who follow His humble example of trusting God.
   (Luke 14:11, 1 Peter 5:6)

…the son of Matthat… (v 29d)

Matthat was the father of Jorim.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this Matthat is in verse 29 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

This is the second of two Matthat’s listed in Luke’s genealogy. The other Matthat was listed as Jesus’s great-grandfather in Luke 3:24.

The name Matthat is rooted in the Hebrew word “mattan” meaning “gift.”

Jesus embodies the name Matthat because God sent His Son to be the ultimate gift to humanity (John 3:16, Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is God’s “indescribable gift” to humanity (2 Corinthians 9:15). His life, death, and resurrection made possible the forgiveness of sins and made a way for those who accept the gift to eternally be in fellowship with God. It is through Jesus that God made the Gift of Eternal Life available to us.

…the son of Levi… (v 29e)

Levi was the father of Matthat.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this particular Levi is in verse 29 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

Levi was a common name among the Israelites. Other people named Levi in the Bible include:

1. Levi, the son of Jacob (the Patriarch of the tribe of Levi)
   
   The most well-known and original Levi was one of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel and one of the patriarchs of the nation of Israel (Genesis 29:34, 25:23, 49:5-7). Levi is the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This tribe was the priestly tribe in Israel. Aaron and Moses descended from the tribe of Levi (Exodus 6:16, Numbers 3:17).
   
   
2. Levi (of the post-exilic period)
   (Ezra 10:23)
   
   
3. Levi (also known as “Matthew”) the tax collector who became a disciple of Jesus
   (Mark 2:14)
   
   
4. Levi, son of Melchi, who was mentioned earlier in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus
   (Luke 3:24)

Starting here in verse 29e, we have Levi (the third born son of Jacob), who was preceded by Simeon (Jacob’s second born son), and Judah (Jacob’s fourth born) and Joseph (Jacob’s eleventh born son) (v 30). This appears to show a tradition of choosing names from the sons of Israel.

The name Levi comes from the Hebrew word “lavah” which means “to twine” or “to unite.”

Jesus embodies the meaning of Levi’s name in multiple ways.

1. The divine and human natures are united in the person of Jesus.
   Jesus is fully God and He is fully human (John 1:14).

2. Jesus unites believers to God through His sacrifice and in His role as our high priest.
   (1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 4:14, 7:25)

3. Jesus unties believers into fellowship with one another.
   (Romans 12:5, Ephesians 2:14, 4:3-4, 1 Corinthians 12:13)

the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim (v 30)

…the son of Simeon… (v 30a)

Simeon was the father of Levi.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this particular Simeon is in verse 30 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

Simeon was a common name among the Israelites. Other people named Simeon in the Bible include:

1. Simeon, the son of Jacob (the Patriarch of the tribe of Simeon)
   
   The original Simeon was one of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel and one of the patriarchs of the nation of Israel (Genesis 35:23, 49:5-7). Simeon is the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. His mother was Leah, and she named him because “God heard that I am unloved” (Gen 29:33).
   
   
2. Simeon, the devout man in Jerusalem who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and beheld the infant Jesus and gave a prophetic blessing over Him (Luke 2:25-35).
   
   
3. Simeon (Simon) Peter the disciple of Jesus
   
   Simon is a Greek variation of the Hebrew name Simeon. Peter was a leader among the twelve disciples and one of Jesus’s closest followers. After Jesus’s ascension, Peter was a leader of the church in Jerusalem and later in Rome. Peter wrote the books of 1 Peter and 2 Peter, and was the primary source for the Gospel of Mark.
   
   
4. Simeon called “Niger”
   
   Simon called Niger was a prophet and teacher in Antioch who served alongside Barnabas (Acts 13:1).

The name Simeon comes from the Hebrew verb “shema” which means “to hear” “to listen.” Simeon, therefore, means “One who listens or hears.”

Jesus embodied the meaning of Simeon’s name in four ways.

1. As the Messiah, Jesus listened perfectly to His Father’s will and obeyed His voice
   (Isaiah 50:4, John 5:30, 8:28)
   
   
2. Jesus was God’s response when He listened to and heard the people of Israel’s prayers
   (Luke 1:54, 1:68, 1:78-79)
   
   
3. The LORD heard Jesus’s prayers.
   (John 11:41-42, Hebrews 5:7)
   
   
4. It is through Jesus that God hears believers’ prayers.
   (John 14:13, 16:23, 1 Timothy 2:5)

…the son of Judah… (v 30b)

Judah was the father of Simeon.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this particular Judah is in verse 30 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

Judah was a common name among the Israelites. Other people named Judah in the Old Testament include:

1. Judah, the son of Jacob (the Patriarch of the tribe of Judah)
   
   The original Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel and one of the patriarchs of the nation of Israel (Genesis 29:35, 37, 38, 49). Judah is the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The Jews believed that his father prophesied that the Messianic line was to flow through Judah (Genesis 49:10). Jesus was a member of this tribe and a descendant of the original Judah (Hebrews 7:14, Revelation 5:5).
   
   Luke traces Jesus’s lineage back to the original Judah in his genealogical account (Luke 3:33).
   
   
2. Judah the Benjaminite
   (2 Samuel 19:21)
   
   
3. Judah, a Levite who returned with Zerubbabel
   (Ezra 3:9, Nehemiah 12:8)
   
   
4. Judah, a Levite with a foreign wife
   (Ezra 10:23)
   
   
5. Judah, a Benjaminite, the son of Hassenuah, who was second-in-command of Jerusalem
   (Nehemiah 11:9)
   
   
6. Judah, a Judean who was in the temple choir
   (Nehemiah 12:31, 34)
   
   In the New Testament, the name “Judas” is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name, Judah. Other men named Judah/Judas who are found in the New Testament include:
   
   
7. Judas/Judah, the half-brother of Jesus and author of the book of Jude
   (Matthew 13:55)
   
   
8. Judas/Judah Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus
   (Matthew 10:4, 26:14-17, 26:47-50, 27:3-10, Luke 6:16)
9. Judas/Judah son of James, (also called “Thaddaeus”) one of the twelve disciples
   (Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13—see also Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18)

The name Judah comes from the Hebrew root “yadah,” which means: “to praise,” “to give thanks,” “to confess.” When Leah named Judah, she said:

“‘This time I will praise the LORD.’ Therefore she named him Judah.”
(Genesis 29:35)

Judah’s name means “Praise,” “Confess Praise,” “Praised One,” “Let Him be Praised,” or even “May Yahweh be Praised.”

Jesus embodied theses meanings of Judah’s name:

1. As the radiance of God’s glory, Jesus is the One through whom the LORD is supremely praised (Ephesians 1:6, Hebrews 1:3)
   
   
2. Because of His faithfulness Jesus broke the curse of sin and is the only One who is worthy of praise.

"…every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…"
(Philippians 2:10-11)

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain…"
(Revelation 5:12)

…the son of Joseph… (v 30c)

Joseph was the father of Judah.

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this particular Joseph is in verse 30 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

This is one of four Josephs in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

1. Joseph, husband of Mary and the supposed father of Jesus
   (Luke 3:23)
   
   
2. Joseph, son of Mattathias and father of Jannai
   (Luke 3:24)
   
   
3. Josech, son of Joda and father of Semien
   (Luke 3:26)
   
   
4. Joseph, son of Jonam and father of Judah
   (Luke 3:30)
   
   There are four Josephs named in the Old Testament:
   
   
5. Joseph the Patriarch
   (Genesis 30:24)
   
   
6. Joseph, a musician of the priestly line of Asaph
   (1 Chronicles 25:2)
   
   
7. Joseph, guilty of marrying a foreign woman
   (Ezra 10:42)
   
   
8. Joseph, a Levite, son of Shebaniah
   (Nehemiah 12:14)
   
   In addition to the Josephs mentioned in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus, there are three other Josephs mentioned in the New Testament.
   
   
9. Joseph, half-brother of Jesus
   (Matthew 13:55)
   
   
10. Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who buried Jesus
    (Mark 15:43)
    
    
11. Joseph, also called Barnabas
    (Acts 1:23)

The Hebrew name Joseph, comes from the Hebrew verb “yasaf” which means “to add,” “to increase,” “to multiply,” or “to do again.” When the original Joseph was born to Jacob and Rachel, she said, “‘May the LORD add to me another son.’ Therefore she named him Joseph” (Genesis 30:24).

Jesus embodies the name of Joseph in four ways.

1. Jesus adds to God’s family.
   (John 1:12, Acts 2:47)
2. Jesus brings abundant increase of grace and life.
   (John 10:10, Romans 5:17)
3. Jesus increases God’s kingdom without end
   (Isaiah 9:7, Matthew 13:31-32)
4. As the author of the new and better covenant, Jesus does it again.
   (Luke 22:20, Hebrews 8:6)
   
   Jesus is a better Adam, Noah, Melchizedek, Joseph, Joshua, David, Solomon, and Zerubbabel.

…the son of Jonam… (v 30d)

The only apparent reference in the Bible to this particular Jonam is in verse 30 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

The name Jonam appears only in Luke’s genealogy and has no preserved Hebrew spelling in the Old Testament, but scholars believe it is similar to the name John or Jonah. Jonam is built on the Hebrew root words “Yonam” and/or “Yonatan” which respectively mean “Yahweh is gracious” or “Yahweh has shown favor.”

Jesus embodies the meaning of the name Jonam because He is the personification of God’s grace (John 1:14) and we receive God’s grace and favor through Him (Luke 4:18-19, Ephesians 2:8, 11).

…the son of Eliakim… (v 30e)

Eliakim was the father of Joseph.

The only likely reference in the Bible to this Eliakim is in verse 30 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

There are four other men named Eliakim in the Bible who are not the Eliakim who is mentioned here in verse 30.

1. Eliakim son of Hilkiah—a faithful official of King Hezekiah
   (2 Kings 18-37, Isaiah 36:3, 36:22)
2. Eliakim son of Josiah (renamed Jehoiakim)—one of the last kings of Judah
   (2 Kings 23:34, 2 Chronicles 36:4)
3. Eliakim, one of the returned exiles
   (Nehemiah 12:41)
4. Eliakim son of Abihud, father of Azor (post-exilic ancestor of Joseph, Jesus’s adoptive father)
   (Matthew 1:13)

The name Eliakim is a compound of two Hebrew words: “El” which means “God” and “Yakim” which means “will establish,” “will raise up,” and/or “will cause to stand.” Thus, Eliakim’s name means “God will establish” or “God raises up.” The name expresses confidence in God’s power to uphold, restore, build, and raise.

Jesus embodies the name of Eliakim because:

1. God established Jesus.
   (Psalm 2:6, Acts 2:36)
2. God raised Jesus up on the cross.
   (John 3:14-15)
3. God raised Jesus from the dead.
   (Acts 2:24, 3:15)
4. God establishes His people, through Jesus.
   (1 Thessalonians 3:13)

the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David (v 31).

…the son of Melea… (v 31a)

Melea was the father of Eliakim.

It would seem the only reference in the Bible to this Melea is here in verse 31 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

The name Melea appears only in Luke’s genealogy and has no preserved Hebrew spelling in the Old Testament. Melea may be linked to the Hebrew root word “malé” which means: “to be full,” “to fill,” or “to make full.”

Jesus fulfilled the meaning of the name Melea in three major ways.

1. In Jesus, the fullness of God dwells.
   (Colossians 1:19, 2:9)
2. Jesus is full of grace and He fills believers with grace
   (John 1:14, 1:16, Ephesians 3:19)
3. Jesus is the fullness of God’s plan—God’s Law and will are made full in Him.
   (Matthew 5:17, Luke 24:44, John 19:30, 2 Corinthians 1:20)

…the son of Menna… (v 31b)

Menna was the father of Melea.

It would seem the only reference in the Bible to this Menna is in verse 30 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus.

The meaning of Menna’s name is unclear. In the Bible, it appears only in Luke’s genealogy and it has no preserved Hebrew spelling in the Old Testament. The meaning of Menna could be linked to several different Hebrew words.

• Menna could be related to the Hebrew word “Manah” which means “to count, allot, assign and/or apportion.”

• Menna could be related to the Hebrew word “Menahem” which means “comforter.”

• Menna could also be related to the Hebrew word “Manoah” which means “rest.”

Thus, the meaning of Menna’s name could be “the One who apportions,” “the One who is apportioned to,” “Comforted,” “Comforter,” or “the One who gives rest.” Menna could mean any one or all of these things at the same time.

Jesus embodies all the various meanings of Menna’s name:

1. Jesus will judge (apportion) everyone who has ever lived or will live.
   (Matthew 25:31-46)
2. Jesus is the Consolation and Comforter of Israel.
   (Isaiah 40:1, Luke 2:25, 4:18)
3. Jesus was comforted and strengthened by God as He faced the cross.
   (Luke 22:41-43)
4. Having completed His mission, Jesus now rests, sitting at the right hand of the Father.
   (Hebrews 1:3, 10:12, 12:2)
5. Jesus provides comfort and rest.
   (Matthew 11:28-30, 2 Corinthians 1:3, Hebrews 4:14-16)

…the son of Mattatha… (v 31c)

Mattatha was the father of Menna.

The only likely reference in the Bible to this particular Mattatha is in verse 31 of Luke’s genealogy of Jesus. Mattatha was King David’s grandson through Nathan.

Mattatha is related to four other similar names within Luke’s genealogy.

• Matthat
  (Luke 3:24)
• Mattathias
  (Luke 3:25)
• Mattathias
  (Luke 3:26)
• Matthat
  (Luke 3:29)

The name Mattatha is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible.

Mattatha appears to be a Greek form of the Hebrew name Mattattah.

Ezra 10:33 lists a different Mattatthah, the son of Hashum. This Mattattah was a priest with a foreign wife and lived during the era of Zerubbabel which was much later than the Mattatha the son of Menna whom Luke lists here in Jesus’s genealogy.

Mattatha/Mattathah is rooted in the same Hebrew word as other Matthew-based names. This Hebrew word is “mattan” which means “gift.”

Thus, Mattatha likely means “Gift of God” or “Yahweh has given.”

Jesus fulfills this meaning of Mattatha because He is God’s perfect gift to the world (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 9:15). It is through Jesus that we can receive the Gift of Eternal Life if we believe in Him.

…the son of Nathan… (v 31d)

Nathan was the father of Mattatha.

This particular Nathan is mentioned in the Old Testament. He is quietly described as the son of King David and Bathsheba and the brother of King Solomon (2 Samuel 5:14, 1 Chronicles 3:5, 14:4). Outside of these and Luke’s genealogies, Nathan does not appear referred to anywhere else in the Bible. Even though Nathan was David’s son, he did not rule as king; his father’s throne passed to Solomon.

But it was through Nathan that God quietly preserved David’s line as the line through Solomon would end in a curse and would later be cut off forever (Jeremiah 22:24-30). What seemed to be the more important line—the line of who was sitting on the throne—was actually the less important line as Jesus would inherit the throne through Nathan’s line (the one who was not king) rather than King Solomon’s line (which eventually ended with Jeconiah).

It was only after the fact that the pattern of the tapestry God was weaving could become visible. Nathan’s line being exalted over Solomon’s is but one of many Biblical examples of the principle Jesus taught, that the last shall be first and the first last (Matthew 19:30, 20:16, Mark 10:31, Luke 13:30).

Because Nathan was the son of David and the biological ancestor to Neri (Luke 3:27) who adopted Shealtiel, it shows how God both kept His promise to David that he would have a descendant always on the throne of Israel (2 Samuel 7:12-16) while also keeping His curse to the faithless Jehoiakim that God was cutting him and his son Jeconiah off. God swore that:

“no man of [Jeconiah’s] descendants will prosper sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah.”
(Jeremiah 22:30)

When God symbolically establishes Zerubbabel as the figure of the royal line, He is doing so because Zerubbabel is a biological descendant of David through Nathan. Zerubbabel did not inherit the royal line through his biological grandfather, Jeconiah, because that line ended with him according to God’s curse (Jeremiah 22:24-30).

Thus, God’s promise to David of an everlasting house and throne was fulfilled through Nathan to Neri and Neri’s adoption of Shealtiel, the father of Zerubbabel (Luke 3:27), and then through their descendant Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Nathan the son of David is not to be confused with Nathan the prophet.

Nathan the prophet told David that the LORD would establish his house and throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12-17) and later confronted David about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba, wife of Uriah (2 Samuel 12:13).

It is possible that David named his son Nathan after Nathan the prophet.

Other men named Nathan in the Bible besides Nathan the son of David and Nathan the prophet include:

• Nathan the brother of Joel (one of David’s mighty men)
  (1 Chronicles 11:6)
• Nathan who fathered an officer (Azariah) and a priest (Zabud) in Solomon’s day
  (1 Kings 4:5)
• Nathan son of Bani
  (Ezra 10:34, 39)

The name Nathan comes from the Hebrew word “Natan” which is similar to “Mattan.” Mattan means “gift” and Natan means “to give.”

Jesus embodies the meaning of Natan because He came to give Himself for the life of the world.

(Matthew 20:28). Jesus also said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

…the son of David… (v 31e)

David was the father of Nathan.

This David is King David.

David is also included in Matthew’s account, tracing Jesus’s lineage back to Abraham (Matthew 1:1, 1:6, 1:17).

David was the youngest son of Jessie (Luke 3:32). When he was still regarded a boy, David helped save his nation by slaying Goliath the giant (1 Samuel 17). David patiently endured and suffered as God’s anointed as he waited for God to exalt him to the throne. David wrote many psalms and later became the king of Judah and the second king of Israel. David was the first king from the tribe of Judah, as his predecessor Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin.

Because David’s father Jesse was from the town of Bethlehem, Bethlehem came to be called “the city of David.” Because Joseph (Mary’s husband) also descended from David, Joseph had to register in Bethlehem, the hometown of his ancestors during Caesar’s census (Luke 2:1-5). Jesus was born while Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem during this census, which fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2-5a, Matthew 2:1, 2:6, Luke 2:4-6).

David was also known as a man after God’s heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22).

God made a covenant with David that a physical descendant from David would always reign on the throne (2 Samuel 7:12-16). This covenant promise is fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 1:32). Jesus will one day reign on the actual throne of Jerusalem but He currently reigns over all dominions, physical and spiritual (Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:20-21).

David’s throne passed to Solomon and from Solomon to Rehoboam and from Rehoboam ultimately onto faithless Jeconiah (Matthew 1:6-12). God then cursed Jeconiah and the royal line ceased with him (Jeremiah 22:24-30). But with that line cut off, God reestablished David’s line through Zerubbabel who was the son of Shealtiel who was the adopted son of Neri (Luke 3:27), who was a descendant of Nathan son of David.

David is the most central figure in Matthew’s genealogy (Matthew 1:1, 1:6, 1:17), as Matthew demonstrates to his Jewish audience that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of David. Matthew concludes his genealogy by drawing special attention to the number “fourteen” by deliberately structuring his genealogy of Jesus into three sets of fourteen generations:

“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.”
(Matthew 1:17)

Each set of fourteen generations represents one of three major time periods of Israel’s history:

1. Abraham to David,
2. David to Exile,
3. Exile to Jesus.

By doing this, Matthew appears to be using Gematria.

Gematria is a Jewish method of assigning numerical values to Hebrew letters to convey deeper meaning. Each letter has the same numeric value as its place in the alphabet—i.e. the Hebrew letter “dalet” has the numeric value of 4 because it is the fourth letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

In Hebrew, the name David (דָּוִד) is composed of the letters dalet (4), vav (6), and dalet (4), which together total 14.

By organizing his genealogical record into three groups of fourteen, Matthew appears to symbolically highlight Jesus as the ultimate “Son of David.” This numerical pattern reinforces the central claim of Matthew’s Gospel: that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah and rightful heir to David’s throne, fulfilling God’s covenant promises to Israel.

While David is certainly an important figure in Luke’s genealogy, the most important figure for Luke (besides Jesus) appears to be Adam (Luke 3:38). This is because Luke is demonstrating the full humanity of Jesus to his primarily Greek audience.

The Greeks were searching for the ideal human. And Luke presents Jesus as the answer to the philosophic quest. By tracing Jesus’s lineage all the way back to the first human, Luke shows that Jesus, the perfect man, was completely human.

As a human, Jesus experienced the same limitations and frailties that every other human is subject to experience. What separated Jesus from us was that He perfectly trusted God to help Him overcome His trials and sufferings. Luke’s message is that if we entrust ourselves to Jesus’s life and sacrifice and emulate Jesus’s example of living by faith, we too can be redeemed and experience the good life as God intended.

The name David is derived from the Hebrew word “dod” which means “beloved” or “dearly beloved” or “precious and dear friend.”

Jesus fulfilled the meaning of David’s name in many ways.

1. Jesus is the Father’s Beloved and Precious Son
   (Matthew 3:17, 17:5)
   
   
2. Jesus is our Friend and through Him we become Friends with God.
   (John 15:13-15, Romans 5:10)

As the Messiah, Jesus also fulfilled David’s role as a Servant/Shepherd King (Ezekiel 34:23, John 10:11). And even more than David, Jesus was a man after God’s heart (John 5:19, 8:29).

From Luke’s perspective (which runs from his present to past), the genealogies in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke converge for the second and final time at David (Matthew 1:6).

Matthew’s lineage of Joseph, Jesus’ adoptive father, converged with Luke’s lineage of Jesus’s mother the first time (from Luke’s perspective) at Zerubbabel (Matthew 1:12, Luke 3:27). This completed the patriarchal and matriarchal lines. After Zerubbabel, Joseph and Mary share the same lineage.

But the first convergence of the two Gospel’s accounts lasted for two generations. The genealogical records split again after Zerubbabel’s father, Shealtiel.

After Shealtiel, Matthew follows the royal line of kings from Shealtiel’s biological cursed father Jeconiah back to David through his son, King Solomon (Matthew 1:6-12). Luke follows a different line (one that is not cursed) by working through Shealtiel’s adoptive father, Neri (Luke 3:27e). Then, Luke shows how Neri was a descendant of David through Nathan son of David (vv 28-31) which has been the subject of this section of The Bible Says commentary.

The next section of The Bible Says commentary (Luke 3:32-34) will continue Luke’s genealogical account as he traces Jesus’s lineage from David back to Abraham.

Luke’s account will largely be an inverse parallel to the first set of Matthew’s genealogical account, which counts fourteen generations from Abraham to David (Matthew 1:2-6). Luke lists most members that Matthew chose not to include. However, Luke appears to omit generations from the time of the judges and the time of slavery in Egypt.