Bible Strands
Luke 3:36
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Luke inserts this verse into a backward-running genealogy tracing Jesus’ ancestral line through Joseph. The passage occurs during a historical survey that moves from Jesus’ earthly lineage to the patriarchs of the flood narrative.
The words — The Greek text repeats τοῦ (tou), a genitive singular article meaning “of the,” to mark direct paternal descent. It attaches the names Καϊνὰμ (Kainam), Ἀρφαξὰδ (Arphaxad), Σὴμ (Sēm), and Νῶε (Nōe) in a strict father-to-son sequence.
The thread — The names correspond to Genesis 5:28 where Lamech fathers Noah, Genesis 9:1 where Noah’s sons receive the post-flood mandate, and Genesis 10:21 where Shem is named as Eber’s forefather. Luke’s list deliberately connects Jesus to the patriarchal and post-flood covenant history.
Why it lands — The text states a continuous line of biological descent without commentary or embellishment. It requires the reader to acknowledge Jesus’ placement within a documented historical lineage rather than a symbolic or mythological framework.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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,
Cross-references
- Genesis 5:28 When Lamech was 182 years old, he had a son.
- Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
- Genesis 10:21 And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.
- Genesis 11:10 This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.
- Ezekiel 14:14 then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
- Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- 1 Peter 3:20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.
- 2 Peter 2:5 if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;
- Genesis 6:8 Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
- Genesis 6:22 So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him.