Lexical Summary Elioud: Eliud Original Word: Ἐλιούδ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Eliud. Of Hebrew origin ('el and howd); God of majesty; Eliud, an Israelite -- Eliud. see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW howd NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin el and hod Definition "God of majesty," Eliud, an Isr. NASB Translation Eliud (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1664: ἘλιούδἘλιούδ (from אֵל and הוד glory (?)), Eliud, one of the ancestors of Christ: Matthew 1:14f Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Context• The name Eliud appears twice in the Gospel according to Matthew, both times within the royal genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:14; Matthew 1:15). Historical Background and Lineage Eliud’s placement occurs during the otherwise silent intertestamental centuries, a period spanning roughly four hundred years. Although Scripture provides no personal narrative about him, his inclusion demonstrates the meticulous preservation of David’s royal line after the Babylonian exile. The genealogy bridges the Old Testament promises—especially the covenant made with David—with the New Testament fulfillment in the Messiah. Eliud stands between Achim and Eleazar, two equally obscure figures. Their obscurity itself is significant: it shows that God’s salvific plan advanced steadily through generations of ordinary believers, underscoring divine providence rather than human notoriety. Theological Significance 1. Confirmation of Messianic Credentials – Matthew structures the genealogy in three sets of fourteen generations (Matthew 1:17), a literary framework that highlights covenantal completeness. Eliud belongs to the final set, linking the restoration era to the birth of Jesus. – By maintaining the legal succession from David through Jeconiah and onward, the line that includes Eliud safeguards the prophetic claim that the Christ would arise from David’s house (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 11:1). 2. Evidence of God’s Faithfulness – Each personal name, including Eliud’s, testifies that divine promises endure despite exile, foreign domination, and centuries of apparent silence. – Eliud’s silent witness mirrors the theme in Hebrews 11:39-40: saints who did not see the fullness of promise in their lifetime yet contributed to God’s unfolding plan. 3. Emphasis on Ordinary Instruments – Eliud’s lack of recorded exploits directs attention away from human achievement to divine sovereignty. This agrees with Paul’s observation that God often chooses what is low and despised so that no one may boast before Him (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Comparison with Luke’s Genealogy Luke traces Jesus’ ancestry through Nathan, another son of David (Luke 3:31), while Matthew follows the royal Solomonic line culminating in Joseph. The presence of names like Eliud in Matthew but not in Luke highlights complementary purposes: Understanding both accounts together showcases the multifaceted fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy without contradiction, for legal descent and biological kinship need not follow identical routes. Ministry and Devotional Insights • Preaching: Eliud’s quiet role encourages believers that faithfulness in obscurity still advances the kingdom. Sermons can stress that every generation matters in God’s timeline. Summary Eliud, though mentioned only twice and without narrative detail, stands as a critical link in the inspired record that presents Jesus as the promised Son of David. His presence in Matthew’s genealogy underscores the meticulous orchestration of redemptive history, the faithfulness of God through forgotten centuries, and the dignity bestowed on seemingly insignificant lives that are woven into the saving purposes of God. Forms and Transliterations Ελιουδ Ἐλιούδ Ἐλιοὺδ Elioud Elioúd ElioùdLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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