1678. Elmadam
Lexical Summary
Elmadam: Elmadam

Original Word: Ἐλμαδάμ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Elmadam
Pronunciation: el-mah-DAM
Phonetic Spelling: (el-mo-dam')
KJV: Elmodam
NASB: Elmadam
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (perhaps for H486 (אַלמוֹדָד - Almodad))]

1. Elmodam, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Elmodam.

Of Hebrew origin (perhaps for antiloidoreo); Elmodam, an Israelite -- Elmodam.

see HEBREW 'Almowdad

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Hebrew origin, perhaps for Almodad
Definition
Elmadam, an Isr.
NASB Translation
Elmadam (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1678: Ἐλμωδάμ

Ἐλμωδάμ (Lachmann Ἐλμαδάμ, T Tr WH Ἐλμαδαμ (on the breathing in manuscripts see Tdf. Proleg., p. 107)), , Elmodam or Elmadam, proper name of one of the ancestors of Christ: Luke 3:28.

Topical Lexicon
Name and Possible Meaning

Elmadam is a personal name appearing only once in the Greek New Testament. While the precise Hebrew origin is uncertain, many scholars see the initial element “El-” (“God”) and suggest a second element derived from roots for “love,” “measure,” or “blood,” yielding proposals such as “God is Beloved” or “God has Measured.” Whatever the etymology, the name testifies to the common Israelite practice of embedding theological truth in personal names, acknowledging the sovereignty of God over each life.

Canonical Occurrence

Luke 3:28: “the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er”.

Position in Luke’s Genealogy

1. Elmadam stands midway between Zerubbabel’s generation (Luke 3:27) and the patriarchs listed later (Luke 3:34-38).
2. His placement indicates he lived in the post-exilic era, after Judah’s return from Babylon but generations before the Hasmonean period.
3. Luke’s arrangement, traced “backward” from Jesus to Adam, emphasizes universal redemption. Each name, including this otherwise unknown ancestor, becomes a witness to God’s steady preservation of the messianic line.

Comparison with Matthew’s Genealogy

Matthew 1 omits Elmadam because Matthew structures his record around legal descent through Solomon, while Luke traces biological descent through Nathan. The divergence highlights complementary truths: royal legitimacy (Matthew) and physical ancestry (Luke). The appearance of Elmadam in Luke alone reinforces the independence and reliability of the two witnesses rather than exposing contradiction.

Historical Context

The post-exilic generations were marked by rebuilding, both physically and spiritually (Ezra and Nehemiah). Names from this era often preserve memories of God’s faithfulness amid foreign domination. Although Scripture offers no narrative about Elmadam’s personal life, his inclusion signals that anonymous believers played indispensable roles in sustaining covenant hope until the fullness of time.

Theological Significance

1. Providence in Obscurity: God works through known leaders and hidden saints alike (compare Hebrews 11:32-38).
2. Integrity of Scripture: The precise preservation of minor names across centuries underscores the textual reliability promised in passages like Isaiah 40:8 and Matthew 5:18.
3. Incarnation Grounded in History: Luke’s careful genealogy anchors the gospel in real time and space, refuting any notion that Jesus’ account is mythological.

Lessons for Ministry and Discipleship

• Faithfulness, not fame, secures a place in God’s redemptive plan.
• Congregational records, family histories, and personal testimonies matter; they trace God’s grace across generations.
• Teaching genealogies can encourage believers who feel insignificant, showing that even one-line names contribute to the account of Christ.

Related Old Testament Parallels

Though no direct Old Testament figure bears the identical spelling, parallels exist in genealogical segments such as 1 Chronicles 3:17-24 (post-exilic descendants of David) where little-known names collectively testify to divine preservation.

Summary

Elmadam, encountered only in Luke 3:28, reminds readers that every person in salvation history—celebrated or obscure—rests under the sovereign hand of God, and each thread is necessary in weaving the lineage that culminates in “Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).

Forms and Transliterations
έλει έλη Ελμαδαμ Ἐλμαδάμ Ἐλμαδὰμ ελμωνί έλος Elmadam Elmadám
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 3:28 N
GRK: Κωσάμ τοῦ Ἐλμαδάμ τοῦ Ἤρ
NAS: the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
KJV: which was [the son] of Cosam, which was [the son] of Elmodam, which was [the son] of Er,
INT: of Cosam of Elmadam of Er

Strong's Greek 1678
1 Occurrence


Ἐλμαδάμ — 1 Occ.

1677
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