Lexical Summary Iannai: Jannai Original Word: Ἰανναί Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Janna. Probably of Hebrew origin (compare yanah); Janna, an Israelite -- Janna. see HEBREW yanah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of Hebrew origin Definition Jannai, an Isr. NASB Translation Jannai (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2388: ἸαννάἸαννά (L T Tr WH Ἰανναί); Jannai, Vulg.Janne (Tdf. text (cod. Amiat.) Ἰανναε), indeclinable proper name of one of the ancestors of Jesus: Luke 3:24. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Luke 3:24 lists Ἰανναί (Jannai) in the ancestral line of Jesus: “the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph”. This is the sole New Testament reference, placing Jannai between Melchi and Joseph during the post-exilic period of the genealogy that Luke traces from Jesus back to Adam. Historical Context Luke’s genealogy follows the line of David through Nathan rather than Solomon. The segment containing Jannai falls after the Babylonian exile, a time when many family records were lost or fragmented. Luke’s careful preservation of otherwise obscure names like Jannai shows his reliance on trustworthy sources and underscores God’s providential oversight of Israel’s lineage even in seasons of upheaval (compare Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 for the post-exilic concern to document family descent). Covenantal Continuity By situating Jannai within Jesus’ pedigree, Luke affirms that every generation—including those known only by name—played a part in carrying forward the promise first given to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) and later confirmed to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Jannai’s place in the list signals that covenant faithfulness extends to ordinary believers whose accounts are hidden from view yet indispensable to God’s redemptive plan. Theological Significance 1. Incarnation grounded in history: The mention of Jannai anchors the doctrine that the Word became flesh (John 1:14) within verifiable human ancestry. Ministry Implications • Valuing the hidden servant: Pastors and ministry leaders can highlight Jannai when encouraging volunteers whose contributions seem unnoticed. God records every act of faith, even when people fade from human memory (Hebrews 6:10). Reflections for Today Jannai stands as a single brushstroke in the vast portrait of redemption, yet his inclusion affirms that no life joined to God’s covenant is peripheral. As the church bears witness to Christ in its own generation, the faithfulness of “forgotten” saints contributes to a lineage that will be celebrated in eternity (Revelation 7:9-10). Forms and Transliterations Ιανναι Ἰανναί Ἰανναὶ Iannai IannaíLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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