2973. Kósam
Lexical Summary
Kósam: Order, Arrangement

Original Word: Κόσαμ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Kósam
Pronunciation: KO-sam
Phonetic Spelling: (ko-sam')
KJV: Cosam
NASB: Cosam
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin]

1. Cosam (i.e. Kosam) an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Cosam.

Of Hebrew origin (compare qecem); Cosam (i.e. Kosam) an Israelite -- Cosam.

see HEBREW qecem

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Hebrew origin, cf. qasam
Definition
Cosam, an Isr.
NASB Translation
Cosam (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2973: Κωσάμ

Κωσάμ, (from קָסַם, to divine (but cf. B. D.)), Cosam. one of Christ's ancestors: Luke 3:28.

Topical Lexicon
Name in the Lukan Genealogy

Kosam appears once in the Greek New Testament, in Luke 3:28, embedded in the carefully ordered genealogy of Jesus Christ. “...the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er”. Luke records seventy-seven generations that trace Christ’s lineage from Joseph back to Adam, underscoring both the universal scope of redemption and the historicity of God’s saving plan. Kosam stands in the twenty-eighth generation before Christ, bridging the post-exilic period with the dawn of the Messianic age.

Historical Setting

The segment of the genealogy in which Kosam is named falls within the centuries between the return from Babylonian exile and the rise of the Hasmonean dynasty. Scripture is silent about Kosam’s life events, yet his inclusion certifies that the messianic line was preserved during an era when Israel was politically marginalized but spiritually prepared for the coming of the Savior (Malachi 3:1). Jewish records kept by priestly families and civic officials maintained the legal succession, and Luke, guided by the Spirit, cites those records to authenticate Jesus’ royal and human descent.

Theological Significance

1. Continuity of Covenant: Every name in Luke 3 functions as a witness to God’s unbroken covenant promises (Genesis 12:3; 2 Samuel 7:12-16). Kosam’s presence affirms that even obscure individuals were vital links in the chain that culminated in the Incarnation.
2. Universality of Redemption: Luke’s genealogy, unlike Matthew’s, moves backward to Adam (Luke 3:38), declaring that Christ is the Redeemer of all humanity. Kosam’s Hebrew ancestry placed within a Greek text highlights the gospel’s crossing of linguistic and cultural barriers.
3. Authenticity of Scripture: The singular mention of Kosam illustrates Luke’s meticulous research (Luke 1:3-4). Archaeological gaps do not negate historicity; rather, they prompt confidence in the inspired record that has never been contradicted by credible evidence.

Practical Ministry Lessons

• Hidden Faithfulness: Many believers serve in obscurity like Kosam, yet their faithfulness advances God’s purposes (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
• Generational Stewardship: Parents and communities are stewards of a spiritual heritage that outlives them (2 Timothy 1:5). Kosam’s inclusion encourages the church to invest in the next generation.
• Encouragement to Record God’s Works: Luke’s reliance on preserved records urges modern believers to document testimonies for future edification (Psalm 78:4-7).

Relation to Old Testament Genealogies

Although Kosam is absent from the canonical Old Testament lists, parallels exist with post-exilic genealogies in 1 Chronicles and Ezra that feature lesser-known figures. The appearance of such names in Luke confirms continuity between Testaments and the meticulous care with which Jewish genealogies were maintained.

Christological Fulfillment

By linking Kosam—and every ancestor—to Jesus Christ, Luke demonstrates that history is the stage upon which God unveils salvation. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son” (Galatians 4:4). The seemingly minor entry of Kosam testifies that no detail in the divine plan is accidental; every generation, recorded or unrecorded, serves the consummate purpose of glorifying the Son of God.

Forms and Transliterations
εκωφεύσαν Κωσαμ Κωσάμ Κωσὰμ κωφεύετε κωφεύσαι κωφεύσατε κώφευσον κωφεύσω κωφεύων Kosam Kosám Kōsam Kōsám
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 3:28 N
GRK: Ἀδδὶ τοῦ Κωσάμ τοῦ Ἐλμαδάμ
NAS: the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam,
KJV: which was [the son] of Addi, which was [the son] of Cosam, which was [the son] of Elmodam,
INT: of Addi of Cosam of Elmadam

Strong's Greek 2973
1 Occurrence


Κωσάμ — 1 Occ.

2972
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