Lexical Summary Rhagau: Reu Original Word: Ῥαγαύ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ragau. Of Hebrew origin (r'uw); Ragau (i.e. Reu), a patriarch -- Ragau. see HEBREW r'uw NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin Reu Definition Reu, an ancestor of Christ NASB Translation Reu (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4466: ΡαγαυΡαγαυ (so WH) or Ραγαυ (R G L T Tr) (רְעוּ (i. e. 'friend'), Genesis 11:18), ὁ, Ragau (A. V. Reu; (once Rehu)), one of the ancestors of Abraham: Luke 3:35. (B. D. American edition under the word Reu.) Topical Lexicon Location in Scripture Luke 3:35 records the name Ῥαγαύ (Ragau, Reu) once in the New Testament, embedding him in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Historical Background Reu lived in the generations immediately following the dispersal from Babel (Genesis 11:18-21). The narrative places his life in Mesopotamia, where families were spreading across the earth and the early city-states of Sumer were taking shape. His lifespan of 239 years (per the Masoretic text; 207 in the Samaritan Pentateuch) situates him among the long-lived post-Flood patriarchs whose years diminished steadily toward the lifespan familiar in later biblical history. Genealogical Role Reu is the sixth descendant from Shem after the Flood: Shem → Arphaxad → Shelah → Eber → Peleg → Reu → Serug → Nahor → Terah → Abram. In Luke’s record, this chain is preserved flawlessly: “the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah” (Luke 3:35). His appearance highlights the continuity between the covenant line of Genesis and the messianic line culminating in Jesus. Theological Significance 1. Continuity of Promise Each link between Noah and Abraham secures the transmission of God’s promise that the earth would be blessed through Shem’s line. Reu’s presence in Luke’s genealogy affirms that the divine purpose moved through real, historical persons, safeguarding the messianic hope. 2. Preservation of the Seed After Babel’s judgment, humanity splintered into nations and tongues, yet the redemptive line remained intact. Reu’s generation shows God’s sovereign preservation amid cultural upheaval, foreshadowing the gathering of nations in Christ (Revelation 5:9-10). 3. Assurance of Scriptural Reliability Luke’s genealogy corresponds with Genesis 11 and 1 Chronicles 1:25, demonstrating the unity of the Testaments. The harmony testifies to the trustworthy nature of divine revelation and encourages confidence in every portion of Scripture, including lists that may seem mundane. Implications for Christology By tracing Jesus back through Reu to Noah and ultimately to Adam (Luke 3:38), Luke presents Christ as the universal Savior. Reu plays a small but indispensable part in establishing Jesus’ solidarity with all humanity, fulfilling the angelic announcement of “good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Lessons for Faith and Ministry • God values every generation. Unknown to the world, Reu still serves eternal purposes. Likewise, believers today may labor in obscurity yet remain essential in God’s unfolding plan. Related Old Testament Passages Genesis 11:18-21 — birth and lifespan of Reu 1 Chronicles 1:25 — Reu listed among the post-Flood patriarchs See Also Peleg; Serug; Genealogies of Jesus (Matthew 1; Luke 3); Covenant with Abraham Forms and Transliterations Ραγαυ Ῥαγαύ Ῥαγαὺ ράδαμνος Ragau Rhagau RhagaúLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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