4533. Salmón

Lexical Summary

Salmón: Salmon

Original Word: Σαλμών
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Salmón
Pronunciation: sal-MONE
Phonetic Spelling: (sal-mone')
KJV: Salmon
NASB: Salmon
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H8012 (שַׂלמוֹן - Salmon))]

1. Salmon, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Salmon.

Of Hebrew origin (Salmown); Salmon, an Israelite -- Salmon.

see HEBREW Salmown

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Salmon
Definition
Salmon, an Isr.
NASB Translation
Salmon (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4533: Σαλμών

Σαλμών (שַׁלְמון, Ruth 4:21), ὁ, indeclinable, Salmon, the name of a man: Matthew 1:4; Luke 3:32 (here T WH Tr marginal reading Σαλά).

Topical Lexicon

Name and Meaning

Salmon (Greek Σαλμών; Hebrew שלמון) appears as a male ancestor in the royal and Messianic line of Judah.

Genealogical Placement

• Son of Nahshon and father of Boaz (Matthew 1:4-5; Ruth 4:20-21).
• Husband of Rahab, the former prostitute from Jericho who believed the God of Israel (Matthew 1:5).
• Ancestor of King David (Ruth 4:22) and, through David, of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:32).

Old Testament Background

Nahshon, Salmon’s father, led the tribe of Judah during the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 1:7; Numbers 2:3). Salmon was therefore born into a line already marked by leadership and faith. Although Salmon himself is not mentioned by name in the conquest narratives, the chronological setting puts him among the first generation to enter Canaan. Jewish tradition (Josephus, Antiquities 5.1.25) identifies him as one of the two spies who scouted Jericho and later married Rahab, providing a plausible narrative bridge between Joshua 2 and Matthew 1.

New Testament Usage

Both New Testament occurrences are in the genealogy of Jesus Christ:
• “Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.” (Matthew 1:4)
• “Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse.” (Matthew 1:5)

These verses establish Salmon as a vital link in Matthew’s carefully structured genealogy, which alternates sets of fourteen generations to underscore divine order and fulfillment.

Theological Significance

1. Messianic Continuity: Salmon stands at the midpoint between the Exodus generation and the monarchy, illustrating the unbroken covenant line God preserved from Abraham to Christ.
2. Inclusion of the Gentiles: By marrying Rahab, Salmon’s household embodies the principle that faith, not ethnicity, determines covenant membership—anticipating passages such as Romans 10:12-13 and Ephesians 2:11-13.
3. Grace and Transformation: Rahab’s previous life underscores God’s redemptive power; Salmon’s acceptance of her foreshadows the Gospel invitation to all sinners (1 Timothy 1:15-16).
4. Covenant Faithfulness: The appearance of Salmon in both Ruth 4 and Matthew 1 ties the era of the judges directly to the advent of Christ, reinforcing that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).

Lessons for Ministry

• Value Each Link: Even little-known saints like Salmon matter in God’s purpose; every believer has a role in the unfolding plan of redemption (1 Corinthians 12:18).
• Marriages that Model Grace: Salmon and Rahab highlight marriages that advance God’s kingdom across cultural barriers, encouraging Christian unions grounded in shared faith rather than background.
• Discipling the Next Generation: Salmon’s son Boaz became a kinsman-redeemer, suggesting that Salmon’s faith shaped Boaz’s character; intentional discipleship within families bears lasting fruit (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
• Welcoming Outsiders: The church should mirror Salmon’s openness to Rahab by embracing repentant outsiders and incorporating them fully into the community of faith (Acts 15:19).

Historical Notes

• Genealogies in Ruth 4 and 1 Chronicles 2 align seamlessly with Matthew 1, supporting the historical reliability of both Testaments.
• Early Christian writers (e.g., Eusebius, Demonstratio Evangelica 7.1) cited Salmon’s marriage to Rahab as evidence that God long intended to bless the Gentiles through Israel.
• Rabbinic literature occasionally lists Salmon among the princes of Judah who aided Joshua, reflecting Jewish respect for his lineage.

Concluding Insight

Although Scripture records no direct speech or actions of Salmon, his strategic position in salvation history testifies that God weaves the lives of ordinary, faithful people into the extraordinary account of redemption culminating in Jesus Christ, “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).

Forms and Transliterations

Σαλμων Σαλμών Σαλμὼν Salmon Salmōn Salmṓn Salmṑn

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 1:4 N
GRK: ἐγέννησεν τὸν Σαλμών
NAS: and Nahshon the father of Salmon.
KJV: Naasson begat Salmon;
INT: was father of Salmon

Matthew 1:5 N
GRK: Σαλμὼν δὲ ἐγέννησεν
NAS: Salmon was the father of Boaz
KJV: And Salmon begat Booz
INT: Salmon moreover was father of

Strong's Greek 4533
2 Occurrences

Σαλμών — 2 Occ.