How does Luke 3:35 fit into the genealogy of Jesus? Text of Luke 3:35 “the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah” Immediate Placement within Luke’s Genealogy Luke 3:23-38 lists seventy-seven generations from Jesus back to Adam. Verse 35 falls almost at the midpoint, linking the post-Flood patriarchs to Abraham’s ancestors. The five names in this verse form the bridge between Nahor (v. 34) and Cainan/Arphaxad (v. 36), situating Jesus squarely in the historic line that the Torah traces through Shem after the Flood (Genesis 11:10-26). Harmony with Genesis 10–11 Genesis 11:14-24 (Masoretic Text) gives: Shelah → Eber → Peleg → Reu → Serug → Nahor. Luke reverses the order, as expected in a retrograde genealogy, but the sequence is identical. The only additional name in Luke’s section (v. 36, Cainan) is already present in the Septuagint of Genesis 10:24 and 11:13, showing that Luke is following a text family available in first-century Judea. Manuscript evidence (𝔓4, B, א, A) confirms the stability of Luke 3:35 across the earliest extant witnesses. Meaning and Theological Weight of the Five Names • Shelah—name related to “petition”; represents the continuation of the godly line two generations after the Flood. • Eber—root of the term “Hebrew” (ʿivri); identifies the ethnic forerunner of Abraham and Israel. • Peleg—“division”; “for in his days the earth was divided” (Genesis 10:25), a temporal marker of the Babel dispersal and, on a young-earth timeline, the rapid post-Flood continental separation. • Reu—“friend” or “shepherd”; little narrative detail in Scripture, yet part of the covenant line. • Serug—likely “branch”; grandfather of Terah and great-grandfather of Abraham, keeping intact the promise trajectory toward the Seed (Genesis 3:15). Historical and Chronological Coherence Using the Masoretic ages (well attested in the Dead Sea Scrolls 4QGen-Exa) and Ussher’s chronology, Shelah is born c. 2302 BC, Eber c. 2272 BC, Peleg c. 2242 BC, Reu c. 2213 BC, and Serug c. 2181 BC. The Tower of Babel division circa 2242 BC (Peleg’s birth) synchronizes geological and linguistic data noted by creation geologists: rapid fossil deposition and near-instant dispersion of fully formed language groups—all consistent with catastrophic post-Flood conditions and genetic bottlenecks observed in modern mitochondrial studies (e.g., Carter, 2019, Journal of Creation 33:1). Contrast with Matthew’s Genealogy Matthew 1:2-17 begins with Abraham and moves forward, emphasizing royal succession through Solomon and the legal right of kingship. Luke traces backward through Nathan, highlighting the biological line via Mary (cf. Luke 3:23’s “as was supposed, the son of Joseph”). Verse 35 therefore belongs to the biological ancestry that authenticates Jesus as true man, descendant of Adam, and heir of the universal covenant. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroboration • Ebla tablets (c. 2300 BC) contain the name “Eberu,” plausibly linked to Eber. • Sumerian King List presents lifespans dramatically shortening after a great flood, mirroring the declining ages from Shem to Abraham seen in Genesis 11, situating Peleg squarely within the early post-Flood era. • Ugaritic texts reference a deity “Š-L-h,” phonologically similar to Shelah, indicating the name’s antiquity. Christological Implications By nesting Jesus within the line of Eber and Peleg, Luke shows fulfillment of God’s universal promise: a Savior who is both “Son of Man” (Adam) and “Son of Abraham.” Luke’s final words in 3:38—“the son of Adam, the son of God”—reach their hinge on verse 35; remove these five names and the bridge collapses. The unbroken chain declares that the resurrected Christ is historically grounded, not mythic. Practical and Devotional Reflection For the reader, Luke 3:35 is more than a list; it is a testimony that God orchestrates history. Just as He preserved a family through flood, dispersion, and idolatrous cultures, He can preserve every life entrusted to Him. In Christ, the promise to “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3) reaches its apex, offering salvation that no genealogy, merit, or cultural heritage can earn—only grace through the risen Lord. Summary Luke 3:35 fits seamlessly into Jesus’ genealogy, perfectly matches Genesis 10–11, is textually secure, corroborated by archaeology and population genetics, and theologically vital in demonstrating that the Messiah entered history through the exact line God had promised, thereby validating the Scriptures’ reliability and the Savior’s universal mission. |
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