Lineage in the Bible refers to the ancestral descent and genealogical heritage of individuals and groups, often highlighting the continuity of God's promises through specific family lines. The concept of lineage is crucial in understanding the fulfillment of divine covenants, the legitimacy of leadership, and the unfolding of salvation history.

Old Testament Lineage

In the Old Testament, lineage is prominently featured in genealogies, which serve to trace the descent of key figures and tribes. The Book of Genesis provides foundational genealogies, such as those of Adam (Genesis 5) and Noah (Genesis 10), establishing the origins of humanity and the nations. The lineage of Abraham is particularly significant, as it marks the beginning of God's covenant with the patriarch and his descendants. Genesis 12:2-3 records God's promise to Abraham: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."

The lineage of Abraham continues through Isaac and Jacob, whose twelve sons become the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. The genealogies in the Book of Numbers and 1 Chronicles further detail the descendants of these tribes, emphasizing the importance of tribal identity and inheritance in Israelite society.

Davidic Lineage

The lineage of King David holds a central place in biblical history, as it is through David's line that the promise of an everlasting kingdom is established. In 2 Samuel 7:12-16, God makes a covenant with David, assuring him that his throne will be established forever: "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever."

This Davidic lineage is crucial for the messianic expectations in the Old Testament, as the Messiah is prophesied to come from the house of David. Isaiah 11:1 speaks of a "shoot from the stump of Jesse," referring to David's father, indicating the future emergence of a righteous ruler from David's line.

New Testament Lineage

The New Testament opens with the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:1-17), which traces His lineage from Abraham through David, underscoring His rightful place in the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. This genealogy highlights Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of David, and the fulfillment of God's covenantal promises.

Luke's Gospel also provides a genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23-38), tracing His lineage back to Adam, emphasizing His role as the Savior of all humanity. These genealogies affirm Jesus' legal and spiritual heritage, establishing His identity and mission.

Spiritual Lineage

Beyond physical descent, the Bible also speaks of a spiritual lineage. Believers in Christ are considered children of Abraham through faith, as Paul explains in Galatians 3:7: "Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham." This spiritual lineage transcends ethnic and cultural boundaries, uniting all believers as heirs of God's promises.

In summary, lineage in the Bible serves as a testament to God's faithfulness in preserving His covenantal promises through specific family lines, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The genealogies and lineages underscore the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout history.(n.) Descent in a line from a common progenitor; progeny; race; descending line of offspring or ascending line of parentage.LINEAGE

lin'-e-aj (patria): Found only once in Luke 2:4 (the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "family"), and signifying the line of paternal family descent. A word pregnant in meaning among the Jews, who kept all family records with religious care, as may be seen from the long genealogical records found everywhere in the Old Testament.

3965. patria -- lineage, family
... lineage, family. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: patria Phonetic
Spelling: (pat-ree-ah') Short Definition: a family, tribe Definition: lineage ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3965.htm - 6k

1078. genesis -- origin, birth
... origin, birth. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: genesis Phonetic
Spelling: (ghen'-es-is) Short Definition: birth, lineage Definition: birth ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1078.htm - 6k

5443. phule -- a clan or tribe
... 5443 (from 5453 , "to generate") -- a tribe (race, lineage); the descendants of
a common ancestor, like the progeny springing from Jacob (Israel). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5443.htm - 7k

3624. oikos -- a house, a dwelling
... oikos Phonetic Spelling: (oy'-kos) Short Definition: a house, household Definition:
(a) a house, the material building, (b) a household, family, lineage, nation ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3624.htm - 6k

3205. yalad -- to bear, bring forth, beget
... A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife;
specifically, to show lineage -- bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make ...
/hebrew/3205.htm - 7k

4138. moledeth -- kindred, birth, offspring
... From yalad; nativity (plural birth-place); by implication, lineage, native country;
also offspring, family -- begotten, born, issue, kindred, native(-ity). ...
/hebrew/4138.htm - 6k

Of Julian; his Lineage and Education; his Elevation to The
... Book III. Chapter I."Of Julian; his Lineage and Education; his Elevation
to the. Throne; his Apostasy to Paganism. The Emperor ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/chapter i of julian his lineage.htm

Of his Coming into his Own Country, and of the Astonishment of the ...
... XLII."Of His Coming into His Own Country, and of the Astonishment of the People
at His Doctrine, as They Looked with Contempt Upon His Lineage; Of Matthew's ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xlii of his coming into.htm

The Oldest Family.
... contempt. Of course, they could easily have found out about the lineage of
Jesus. ... beginning. No one living had a longer unbroken lineage. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the oldest family.htm

Blessed be He that Blots Out in Water Misdeeds that are Without ...
... 1. Descend my sealed brethren, put ye on our Lord,"and be rejoined to His lineage,
for He is son of a great lineage,"as He has said in His Word. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn iv blessed be he.htm

On the Order of the Evangelists, and the Principles on which they ...
... For Matthew is understood to have taken it in hand to construct the record of the
incarnation of the Lord according to the royal lineage, and to give an ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter ii on the order of.htm

Refutation of the Jews
... in His behalf. "Who shall declare of what lineage He comes?" it says, "for
His life is exalted from the earth. By the lawlessnesses ...
/.../athanasius/on the incarnation of the word/chapter 6 refutation of the.htm

John Chapter viii. 37-47
... is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." [780] If ye bring not
forth fruits meet for repentance, flatter not yourselves about such a lineage ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xlii john chapter viii.htm

The Alleged Discrepancy in the Gospels in Regard to the Genealogy ...
... But as there had been kept in the archives [130] up to that time the genealogies
of the Hebrews as well as of those who traced their lineage back to proselytes ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter vii the alleged discrepancy in.htm

A Statement of the Reason Why Matthew Enumerates one Succession of ...
... the father who begat Joseph, and the other by the line of the father who adopted
him, whom should we suppose more likely to have preserved the lineage of the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iii a statement of the.htm

Christianity
... He has in him all the elements of the divine lineage. Exercise and culture are alone
needed to reveal these elements and demonstrate this lineage. ...
/.../haldeman/christ christianity and the bible/christianity.htm

Lineage (3 Occurrences)
... of parentage. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LINEAGE. lin'-e ... Old Testament.
Multi-Version Concordance Lineage (3 Occurrences). Luke 2 ...
/l/lineage.htm - 8k

Mary (50 Occurrences)
... Little is known of her personal history. Her genealogy is given in Luke 3. She was
of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David (Psalm 132:11; Luke 1:32). ...
/m/mary.htm - 72k

Pedigree
... 1. (n.) A line of ancestors; descent; lineage; as, the dog has a good pedigree;
genealogy; a register or record of a line of ancestors. ...
/p/pedigree.htm - 7k

Blood (435 Occurrences)
... ancestor; consanguinity; kinship. 3. (n.) Descent; lineage; especially,
honorable birth; the highest royal lineage. 4. (n.) Descent ...
/b/blood.htm - 54k

Lined (6 Occurrences)

/l/lined.htm - 8k

Birth (357 Occurrences)
... the birth of a son. 2. (n.) Lineage; extraction; descent; sometimes, high
birth; noble extraction. 3. (n.) The condition to which ...
/b/birth.htm - 71k

Kingly (7 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a priesthood of kingly lineage, a
holy nation, a people belonging specially to God, that you may make known the ...
/k/kingly.htm - 10k

Nation (192 Occurrences)
... stock. 2. (n.) The body of inhabitants of a country, united under an independent
government of their own. 3. (n.) Family; lineage. 4 ...
/n/nation.htm - 40k

Offspring (186 Occurrences)
... 3. (n. sing. & pl.) Origin; lineage; family. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
OFFSPRING. of'-spring. See CHILDREN. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/o/offspring.htm - 36k

Joanna (3 Occurrences)
... Whom Jehovah has graciously given. (1.) The grandson of Zerubbabel, in the lineage
of Christ (Luke 3:27); the same as Hananiah (1 Chronicles 3:19). ...
/j/joanna.htm - 8k

What does it mean that those who are of faith are sons of Abraham (Galatians 3:7)? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Jesse in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How is Jesus greater than all the other great people in history? | GotQuestions.org

Lineage: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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