King James Version

What Does Luke 3:31 Mean?

Luke 3:31 in the King James Version says “Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, whic...” — study this verse from Luke chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,”

Luke 3:31 · KJV

Context

29

Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,

30

Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,

31

Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,

32

Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,

33

Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David—Here the genealogy reaches David (Δαυίδ), the critical juncture for messianic claims. However, Luke traces through Nathan (Ναθάν), David's son by Bathsheba (2 Samuel 5:14; 1 Chronicles 3:5), not through Solomon who received the throne.

This genealogical choice is theologically profound: Solomon's line received the promise of eternal dynasty (2 Samuel 7:12-16) but fell under God's judgment through Jeconiah (Jeremiah 22:30—"no man of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David"). By tracing through Nathan (Mary's lineage) while maintaining legal connection to Solomon's line through Joseph's adoption, Jesus fulfills Davidic prophecy without inheriting the curse. The Greek huios (son) could mean biological son, legal heir, or descendant—allowing both genealogies to be true simultaneously.

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Historical & Cultural Context

David reigned 1010-970 BC, establishing Jerusalem as capital and receiving God's covenant promise of eternal dynasty. His son Nathan is mentioned in Scripture primarily in genealogical records, contrasting with Solomon's prominence—yet God's redemptive plan worked through the obscure line, not just the famous one.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's use of Nathan's obscure line rather than Solomon's royal line demonstrate His values contrasting worldly success?
  2. What does the genealogical solution to Jeconiah's curse teach about God's ability to fulfill promises despite apparent impossibilities?
  3. How should Jesus's descent from David through the 'lesser' line inform your understanding of God's kingdom priorities?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 10 words
τοῦ1 of 10
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Μελεὰ2 of 10

“Which was the son of Melea”

G3190

meleas, an israelite

τοῦ3 of 10
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Μαϊνάν4 of 10

“which was the son of Menan”

G3104

mainan, an israelite

τοῦ5 of 10
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ματταθὰ6 of 10

“which was the son of Mattatha”

G3160

mattatha (i.e., mattithjah), an israelite

τοῦ7 of 10
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ναθὰν,8 of 10

“which was the son of Nathan”

G3481

nathan, an israelite

τοῦ9 of 10
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Δαβὶδ,10 of 10

“which was the son of David”

G1138

david, the israelite king

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 3:31 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 3:31 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Chronicles 3:52 Samuel 5:14Zechariah 12:121 Chronicles 14:4

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