Luke 3:38
What does Luke 3:38 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 3:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 3:38 means
Luke concludes this remarkable genealogy by tracing Jesus' lineage back beyond Seth and Enos to Adam, and finally, declaring Adam as "the son of God." This makes a profound statement: Jesus is not just the descendant of Abraham and David, but of all humanity, culminating in the first man, Adam, who was created directly by God. This universal lineage emphasizes Jesus' connection to all mankind and His identity as the second Adam, who came to redeem all humanity.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the <FI>son<Fi> of Cainan, the <FI>son<Fi> of Enos, the <FI>son<Fi> of Seth, the <FI>son<Fi> of Adam, the <FI>son<Fi> of God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who was of Henos, who was of Seth, who was of Adam, who was of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890of Enos, of Seth, of Adam, ofGod.
Context
This verse provides the powerful conclusion to Luke's extensive genealogy, bringing Jesus’ lineage all the way back to Adam, and then to God. It culminates the backward progression that began after His baptism, revealing the universal scope of Jesus' humanity. This final link establishes Jesus' connection to all humankind, affirming His role as the Redeemer of all creation, not just a specific people.
v.37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
v.38This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 17:26
and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
- Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
- Genesis 2:7
And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
- Genesis 4:25
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For, said she, God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel; for Cain slew him.
- Isaiah 64:8
But now, O Jehovah, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
- 1 Corinthians 15:45
So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
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