Jesus had ancestors


As we enter the Advent season, it is a good time to be reminded that Jesus was a real person, who had a real family, and real ancestors. His ancestors were sovereignly appointed by God, who steered history all the way to the virgin birth.

Here is a list of Jesus’ ancestors by name, along with the meaning of each name. While this may be a hard concept for us today (we often choose names that have no meaning), Hebrews were generally very aware of the significance of a name. Obviously, a person was given their name before they had their character revealed (although there are examples of people who had their name changed to reflect their current conduct–Israel, Naomi, etc.), but part of the Hebrew's trust in God’s sovereignty was a recognition that God is sovereign over birth, and over names. Thus the connection between a name and conduct was much more direct and atemporal than Americans can imagine.


With that said, read through the meaning of the names of Jesus’ ancestors, and see how God was at work throughout history:

Names in the Genealogy of Jesus and What They Mean

Adam – Son of the earth
Seth – Appointed
Enosh – Man; Human Being
Kenan – Acquire
Mahalalel – The Shining one of God
Jared – Descent; Ruling; Rose
Enoch – Dedicated; Trained; Disciplined
Methuselah – Man of the Dart; One who was sent
Lamech – Poor; Made Low
Noah – Rest
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Shem – Name; Fame
Arphaxad – Healer; releaser
Cainan – Possessor; Purchaser
Shelah – Petition
Eber – One that passes; anger
Peleg – Division
Reu – Friend, Companion, Neighbor
Serug – Branch
Nahor – Hoarse, dry, hot
Terah – Wanderer
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Abraham – Father of many
Isaac – One Who Laughs
Jacob – Supplanter
Judah – Praise
Perez – Breach; Burst forth
Hezron – The Dart of Joy
Ram – Pleasing; Supreme
Arni – Eagle
Admin – A Red Flower
Aminnadab – My people are Noble
Nahshon – Foretells
Salmon – Peaceable; Perfect; He that Rewards
Boaz – Swiftness
Obed – Worshipper
Jesse – The Lord Is
David – Beloved

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Solomon – Man of peace
Rehoboam – Sets the people at liberty
Abijah – Yahweh is my father
Asaph – Gather
Jehoshaphat – Yahweh is judge
Joram- God is exalted
Uzziah – My strength is God
Jotham – Perfection of Jehovah
Ahaz – Has Held
Hezekiah – Yahweh is my strength
Manasseh – God has made me forget my troubles
Amos – To carry
Josiah – God Supports and Heals
Jeconiah – God Has Established

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Shealtiel – I asked God for this child
Zerubbabel – One sown in Babylon
Abiud – Father of praise
Eliakim – God will establish
Azor – A helper; a court
Zadok – Righteous; Justified
Achin – Brothers
Eliud – God is my praise
Eleazar – God has helped
Matthan – Gift
Jacob – Supplanter
Joseph – God will add; Taken away
Mary – Beloved; Wished for Child
Jesus – Deliverer; Rescuer

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