What does Luke 3:38 mean?
ESV: the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
NIV: the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
NASB: the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
CSB: son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.
NLT: Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.
KJV: Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
NKJV: the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Verse Commentary:
Luke began this genealogy with Jesus (Luke 3:23), and now ends it with Adam, the first human being (Genesis 2:7). In keeping with the pattern of Luke's genealogy, Adam is said to be the "son" of God, as he had no earthly parents. The purpose of this list was to show that Jesus was a descendant of David (Luke 3:31), and to emphasize His complete humanity. Jesus' ministry was meant to offer salvation to all people, of all nations.
As with the rest of the list, some names are famous only because they are included in these genealogies. Enos is one of those. So, too, is Seth, the son provided for Adam and Eve shortly after the murder of their second-born, Abel (Genesis 4:25).
This description of Jesus' earthly heritage forms a break between Christ's early life and the start of His public work. The next passage will cover Jesus' temptation by Satan (Luke 4:1–12) and the beginning of His active ministry (Luke 4:14–15).
Verse Context:
Luke 3:23–38 traces the earthly ancestry of Jesus, apparently focusing on direct family lines. That is, Luke might be following literal birth, rather than by legal means such as adoption. Scholars differ on the precise meaning of these lines, but a common interpretation is that Luke is establishing Mary's ancestry. This establishes Jesus' physical relationship to His ancestor David (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Matthew's genealogy shows Joseph's descent from David, making his adoptive son, Jesus, a legal member of that line.
Chapter Summary:
The early part of Luke's gospel shifts back and forth between the histories of Jesus and John the Baptist. Chapter 3 starts with historical and prophetic context about John. It then depicts some of John's interactions with local religious leaders. Luke gives only a brief description of Jesus' baptism. He also touches on John's criticism of Herod the Tetrarch, which would eventually result in John's execution (Matthew 14:10–12). The chapter ends with a genealogy of Christ.
Chapter Context:
Chapters 1 and 2 provided early history for both John the Baptist and Jesus. Chapter 3 establishes John's preaching ministry and its connection to Jesus Christ. The chapter ends with a genealogy which some believe runs through Mary's side of the family. Chapter 4 transitions from Jesus' baptism into His public ministry, by describing His fasting in the wilderness and temptation by Satan.
Book Summary:
Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.
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