Sevenfold Genealogies In The Line Of Christ
Sevenfold Genealogies In The Line Of Christ
1) 14 times the phrase “the generation(s) of” is used in the Bible.
A) Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
B) Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
C) Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
D) Genesis 10:1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
E) Genesis 11:10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
F) Genesis 11:27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
G) Genesis 25:12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
H) Genesis 25:19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:
I) Genesis 36:1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
J) Genesis 36:9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
K) Genesis 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
L) Numbers 3:1 These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
M) Ruth 4:18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
N) Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
13 times the phrase “the generation(s) of” is used in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament - 14 times altogether. 13 is symbolic of rebellion and sin, and 14 is symbolic of perfection.
Notice the contrast in these two verses:
Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Genesis 5:1 is “the book of the generations of Adam” (whose name literally means "man") and Matthew 1:1 is “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ.” These two passages show the contrast between the Law and grace, between fallen man - the first Adam and his inability to keep the Law - and the Last Adam (Jesus Christ), who perfectly fulfilled all the Law of God, therefore making Him the perfect Saviour. See John 1:17.
One final thought in this first section: Genesis, the book of Beginnings, gives 11 genealogies. The first one in Genesis 2:4 gives the account of the creation of the heavens (ie the first heaven, the atmosphere, and the second heaven, outer space) and the earth. Then there are 10 other genealogies presenting the history of mankind. 10 is representative of the world. It is interesting to see various numbers and their meanings symbolically represented in this book.
2) Enoch is the seventh generation from Adam:
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
1. Adam
2. Seth
3. Enos
4. Cainan
5. Maleleel
6. Jared
7. Enoch
3) Jesus is the 77th generation from God (also from the beginning of creation):
We find Jesus' line through His mother Mary listed for us in Luke 3:23-38. For the sake of visualizing this fact, I have included all the names in that section in reverse order:
1. God
2. Adam
3. Seth
4. Enos
5. Cainan
6. Maleleel
7. Jared
8. Enoch
9. Mathusala
10. Lamech
11. Noe
12. Sem
13. Arphaxad
14. Cainan
15. Sala
16. Heber
17. Phalec
18. Ragau
19. Saruch
20. Nachor
21. Thara
22. Abraham
23. Isaac
24. Jacob
25. Juda
26. Phares
27. Esrom
28. Aram
29. Aminadab
30. Naasson
31. Salmon
32. Booz
33. Obed
34. Jesse
35. David
36. Nathan
37. Mattatha
38. Menan
39. Melea
40. Eliakim
41. Jonan
42. Joseph
43. Juda
44. Simeon
45. Levi
46. Matthat
47. Jorim
48. Eliezer
49. Jose
50. Er
51. Elmodam
52. Cosam
53. Addi
54. Melchi
55. Neri
56. Salathiel
57. Zorobabel
58. Rhesa
59. Joanna
60. Juda
61. Joseph
62. Semei
63. Mattathias
64. Maath
65. Nagge
66. Esli
67. Naum
68. Amos
69. Matthathias
70. Joseph
71. Janna
72. Melchi
73. Levi
74. Matthat
75. Heli
76. Joseph
77. Jesus
4) Enoch, Noah, Eber and Abraham:
Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, descended from Eber - Eber was the third generation after Shem (Genesis 10:21-24). The name Eber appears 7 times in Genesis (in the Table of Nations in Genesis chapters 10-11). Abram was the sixth generation after Eber, and he is often referred to as a Hebrew, and the nation that descended from him are called the Hebrews. The name Hebrew comes from the name Eber.** Eber means “the region beyond,” and therefore a Hebrew is “one from beyond.”
**It is interesting to note that Eber is the 14th generation from creation (Enoch being the 7th). The people of God in the Old Testament take their name (the Hebrews) from this man. Contrast this with the rebel, Nimrod, the founder of Babel/Babylon, who was the 13th generation (see Genesis 10:6-10). In Genesis, Abram is the 20th generation (see Genesis 11:10-32). However, if you look at Luke 3:34-38, you will see Abraham listed as the 21st generation (counting backwards from verse 38, Adam being the first generation; and Cainan being listed in verse 36 - for whatever reason he is not listed in the genealogies in Genesis). That makes the 7th generation, the “dedicated” man, Enoch (see Genesis 5:21-24 and Jude 1:14-15); Eber (the namesake for the people of God, the Hebrews), the 14th generation; and Abram/Abraham, the father of the Jews physically (Romans 4:1) and the father of all who believe spiritually (see Romans chapter 4, where Abraham is called a “father” seven times; see especially Romans 4:11), the 21st generation. If you count out the number of generations listed in Luke 3:23-38, you will also discover that Jesus Christ, our Saviour, is the 77th generation from God! Interesting stuff indeed!
Quoting from the study entitled, Not Of This World. (Please check it out. It is encouraging and interesting once you get past these initial comments.)
Taking only the genealogies in Genesis 5 and 10-11, we see the following facts:
Noah is the 10th generation, and from him the inhabitants of our world came from - 10 is symbolic of the whole world, the world of man. There are 8 people that repopulated the world after the flood - 8 represents new beginnings. In Genesis, Abraham is the 20th generation - he is the second 10th we find - the world of the believers (whether Jew or Gentile) come from him.
Enoch (whose name means dedication) is the 7th generation from Adam, representing a man sold out to the Lord - he is the seventh man, the perfect man. Then we see Eber, the 14th generation, representing the people of faith, the people not of this world, the people that are perfect in God's sight. Now if you go to Luke 3, we find a slightly different count there for Abraham - he is the 21st generation, representing all who will believe, the father of the faithful. And finally, we see Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Man and the Son of God, the Saviour, the Perfect Man, the Man who has the preeminence above all men, is the 77th generation.
Now tell me sevens don't mean anything! ;)
5) Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1:1-17 contains 14 names in each section:
Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
First section, Matthew 1:2-6: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judas, Phares, Esrom, Aram, Aminadab, Naasson, Salmon, Booz, Obed, Jesse, David.
Matthew 1:2-6 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king;...
Second section, Matthew 1:6-10: David, Solomon, Roboam, Abia, Asa, Josaphat, Joram, Ozias, Joatham, Achaz, Ezekias, Manasses, Amon, Josias.
Matthew 1:6-10 ...and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
Third section, Matthew 1:11-16: Jechonias, Salathiel, Zorobabel, Abiud, Eliakim, Azor, Sadoc, Achim, Eliud, Eleazar, Matthan, Jacob, Joseph, Jesus.
Matthew 1:11-16 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
6) David is both listed as the seventh and eighth child in his family:
1 Samuel 16:10-13 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
1 Chronicles 2:13-15 And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh:
This is an interesting Bible difficulty. In 1 Samuel, David is listed as the 8th child of Jesse - a new beginning, the start of a royal lineage. In Chronicles, he is listed as the 7th child - in a way, the perfect child, the man after God's own heart. Seeing as the earlier chapters in 1 Chronicles are focussed mainly on the genealogies of the various tribes of Israel, it is very possible that David is listed as the 7th (rather than the 8th) child) because it is believed that the unnamed child never had any children, never had any descendants; therefore, his name is not listed in the official genealogies of the tribes of Israel.
One final seven for you.
7) Rahab, the saved repentant (ex-)harlot of Jericho, is named seven times in the Bible:
She is listed as one of the five women in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ, five women of faith who were saved by grace (the number five is typical of grace).
1. Thamar (Tamar wanted to be in the line of Judah, identified with the people of God, but went about it the wrong way. This is further proof of the grace of God at work. He chose sinful man to bring the sinless Saviour through.) See Genesis 38, especially verses 8-11 and 14; Ruth 4:12.
2. Rachab (Matthew 1:5) She was a Canaanite and a harlot who repented and turned to the Lord. For her story, see Joshua 2; 6; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25. (Rahab was the mother of Boaz, one of the godliest types of Christ in the whole Bible.)
3. Ruth (Matthew 1:5) She was a Moabite. For her story, read the book of Ruth 1:1-4:22. She became the great grandmother of David. For her sevenfold declaration of faith, see Ruth 1:16-17.
4. Bathsheba (her that had been the wife of Urias. Matthew 1:6) She repented of her sin of adultery, named one of her sons Nathan (after the prophet that confronted David about his sin), and is seen giving her son Solomon godly counsel in Proverbs 31.
5. Mary, the handmaid of the Lord. Her faith is shown primarily in Luke 1; 2. She was chosen to bear Jesus as a virgin, but then later had four more sons and at least two daughters with Joseph, her husband. See Matthew 13:55-56.
2. Joshua 2:3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
3. Joshua 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
4. Joshua 6:23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
5. Joshua 6:25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
6. Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
7. James 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
8. Matthew 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Jerry Bouey
Running seven count: 57
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