Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,

LUKE 3:26KJV
Know the Bible

Luke 3:26 (KJV)

What does Luke 3:26 mean?

Luke 3:26 lists part of Jesus’ genealogy, naming Maath, Mattathias, Semei, Joseph, and Juda as ancestors in the family line. This verse is one link in a longer chain, showing Jesus’ human heritage through a series of generations.

In the Gospel of Luke, this genealogy is being recited by the writer, Luke, to his readers. The setting is a formal listing of Jesus’ ancestors, tracing his lineage back through many generations. The verse itself is a straightforward record, emphasizing the continuity of Jesus’ family line and connecting him to Israel’s history.

Why Luke 3:26 matters

  • This verse helps show that Jesus had a real, traceable ancestry, grounding his story in actual history and people.
  • By including lesser-known names, Luke highlights that every generation and individual in Jesus’ lineage matters, not just the famous ancestors.
  • This genealogy is part of Luke’s effort to connect Jesus not only to the Jewish people but also to all humanity, as the list eventually goes back to Adam.

Where else these words appear

“Mattathias” Greek G3161 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 3:25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,

“Joseph” Greek G2501 · used in 34 verses

  • Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
  • Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
  • John 4:5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

“Juda” Greek G2455 · used in 41 verses

  • Matthew 1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
  • Luke 3:33 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,
  • John 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.