Luke 3:38 (KJV)

What does Luke 3:38 mean?

Luke 3:38 lists the final names in Jesus’ genealogy, tracing his ancestry back through Enos, Seth, and Adam, and finally calling Adam “the son of God.” This verse highlights that, according to Luke, Jesus’ human lineage goes all the way back to the very first human, who was uniquely created by God.

In this part of Luke’s Gospel, Luke is giving a genealogy of Jesus, showing his family line to his readers. Unlike Matthew’s genealogy, which starts with Abraham, Luke traces Jesus’ ancestry all the way back to Adam. By calling Adam “the son of God,” Luke points out that Adam had no human father but was created directly by God, setting the stage for understanding Jesus’ unique relationship to God as well.

The Greek behind Luke 3:38

• Ἐνώς (Enōs, “Enos”): This is the Greek form of the Old Testament name Enosh, a descendant of Adam through Seth. Including Enos emphasizes the continuity of the human family line.
• Σήθ (Sēth, “Seth”): Seth is named as the son of Adam, highlighting the line through which the genealogy is traced.
• Ἀδάμ (Adam, “Adam”): Adam is presented as the first human, underscoring the idea that all humanity descends from him.
• Θεός (Theos, “God”): Calling Adam “the son of God” uses the Greek word for God, Θεός (Theos), which here means that Adam was created by God, not born of human parents.

Why Luke 3:38 matters

• Luke 3:38 makes clear that Jesus’ genealogy is traced all the way to Adam, not just to Abraham or David, showing Jesus’ connection to all humanity, not just to the Jewish people.
• By calling Adam “the son of God,” Luke subtly points out both Adam’s unique creation and sets up a parallel to Jesus, who is also called the Son of God in a different, more profound sense.
• This verse helps readers see that Luke’s Gospel is interested in the universal scope of Jesus’ mission, connecting him to every human being by tracing his ancestry to the very beginning of humanity.