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The Genealogies of Jesus
These two genealogies identify Jesus within a family line. Matthew and Luke both connect him to key people, but they present distinct lists and patterns, so it is best to read each genealogy on its own terms.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this family record
Matthew opens by calling this “the genealogy of Jesus Christ” and begins with Abraham, highlighting David and the exile to Babylon before reaching Jesus. Luke places his genealogy after noting Jesus was about thirty when he began to teach, then traces the line backwards from Joseph past Abraham to Adam and finally to God.
Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38Main takeaway
Matthew and Luke both present Jesus in a family line, with Matthew stressing a shaped pattern from Abraham to Christ and Luke tracing Jesus’ line back through David, Abraham, Adam and to God.
See the shape of the family record
Follow the names in the order each passage gives them.
Matthew’s direction
Matthew 1:1–17Selected landmarks, moving forward towards Christ. Matthew 1:17 describes the three-part pattern.
- Abraham
- David
- Exile to Babylon
- Jesus Christ
Luke’s direction
Luke 3:23–38Selected landmarks, moving backwards. Luke says Jesus was the son, as was supposed, of Joseph.
- Jesus
- Joseph (as was supposed)
- David
- Abraham
- Adam
- God
Follow the family lines
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Matthew begins with Abraham, David and JesusMatthew introduces “the genealogy of Jesus Christ” and immediately names two important ancestors, David and Abraham.
Explanation
Matthew introduces “the genealogy of Jesus Christ” and immediately names two important ancestors, David and Abraham. The list then starts with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, moving through Judah. This opening shows that Matthew wants readers to notice Jesus’ place in a line already marked by these names.
02Matthew traces the line through kings and the exileMatthew continues through Perez, Boaz, Jesse and “King David”. From David the list runs through Solomon and later kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah.
Explanation
Matthew continues through Perez, Boaz, Jesse and “King David”. From David the list runs through Solomon and later kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah. Matthew marks a major turning point “at the time of the exile to Babylon”, then continues the line after the exile until Joseph and Jesus.
03Matthew highlights a three-part patternAfter reaching Jesus, Matthew states his own summary of the genealogy. He counts three sets of fourteen generations: from Abraham to David, from David to the exile to Babylon, and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ.
Explanation
After reaching Jesus, Matthew states his own summary of the genealogy. He counts three sets of fourteen generations: from Abraham to David, from David to the exile to Babylon, and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ. This pattern is part of how Matthew presents the list.
04Luke starts with Jesus and works backwardsLuke begins with Jesus, saying he was about thirty years old when he began to teach. He then lists Jesus as “the son (as was supposed) of Joseph” and moves backwards through many generations.
Explanation
Luke begins with Jesus, saying he was about thirty years old when he began to teach. He then lists Jesus as “the son (as was supposed) of Joseph” and moves backwards through many generations. Luke’s genealogy includes David, but follows the line through Nathan rather than Solomon.
05Luke reaches beyond Abraham to AdamLuke continues past Abraham through earlier ancestors including Noah and Seth, ending with “Adam, the son of God”.
Explanation
Luke continues past Abraham through earlier ancestors including Noah and Seth, ending with “Adam, the son of God”. In that sense Luke’s genealogy is wider in scope than Matthew’s, which begins with Abraham. Both genealogies include shared names such as David, Zerubbabel, Abraham and Judah, while remaining distinct lists.
Two genealogies, distinct patterns
Read each list on its own terms.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Look closely | Matthew 1 | Luke 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | From Abraham towards Jesus Christ. | From Jesus backwards through the ancestors. |
| David’s line | The list continues through Solomon. | The list traces the line through Nathan. |
| Emphasis | Matthew draws attention to three sets of fourteen generations. | Luke continues past Abraham to Adam, ending with God. |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What names does Matthew place at the front of his genealogy, and why might that matter for how he introduces Jesus?
Look closely at the order in Matthew’s opening line and then at the first names in the list itself.
02What three stages does Matthew use to summarise his genealogy?
Read Matthew’s own summary sentence and notice the repeated number and the three turning points he names.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Matthew 1:1–17
1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
3Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.
4Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.
5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
6Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.
7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.
8Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.
9Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.
10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.
11Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.
13Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.
14Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.
15Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.
16Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.
Luke 3:23–38
23Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,
27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,
31the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
38the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.