The Genealogy of Jesus
The full messianic line from Adam to Jesus, drawn from Genesis 5 and 11, Ruth 4, 1 Chronicles 3, and Matthew 1 - one continuous line of descent spanning the entire Old Testament. 60 generations, one continuous line.
The Primeval Line
From Adam to Terah, the ten generations before Abraham - Genesis 5 and 11.
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AdamThe first man, formed from the dust of the ground.
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SethBorn after Abel's death, "appointed" by God to continue the line.
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EnosIn his days, men began to call upon the name of the Lord.
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CainanKnown only from the genealogical record.
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MahalaleelKnown only from the genealogical record.
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JaredFather of Enoch, who walked with God.
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EnochWalked with God, and was not, for God took him.
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MethuselahThe longest-lived man recorded in Scripture, 969 years.
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LamechNamed his son Noah, hoping for comfort from the cursed ground.
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NoahFound grace in the eyes of the Lord; preserved humanity through the flood.
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ShemNoah's son, ancestor of the Semitic peoples and of Abraham.
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ArphaxadKnown only from the genealogical record.
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SalahKnown only from the genealogical record.
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EberTraditionally understood as the namesake of "Hebrew."
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PelegNamed because "in his days was the earth divided" (Genesis 10:25).
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ReuKnown only from the genealogical record.
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SerugKnown only from the genealogical record.
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NahorGrandfather of Abraham.
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TerahAbraham's father, who set out from Ur but settled in Haran.
The Patriarchs
God's covenant promise to Abraham, carried through Isaac and Jacob to the tribe of Judah.
From Judah to David
The line from Judah to David, preserved through Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth - three women whose stories bend the expected path of the genealogy.
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PerezSon of Judah and Tamar, born through an unexpected turn in the family's story.
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HezronKnown only from the genealogical record.
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RamKnown only from the genealogical record.
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AmminadabKnown only from the genealogical record.
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NahshonA leader of Judah in the wilderness generation.
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SalmonMarried Rahab of Jericho, according to Matthew's genealogy.
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ObedSon of Boaz and Ruth; grandfather of David.
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JesseA man of Bethlehem, father of eight sons - the youngest of whom was David.
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DavidShepherd, king, and the namesake of the everlasting throne promised to his line.
The Kings of Judah
The royal line from David through the kings of Judah to the Babylonian exile.
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SolomonDavid's son, renowned for wisdom, who built the first Temple.
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RehoboamWhose harsh rule split the kingdom into Israel and Judah.
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AbijahKing of Judah, son of Rehoboam.
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AsaA reforming king who removed idols from Judah.
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JehoshaphatAllied with Israel, known for his trust in God against overwhelming odds.
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Joram (Jehoram)Matthew's genealogy telescopes past three kings here (Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah).
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Uzziah (Azariah)A long and largely prosperous reign, ended by pride and leprosy.
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JothamA king who did right, though the people remained corrupt.
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AhazAn idolatrous king who allied with Assyria against God's counsel.
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HezekiahA faithful king whose prayer extended his life and delivered Jerusalem from Assyria.
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ManassehJudah's most idolatrous king, who later repented in captivity.
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AmonReversed his father's late repentance; assassinated after two years.
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JosiahA reforming boy-king who rediscovered the Book of the Law.
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Jeconiah (Jehoiachin)Exiled to Babylon; Matthew again telescopes past his father Jehoiakim.
Exile and Return to Joseph
The line continues through the Babylonian exile, largely known only from Matthew's genealogy, to Joseph the husband of Mary.
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ShealtielSon of Jeconiah, born in the Babylonian exile.
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ZerubbabelLed the first return from exile and oversaw rebuilding the Temple.
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AbiudKnown only from Matthew's genealogy.
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EliakimKnown only from Matthew's genealogy.
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AzorKnown only from Matthew's genealogy.
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ZadokKnown only from Matthew's genealogy.
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AchimKnown only from Matthew's genealogy.
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EliudKnown only from Matthew's genealogy.
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EleazarKnown only from Matthew's genealogy.
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MatthanKnown only from Matthew's genealogy.
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JacobFather of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
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JesusCalled Christ - the culmination of the entire line, born of Mary.
See the same line compared across all four Gospels on the Gospel Harmony page, or explore every character on the site.