March 16, 2025

The Divine Journey of Redemption: Unveiling the Names in Luke 3:23-38

It’s amazing to consider how even the simplest details in Scripture can carry profound meaning. One of the most intriguing aspects of the Bible is how God reveals His truth through seemingly ordinary things. For instance, the names of individuals in the genealogies of Luke 3:23-38 are far from incidental. Each name not only points to the person it represents but also communicates a deeper message about God's redemptive plan. Let’s explore the significance behind the names of those listed in the genealogy of Yeshua, where each name reveals God's marvelous work through generations.


Names and Their Meanings

  1. Yeshua – Yah is Salvation
  2. Joseph – Yah Will Add
  3. Heli – Ascending
  4. Matthat – Gift of Yah
  5. Levi – Joined
  6. Melchi – My King
  7. Jannai – Yah is Gracious
  8. Joseph – Yah Will Add
  9. Mattathias – Gift of Yah
  10. Amos – Burden Bearer
  11. Nahum – Comforter
  12. Esli – Reserved by Elohim
  13. Naggai – Shining or Illuminated
  14. Maath – Small or Humble
  15. Mattathias – Gift of Yah
  16. Semein – Heard
  17. Josech – Yah Will Establish
  18. Joda – Praised
  19. Joanan – Yah is Gracious
  20. Rhesa – Prince or Chief
  21. Zerubbabel – Sown in Babylon or Out of Babylon
  22. Shealtiel – I Have Asked of Elohim
  23. Neri – My Lamp
  24. Melchi – My King
  25. Addi – Ornament or Adornment
  26. Cosam – Foreseer
  27. Elmadam – Elohim Has Loved
  28. Er – Watchful or Awake
  29. Joshua – Yah is Salvation
  30. Eliezer – Elohim Has Helped
  31. Jorim – Yah is Exalted
  32. Matthat – Gift of Yah
  33. Levi – Joined
  34. Simeon – He Has Heard
  35. Judah – Praise
  36. Joseph – Yah Will Add
  37. Jonan – Yah is Gracious
  38. Eliakim – Elohim Will Raise
  39. Melea – Fulfillment or Fullness
  40. Menna – Rest or Comfort
  41. Mattatha – Gift of Yah
  42. Nathan – Given or Gift
  43. David – Beloved
  44. Jesse – Gift
  45. Obed – Servant or Worshiper
  46. Boaz – In Him is Strength
  47. Salmon – Garment or Clothed
  48. Nahshon – Leader or Foreseer
  49. Amminadab – My People Are Noble
  50. Admin – Ruler or Administrator
  51. Arni – Strong
  52. Hezron – Enclosure or Surrounded
  53. Perez – Breakthrough or Breach
  54. Judah – Praise
  55. Jacob – Supplanter or One Who Grasps
  56. Isaac – Laughter
  57. Abraham – Father of Multitudes
  58. Terah – Wanderer or Traveler
  59. Nahor – Rest
  60. Serug – Branch
  61. Reu – Friend or Companion
  62. Peleg – Division or Split
  63. Eber – Crossing Over or Beyond
  64. Shelah – Sent Out or Request
  65. Cainan – Possessor or Acquirer
  66. Arphaxad – Healer or Release
  67. Shem – Name or Renown
  68. Noah – Rest or Comfort
  69. Lamech – Powerful
  70. Methuselah – His Death Shall Bring
  71. Enoch – Dedicated or Disciplined
  72. Jared – Descender or One Who Comes Down
  73. Mahalalel – Praise of Elohim
  74. Kenan – Possession
  75. Enosh – Man or Humanity
  76. Seth – Appointed
  77. Adam – Man or Earth
  78. Elohim – God or Mighty One

A Message of Redemption

Now that you see the names and their meanings, let us see what putting them all together reveals:

"Yah is Salvation (Yeshua) and Will Add (Joseph) to those who Ascend (Heli), receiving the Gift of Yah (Matthat). They will be Joined (Levi) to My King (Melchi), for Yah is Gracious (Jannai) and Will Add (Joseph) His Gift (Mattathias) to the Burden Bearer (Amos), making Him the Comforter (Nahum). Those Reserved by Elohim (Esli) will Shine Brightly (Naggai), even the Small (Maath) who are Heard (Semein). Yah Will Establish (Josech) and be Praised (Joda), for Yah is Gracious (Joanan) to His Prince (Rhesa), bringing a Seed Out of Babylon (Zerubbabel), as Asked of Elohim (Shealtiel).

My Lamp (Neri) will shine through My King (Melchi), and I will Adorn (Addi) My Loved Ones (Elmadam). The Watchful (Er) will see that Yah is Salvation (Joshua), and Elohim Has Helped (Eliezer). Yah is Exalted (Jorim) and has Given His Gift (Matthat), Joining (Levi) the Heard (Simeon). Praise (Judah) will rise, for Yah Will Add (Joseph) again, for Yah is Gracious (Jonan) and Will Raise (Eliakim) to Fulfillment (Melea) and Rest (Menna).

The Given (Nathan) will be the Beloved (David), the True Gift (Jesse), making His Servants (Obed) Strong (Boaz) and Clothed (Salmon) with Honor. The Leader (Nahshon) will guide the Noble People (Amminadab), and the Ruler (Admin) will strengthen the Strong (Arni). Though Enclosed (Hezron), there will be a Breakthrough (Perez) of Praise (Judah), for the Supplanter (Jacob) will bring Laughter (Isaac) through the Father of Multitudes (Abraham).

The Wanderer (Terah) will find Rest (Nahor) and become a Branch (Serug), a Friend (Reu) after Division (Peleg). The Crossing Over (Eber) will come as they are Sent Out (Shelah), Acquiring (Cainan) Healing (Arphaxad) through the Renown of His Name (Shem). Rest (Noah) and Comfort (Lamech) will come through the One whose Death Shall Bring (Methuselah) Life to the Dedicated (Enoch).

Though Descended (Jared), the Praise of Elohim (Mahalalel) will cover His Possession (Kenan). Humanity (Enosh), though Earthly (Adam), will be Appointed (Seth) by Elohim (God) and Restored by the Mighty One, the King of all Creation."


Reflection

This message beautifully brings the lineage of Yeshua to life, showing how God’s salvation plan unfolded over generations, with each name revealing a deeper truth about His character and redemptive work. From Abraham to Yeshua, the names in Luke 3 invite us into a deeper understanding of the narrative of salvation. Each name serves as a living testimony to God's faithfulness, His ability to redeem even the most flawed situations, and His ultimate plan to bring salvation to the world. It’s a powerful reminder that even the seemingly mundane or ordinary aspects of life carry significant meaning in God’s grand design.

As you reflect on these names and their meanings, consider how God is revealing Himself to you in your own life—whether through trials, breakthroughs, healing, or His ultimate gift of salvation through Yeshua.