Jesus Christ, genealogy of

Jesus Christ's human ancestry is traced back in two separate lines to David and thence back to Adam. Jesus' descent from David is of importance for his Messianic claims.

Jesus Christ is descended from Adam

Luke 3:23–38

Jesus Christ is descended from Abraham

Galatians 3:16 See also Acts 3:25–26

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

Jesus Christ is descended from Isaac

Genesis 21:12, Genesis 26:2–4; Galatians 3:16

Jesus Christ is descended from Jacob

Genesis 28:13–14; Matthew 1:2; Luke 3:34

Jesus Christ is descended from the tribe of Judah

Hebrews 7:14 See also Ruth 4:18–22

For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

Jesus Christ is descended from Jesse

Isaiah 11:1; Romans 15:12

Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.

And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”

Jesus Christ is descended from David

Jesus Christ's human lineage

Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 2:4 See also 1 Chronicles 3:10–19; Luke 3:23–31

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.

Jesus Christ as the Son of David

Revelation 22:16 See also Matthew 1:20, Matthew 20:30–31 parallels Mark 10:47–48, Luke 18:38–39; Matthew 21:9, Matthew 21:15; Luke 1:27, Luke 1:32; John 7:42

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

Jesus Christ is greater than David

Matthew 22:41–45 parallels Mark 12:35–37, Luke 20:41–44 See also Psalm 110:1; Revelation 5:5, Revelation 22:16

While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” “David’s,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’? For he says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’ So if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how can He be David’s son?”

Jesus Christ is greater than Solomon

Matthew 12:42 parallel Luke 11:31

The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

Jesus Christ as the son of Joseph and Mary

Matthew 13:55 parallel Mark 6:3John 6:42 See also Matthew 1:16; Luke 4:22; John 1:45

“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven’ ?”