How Many Genealogies Are in the Bible?
Quick Summary
There are roughly 25 genealogies in the Bible, tracing family lines from Adam to Jesus. These genealogies connect God’s promises across generations and show that faith is not an abstract idea but a story rooted in real people.
Why Genealogies Matter
At first glance, biblical genealogies can seem tedious—a list of hard-to-pronounce names in long succession. Yet in Scripture, these records are anything but filler. They serve as anchors of memory and identity. Each genealogy reminds readers that God works through families, generations, and time itself.
The Bible’s genealogies link faith to history. They show how God’s covenant promises were handed down from Adam to Noah, from Abraham to David, and finally to Jesus Christ. Every name tells a story of faithfulness, struggle, or grace. Together, they form the family tree of redemption.
How Many Genealogies Are in the Bible?
While exact counts vary depending on how one defines a genealogy, scholars generally identify about 25 distinct genealogies in the Bible. Some are brief and selective, while others are long and detailed. They appear in both the Old and New Testaments.
Major Genealogies in the Old Testament
Genesis 4–5: The lines of Cain and Seth leading to Noah
Genesis 10: The Table of Nations tracing Noah’s descendants after the flood
Genesis 11: From Shem to Abram (Abraham)
Genesis 25: The descendants of Ishmael and Isaac
Genesis 36: The genealogy of Esau and the Edomite chiefs
Exodus 6: The lineage of Moses and Aaron
Numbers 1–2: Tribal listings of Israel during the wilderness journey
Ruth 4:18–22: From Perez to David
1 Chronicles 1–9: The most comprehensive genealogical record in the Bible
Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7: Lists of returning exiles to Jerusalem
These genealogies preserve Israel’s history through exile, return, and restoration. They reveal that God’s covenant remained unbroken even when the nation’s circumstances did.
Genealogies in the New Testament
Two genealogies trace the lineage of Jesus:
Matthew 1:1–17: From Abraham to Jesus through Joseph’s line
Luke 3:23–38: From Jesus back to Adam through Mary’s ancestral line
Together, they establish Jesus as both son of David and son of God, fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament. Matthew presents the royal and legal line, while Luke emphasizes the universal scope of salvation by tracing Jesus’ ancestry to Adam.
The Purpose Behind the Genealogies
Biblical genealogies do more than record ancestry—they carry theological weight.
They affirm God’s faithfulness. Each generation is proof that God keeps his promises, even when human beings fail.
They link covenant and continuity. Through names and family lines, we see God’s redemptive plan unfold across centuries.
They elevate the ordinary. Many names in these genealogies are obscure, yet they matter to God. No one is forgotten in his story.
When Matthew begins his Gospel with a list of names, he is not offering background trivia. He is announcing that the long-awaited Messiah has come through a real lineage, in real history, to fulfill a real covenant.
The Genealogy of Jesus and Its Significance
The genealogy of Jesus stands as the bridge between the Old and New Testaments. Matthew structures his list into three sets of fourteen generations, a pattern that underscores divine order. Luke’s genealogy, by contrast, moves backward from Jesus to Adam, showing that salvation is for all humanity.
Both genealogies remind readers that God’s plan is personal and precise. The birth of Jesus is not an interruption in history but the culmination of it. Every generation before him and every believer after him is part of that continuing story.
FAQ
Why are there differences between Matthew and Luke’s genealogies?
Matthew traces Jesus’ legal descent through Joseph, his adoptive father, while Luke traces his biological lineage through Mary. The differences highlight both his royal right and his human connection to all people. Read more HERE.
Why did biblical writers include genealogies?
They served as records of inheritance, tribal identity, and covenant faithfulness. In a culture rooted in lineage, they confirmed legitimacy and belonging.
What is the longest genealogy in the Bible?
The genealogies in 1 Chronicles 1–9 are the most extensive, covering thousands of years of Israel’s history and linking Adam to the post-exilic community.
