The Bible is the sole record not only of Abraham’s origins but also of those of all the nations descending from Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth.- Ge 10:32.Īs E. J. Hamlin comments in The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, the Genesis table of nations is “unique in ancient literature. . . ( Ge 22:17, 18) This made the family genealogy of Abraham’s line of surpassing importance. ( Ge 3:15) This may have given rise to the idea of the Seed’s having a human line of descent, although not until Abraham was told that his Seed would be the means for blessing all nations was it specifically stated that the line of the Seed would travel an earthly course. Thus the genealogy was an important part of the history, in many cases forming the introduction to it.-See 1Ch 1-9.Īt the judgment in Eden, God gave the promise of the “woman’s” Seed that was to crush the Serpent’s head. In those ancient times a history revolved around those persons contained in or introduced by its genealogy. This practice was not uncommon then, for the earliest Greek histories had a genealogical framework. He goes on to relate the history of Jesus’ human birth, ministry, death, and resurrection. Matthew, of course, gives more than a genealogy of Christ. dhohthʹ, which has the same basic meaning, and evidently denotes “history” in its numerous occurrences in the book of Genesis.-Compare Ge 2:4, ftn.sis means, literally, “line of descent origin.” This Greek term is used by the Septuagint to translate the Hebrew toh.

The apostle Matthew opens his Gospel account with the introduction: “The book of the history of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.” ( Mt 1:1) The Greek word geʹne

giʹa occurs in 1 Timothy 1:4 and Titus 3:9 with reference to personal pedigrees, or “genealogies.”.

chasʹ, rendered ‘be enrolled genealogically’ ( 1Ch 5:17) the related noun is yaʹchas, translated “genealogical enrollment.” ( Ne 7:5) The Greek term ge.

The Hebrew verb for registering legitimate descent is ya More recent examples are the genealogical lists of the Greeks, the Celts, the Saxons, and the Romans. Cuneiform tablets have been found of the genealogies of kings of Babylon and Assyria. The Egyptians kept such registers, as did the Arabs. Many ancient nations kept extensive genealogical records, particularly of the lines of their priests and kings. Man has an inborn desire to know his ancestry and to keep his family name alive. He is “the Father, to whom every family in heaven and on earth owes its name.” ( Eph 3:14, 15) His Word the Bible contains an accurate record of genealogies that play an important part in his purpose. Jehovah God is the great Genealogist or Keeper of records of creation, beginnings, birth, and descent. An account of human family pedigrees of ancestors or relatives.

Jehovah witness beliefs on birth