About Bible Genealogy

The Bible contains extensive family genealogies that serve not only as historical records but also carry profound religious and cultural significance. From Adam's descendants in Genesis to Jesus's genealogy in Matthew, these lineages connect the entire biblical narrative.

📖 Old Testament Genealogy
✝️ New Testament Genealogy
Spanning ~4000 years

Genesis Genealogy: From Adam to Noah

Genesis Chapter 5 records ten generations from Adam to Noah, showing the bloodline before the Great Flood.

1

Adam

930 years

First human, created by God

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Seth, Cain, Abel, etc.

2

Seth

912 years

Adam's third son, Sethite line

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Enosh

3

Enosh

905 years

Son of Seth

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Kenan

4

Kenan

910 years

Son of Enosh

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Mahalalel

5

Mahalalel

895 years

Son of Kenan

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Jared

6

Jared

962 years

Son of Mahalalel

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Enoch

7

Enoch

365 years

Walked with God, taken up to heaven

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Methuselah

8

Methuselah

969 years

Longest-lived person

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Lamech

9

Lamech

777 years

Son of Methuselah

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Noah

10

Noah

950 years

Righteous man of the Flood, built the ark

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Shem, Ham, Japheth

11

Shem

600 years

Noah's eldest son, ancestor of Semites

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Arphaxad

12

Arphaxad

438 years

Son of Shem

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Shelah

13

Shelah

433 years

Son of Arphaxad

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Eber

14

Eber

464 years

Son of Shelah, origin of "Hebrew"

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Peleg

15

Peleg

239 years

Son of Eber, meaning "division"

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Reu

16

Reu

239 years

Son of Peleg

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Serug

17

Serug

230 years

Son of Reu

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Nahor

18

Nahor

148 years

Son of Serug

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Terah

19

Terah

205 years

Son of Nahor, father of Abraham

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Abraham, Nahor, Haran

20

Abraham

175 years

Father of faith, ancestor of Israel

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Isaac, Ishmael, etc.

21

Isaac

180 years

Son of Abraham, child of promise

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Jacob, Esau

22

Jacob

147 years

Renamed Israel, father of twelve tribes

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Twelve sons

The Twelve Tribes of Israel

Jacob's (Israel's) twelve sons formed the twelve tribes of Israel, each with unique characteristics and territories.

Reuben

👩 Leah 💬 See, a son

📍 East of Jordan

Simeon

👩 Leah 💬 Heard

📍 Within Judah

Levi

👩 Leah 💬 Joined

📍 Scattered cities

Judah

👩 Leah 💬 Praise

📍 Southern hill country

Dan

👩 Bilhah 💬 Judge

📍 Northernmost

Naphtali

👩 Bilhah 💬 Wrestling

📍 Galilee region

Gad

👩 Zilpah 💬 Fortune

📍 East of Jordan

Asher

👩 Zilpah 💬 Happy

📍 Mediterranean coast

Issachar

👩 Leah 💬 Wages

📍 Jezreel Plain

Zebulun

👩 Leah 💬 Dwelling

📍 Southern Galilee

Joseph

👩 Rachel 💬 Increase

📍 Ephraim & Manasseh

Benjamin

👩 Rachel 💬 Son of right hand

📍 North of Jerusalem

Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew Chapter 1 records Jesus's genealogy from Abraham spanning 42 generations, proving Jesus is the promised Messiah.

1

Abraham

Father of Faith
2

Isaac

Son of Promise
3

Jacob

Israel
4

Judah

Tribal Patriarch
5

Perez

Son of Judah
6

Hezron

Son of Perez
7

Ram

Son of Hezron
8

Amminadab

Son of Ram
9

Nahshon

Son of Amminadab
10

Salmon

Son of Nahshon
11

Boaz

Husband of Ruth
12

Obed

Son of Boaz
13

Jesse

Son of Obed
14

David

King of Israel
15

Solomon

Wise King
16

...

(omitted)
17

Joseph

Jesus's adoptive father
18

Jesus

The Christ

Key Genealogy Figures

👤

Adam

First Human

The first man created by God, ancestor of all humanity

🚢

Noah

Righteous Man

Built the ark, preserving human and animal life

Abraham

Father of Faith

Covenanted with God, became father of many nations

🐑

Isaac

Son of Promise

Abraham's only son, heir of the covenant

🪜

Jacob

Israel

Renamed Israel, father of twelve tribes

👑

David

King of Israel

A man after God's own heart, ancestor of Jesus

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How long is the Bible genealogy?

The Bible genealogy spans approximately 4000 years, from Adam (around 4000 BC) to Jesus (around 4 BC), recording dozens of generations.

❓ Why does the Bible record genealogies?

Biblical genealogies serve multiple purposes: proving historical authenticity, confirming the Messiah's bloodline, demonstrating God's faithful promises, and recording the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

❓ How many generations from Adam to Jesus?

According to Luke Chapter 3, there are 77 generations from Adam to Jesus. Matthew counts 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus.

❓ What are the twelve tribes of Israel?

The twelve tribes are: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph (split into Ephraim and Manasseh), and Benjamin.