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G3222 · Greek · New Testament
Μελεά
Melea
Proper Noun
fullness / care

Definition

Melea (G3222) appears only in Luke 3:31 as an ancestor of Jesus in the genealogy tracing the line from David. He is listed between Menna and Eliakim in the royal Davidic line. Though obscure, his placement in the genealogy of the Messiah is theologically significant.

Usage & Theological Significance

Luke's genealogy (Lk 3:23-38) is deliberately inclusive — it traces Jesus not just to Abraham like Matthew's, but all the way to Adam, 'the son of God.' Every obscure name in that list — including Melea — represents a link in the chain of God's faithfulness across generations. Hebrews 1:1 echoes this: 'In many times and in many ways, God spoke.' Each generation, named or unnamed, carried the thread forward. The unknown ancestors of the Messiah remind us that faithfulness in obscurity is not wasted. God weaves forgotten lives into the fabric of redemption.

Key Bible Verses

Luke 3:31 The son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David.
Luke 3:23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph.
Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Luke 3:38 The son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar.

Related Words

External Resources

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