Lexical Summary
R'uw: To associate with, to be a friend, to companion.
Original Word:רְעוּ
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:R`uw
Pronunciation:reh-oo'
Phonetic Spelling:(reh-oo')
KJV: Reu
Word Origin:[forH7471 (רְעִי - pasture-fed) in the sense ofH7453 (רֵַע רֵיַע - neighbor)]
1. friend
2. Reu, a postdiluvian patriarch
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Reu
Forr'iy in the sense ofrea'; friend; Reu, a postdiluvian patriarch -- Reu.
see HEBREWr'iy
see HEBREWrea'
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(properly name of a god, Duval
ZA vi.126 Mez
Harrân 23, compare Hom
A. u. A. ii. 208); — son of Peleg:
Genesis 11:18,19,20,21(P),
1 Chronicles 1:25; .
Topical Lexicon
Genealogical ContextReu stands sixth in the post-Flood line from Shem (Shem → Arpachshad → Shelah → Eber → Peleg → Reu → Serug). His name is recorded four times inGenesis 11:18–21 and once in1 Chronicles 1:25, then affirmed inLuke 3:35 within the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Biblical Record
Genesis notes only three facts: his birth (Genesis 11:18), his age at the birth of Serug (Genesis 11:20), and his death after 239 years (Genesis 11:21). No exploits or sayings are preserved; yet his repeated mention verifies the historical chain that links Noah to Abraham.
Selected text:
• “When Peleg was 30 years old, he became the father of Reu.” (Genesis 11:18)
• “When Reu was 32 years old, he became the father of Serug.” (Genesis 11:20)
Chronology and Lifespan
• Born 101 years after the Flood (per Masoretic numbers)
• Fathered Serug at 32
• Lived 207 additional years
• Total lifespan: 239 years
His longevity reflects the gradual post-Flood decline in human life span, highlighting both the effects of sin and God’s sustaining grace.
Role in Messianic Line
Luke 3:35 places Reu directly in the legal ancestry of Jesus, underscoring the unbroken transmission of the promise first given to Eve (Genesis 3:15) and later narrowed through Shem and Abraham. Reu’s presence in this list testifies that even uncelebrated individuals serve God’s redemptive purposes.
Historical Setting
Reu lived in the generations immediately following Babel’s dispersion (Genesis 11:1–9). While Scripture does not specify his locale, Mesopotamia remained the family’s sphere until Terah led Abram toward Canaan (Genesis 11:31). The cultural diversification and population shifts of that era correspond with archaeological data for the Early Bronze Age.
Theological Themes
1. Covenant Continuity: Reu illustrates the precision with which God preserves the messianic line.
2. Divine Sovereignty over Ordinary Lives: Though silent in Scripture, Reu’s life was indispensable to God’s plan, affirming that significance is defined by divine purpose, not human acclaim.
3. Mortality and Hope: His shortened years exemplify humanity’s decline, yet his inclusion in Christ’s genealogy anticipates redemption and restored life.
Ministry Applications
• Encouragement to the “unknown”: Faithful obscurity still advances God’s kingdom.
• Family Discipleship: Genealogies motivate parents to view child-raising as participation in God’s long-term work.
• Apologetics: Reu’s consistent placement across Genesis, Chronicles, and Luke supports the reliability and unity of Scripture.
Key References
Genesis 11:18–21;1 Chronicles 1:25;Luke 3:35
Forms and Transliterations
רְע֔וּ רְע֗וּ רְעֽוּ׃ רעו רעו׃ rə‘ū rə·‘ū reU
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
