Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "ancestors" refers to the forebears or predecessors of individuals or groups, often highlighting the lineage and heritage of the people of Israel. The concept of ancestry is significant in the Bible, as it underscores the continuity of God's covenantal promises through generations and the importance of family lineage in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
Biblical Lineages and GenealogiesGenealogies are a prominent feature in the Bible, serving to trace the lineage of key figures and to establish the fulfillment of divine promises. The Book of Genesis provides detailed genealogies, beginning with Adam and extending through the patriarchs such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These genealogies emphasize the faithfulness of God in preserving a chosen line through which His purposes are realized.
In
Genesis 12:1-3, God calls Abram (later Abraham) and promises to make him a great nation: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." This promise is foundational, as Abraham becomes the patriarch of the Israelites, and his descendants are central to the biblical narrative.
The Role of Ancestors in Israel's IdentityThe Israelites' identity is deeply rooted in their ancestry, as seen in the frequent references to "the God of your fathers" (
Exodus 3:15). This phrase underscores the continuity of God's relationship with His people across generations. The ancestral connection is also evident in the tribal divisions of Israel, each tracing its lineage back to one of Jacob's twelve sons.
The importance of ancestors is further highlighted in the covenantal context. In
Deuteronomy 7:9, Moses reminds the Israelites: "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments." This passage emphasizes the enduring nature of God's promises to the descendants of those who are faithful.
Ancestry and the Messianic LineThe New Testament continues the theme of ancestry, particularly in the genealogies of Jesus Christ. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide genealogical records that trace Jesus' lineage back to David and Abraham, affirming His rightful place in the messianic line.
Matthew 1:1 begins with, "This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham," establishing Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Ancestral Faith and LegacyThe Bible also highlights the spiritual legacy of ancestors.
Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Faith Hall of Fame," recounts the faith of the patriarchs and other figures who trusted in God's promises. Their lives serve as examples for believers, demonstrating the importance of faith and obedience across generations.
In
2 Timothy 1:5 , Paul acknowledges the faith heritage of Timothy, saying, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." This passage illustrates the impact of a godly heritage and the transmission of faith from one generation to the next.
ConclusionThe concept of ancestors in the Bible is integral to understanding the continuity of God's covenantal promises and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Through genealogies, tribal identities, and the messianic line, the Bible underscores the significance of ancestry in the spiritual and historical narrative of God's people.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ANCESTORSan'-ses-ters (ri'shonim, "first ones"): The word ancestor appears in the English Bible only once (Leviticus 26:45). The Hebrew word, the ordinary adjective "first," occurs more than 200 times, and in a few places might fairly be rendered ancestors (e.g.Deuteronomy 19:14Jeremiah 11:10). In speaking of ancestors the Old Testament ordinarily uses the word for "fathers" ('abhoth).
Greek
2536. Kainam -- Cainan, twoancestors of Christ... Cainan, two
ancestors of Christ. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Kainam Phonetic Spelling: (kah-ee-nan') Short Definition: Cainan
...3197. Melchi -- Melchi, the name of two Israelites
... Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Melchi Phonetic Spelling: (mel-khee')
Short Definition: Melchi Definition: Melchi, one of theancestors of Jesus....
3967. patrikos -- paternal, ancestral
... patrikos Phonetic Spelling: (pat-ree-kos') Short Definition: paternal, ancestral
Definition: ancestral, paternal, belonging to the fathers (ancestors)....
78. Addi -- Addi, an Israelite
... Transliteration: Addi Phonetic Spelling: (ad-dee') Short Definition: Addi Definition:
Addi, son of Cosam, and father of Melchi, one of theancestors of Jesus....
5317. Phalek -- Peleg, a patriarch
... Indeclinable Transliteration: Phalek Phonetic Spelling: (fal'-ek) Short Definition:
Peleg Definition: Peleg, son of Eber, and one of theancestors of Jesus....
284. Aminadab -- Amminadab, an Israelite ancestor of Christ
... Aminadab Phonetic Spelling: (am-ee-nad-ab') Short Definition: Amminadab Definition:
Amminadab, son of Ram and father of Nahshon, one of theancestors of Jesus....
5329. Phares -- Perez, an Israelite
... Indeclinable Transliteration: Phares Phonetic Spelling: (far-es') Short Definition:
Perez Definition: Perez, son of Judah and one of theancestors of Jesus....
3970. patroparadotos -- one who kills one's father
... patroparadotos Phonetic Spelling: (pat-rop-ar-ad'-ot-os) Short Definition: inherited
Definition: handed down by (from) one'sancestors, inherited....
3476. Naasson -- Nahshon, an Israelite
... Phonetic Spelling: (nah-as-sone') Short Definition: Nahshon Definition: Nahshon,
son of Amminadab and father of Salmon, and one of theancestors of Jesus....
4527. Sala -- Shelah, an ancestor of Christ, also Salmon, an...
... Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Sala Phonetic Spelling: (sal-ah') Short
Definition: Sala Definition: Sala, the name of two of theancestors of Jesus...
Strong's Hebrew
3695. Kasluchim -- a people desc. from Mizraim, probablyancestors...... a people desc. from Mizraim, probably
ancestors of the Philistines. Transliteration:
Kasluchim Phonetic Spelling: (kas-loo'-kheem) Short Definition: Casluh.
...7223. rishon -- former, first, chief
... Word Origin from rosh Definition former, first, chief NASB Word Usageancestors
(3), before (4), beginning (2), chief (1), chiefs (1), earlier (4), earlier...
2029. harah -- to conceive, become pregnant
... root Definition to conceive, become pregnant NASB Word Usage am (1),ancestors
(1), child (1), conceive (3), conceived (35), conceives (1), conceiving (1...
1. ab -- father
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition father NASB Word Usageancestors (1),
family* (1), father (571), Father (8), father's (137), fathers (333), fathers...
Library
Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... I.ANCESTORS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.... I could not understand at all why so little
had been written down about herancestors and relations....
Birth andAncestors. Family Circumstances. "Fist and Skull"...
... PART I."AUTOBIOGRAPHY. CHAPTER I. Birth andAncestors. Family Circumstances.... His
Opinion of Work and of Play. Birth andAncestors. Family Circumstances....
Of God, and the Religious Rites of the Foolish; of Avarice, and...
... Book II. Of the Origin of Error. Chap. vii."of god, and the religious rites
of the foolish; of avarice, and the authority ofancestors....
Whether Also Other Sins of the First Parent or of NearerAncestors...
... OF THE CAUSE OF SIN, ON THE PART OF MAN (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether also other sins
of the first parent or of nearerancestors are transmitted to their descendants...
A Statement of the Reason Why Matthew Enumerates one Succession of...
... The Prologue. Chapter III."A Statement of the Reason Why Matthew Enumerates
One Succession ofAncestors for Christ, and Luke Another....
A Statement of the Reason Why the Enumeration of theAncestors of...
... Chapter I."A Statement of the Reason Why the Enumeration of theAncestors of Christ
is Carried Down to Joseph, While Christ Was Not Born of that Man's Seed...
Athanasius is Again Banished; Concerning Eleusius, Bishop of...
... Book V. Chapter XV."Athanasius is again Banished; concerning Eleusius, Bishop of
Cyzicus, and Titus, Bishop of Bostra; Mention of theAncestors of the Author...
The Revocation of the Rulers.
... laws and public discipline [2593] of the Romans, and to provide that the Christians
also, who have forsaken the religion of theirancestors, [2594] should...
Ancestry, Birth, Education, Environment: 1513(?)-1546
... a man of base estate and condition." {2b} The genealogy of Mr. Carlyle has been
traced to a date behind the Norman Conquest, but of Knox'sancestors nothing is...
The Place of the Old Testament in Divine Revelation
... Possibly theirancestors, like those of Hammurabi, belonged to that wave of nomadic
emigration which swept out of overpopulated northern Arabia about 2500 BC...
Thesaurus
Ancestors (7 Occurrences)... Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ANCESTORS.
... In speaking of
ancestors the Old Testament
ordinarily uses the word for "fathers" ('abhoth). Multi-Version Concordance
...Tradition (13 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The unwritten or oral delivery of information, opinions, doctrines, practices,
rites, and customs, from father to son, or fromancestors to posterity...
Relationships (1 Occurrence)
... may be divided into lineal and collateral groups; the former are those of parents
and children, grandparents and grandchildren, andancestors and descendants...
Father (11359 Occurrences)
... n.) A male ancestor more remote than a parent; a progenitor; especially, a first
ancestor; a founder of a race or family; -- in the plural, fathers,ancestors....
Ancestral (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Of, pertaining to, derived from, or possessed by,
an ancestor orancestors; as, an ancestral estate. Multi-Version Concordance...
Education (4 Occurrences)
... At the earliest point at which the Old Testament gives us any knowledge of
them, they, like theirancestors, were nomads and shepherds....
Levi (79 Occurrences)
... (2.) The father of Matthat, and son of Simeon, of theancestors of Christ (Luke
3:29).... (2) (3) Twoancestors of Jesus in Luke's genealogy (Luke 3:24, 29)....
Gods (310 Occurrences)
... 3. Gods of the Nations: (1) Theancestors of Israel "beyond the River" had their
gods (Joshua 24:14 f). While there is no mention of idolatry before the Deluge...
Teraphim (14 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Givers of prosperity, idols in human shape, large or small,
analogous to the images ofancestors which were revered by the Romans....
Parentage (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Descent from parents orancestors; the relation of
a child to a parent; parents orancestors considered with respect to their...
Resources
What does the Bible say about ancestor worship? | GotQuestions.orgWho was King Amon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did Jesus mean when He said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood? | GotQuestions.orgAncestors: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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