Ἑσρώμ
Hezron
Definition
Ἑσρώμ is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Hezron (חֶצְרוֹן). In the New Testament, it refers exclusively to a specific individual in the genealogical line of Jesus Christ. Hezron is the son of Perez and the father of Ram (Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33), placing him as a key link in the lineage from Judah to King David and ultimately to Jesus. The name carries no other distinct meanings or senses in the biblical text beyond identifying this ancestral figure.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun is used only in the two genealogical records of Jesus found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33). In both contexts, it serves the singular purpose of naming an ancestor within the messianic lineage. There is no variation in its usage; it functions purely as a historical identifier within a list of names.
Etymology
The word is a direct Greek transliteration (Ἑσρώμ) of the Hebrew name חֶצְרוֹן (Ḥeṣrôn). The Hebrew name likely derives from the root חָצַר (ḥāṣar), meaning 'to enclose' or 'courtyard,' possibly suggesting 'enclosed' or 'protected.' The Greek form simply adopts the sound of the Hebrew name without adding semantic meaning.
Semantic Range
While the name Ἑσρώμ itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion is theologically significant. It marks Hezron as a necessary link in the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. His place in the genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38) underscores the historical reality and human lineage of Jesus Christ, anchoring the Messiah in the specific family line of Judah and David as foretold in the Old Testament (e.g., Genesis 49:10, 2 Samuel 7:12-16).
As a proper name transliterated from Hebrew, Ἑσρώμ reflects the Jewish cultural and ancestral heritage that the Gospel writers preserved and highlighted for their audiences. In a Greco-Roman setting, these genealogies established Jesus's legitimate claim to the Davidic throne by meticulously tracing his descent through recognized Hebrew patriarchs, a practice of great importance in Jewish historical and legal records.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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