Νηρί
Neri
Definition
Νηρί (Neri) is a proper noun referring to a specific individual in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. He is listed as the son of Melchi and the father of Shealtiel in the Gospel of Luke's account (Luke 3:27). As a personal name, it carries no additional semantic meaning beyond identifying this ancestor. The name appears only in this genealogical context, serving to connect the lineage from King David to Jesus through the line of Nathan, David's son.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the New Testament, in Luke 3:27, within the genealogy of Jesus. Its usage is strictly as a proper name to identify a link in the ancestral chain. The context is purely historical and genealogical, with no narrative or doctrinal usage beyond establishing lineage.
Etymology
Νηρί is a Greek transliteration of a Hebrew name, likely derived from נֵרִי (Neri), meaning 'my lamp' or 'my light,' from the Hebrew root נֵר (ner, 'lamp'). It was a personal name carried into the Greek text of the New Testament without translation.
Semantic Range
While the name Neri itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion in Luke's genealogy (Luke 3:23-38) is theologically significant. It helps establish Jesus's legal descent from King David through Nathan's line (fulfilling messianic prophecies like 2 Samuel 7:12-16), in contrast to Matthew's genealogy which traces the royal line through Solomon. Understanding that Neri is a specific historical link enriches the reading by highlighting the meticulous care taken to document Jesus's authentic human and Davidic ancestry, which is foundational for Christology.
In first-century Jewish culture, genealogies were of paramount importance for establishing lineage, tribal affiliation, inheritance rights, and, crucially, messianic claims. Recording a name like Neri was not a minor detail but a vital piece of evidence for Jesus's identity. The name itself, meaning 'my lamp,' was a meaningful Hebrew name reflecting a hope or characteristic attributed to the individual or family.
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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