Who was Eliud in the Bible?

Eliud was an ancestor of Jesus Christ, listed in the genealogy found in the Gospel of Matthew. He is specifically mentioned as the son of Achim and the father of Eleazar (Matthew 1:14-15).

Why is Eliud significant?

Eliud's significance lies in his place within the direct lineage leading to Jesus the Messiah. His inclusion in Matthew's genealogy confirms Jesus' legal descent from King David and Abraham, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy (Matthew 1:1).

What else does the Bible say about Eliud's life?

The Bible provides no further details about Eliud's life, character, or specific events. His sole recorded role is as a named link in the generational chain from Abraham to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:14-16).

Eliud

New TestamentMaleSon of achim

Eliud was an ancestor of Jesus Christ, mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (Mat.1.14,15).

Eliud

Biography

Eliud appears in the Gospel of Matthew's genealogy of Jesus Christ as the son of Achim and the father of Eleazar (Matt 1:14–15). He is situated in the third section of Matthew's carefully structured genealogy, covering the period from the Babylonian exile to the birth of Jesus, a span of fourteen generations (Matt 1:17). Little is known of Eliud beyond his genealogical position, as no narrative in either Testament describes his life or deeds. His name, meaning 'my God is majestic' or 'God is my praise,' connects him to the Hebrew theological tradition. Eliud lived in the post-exilic period, a time when Israel awaited the fulfillment of messianic hope amid foreign domination, and his family line kept alive the lineage through which the promised Savior would come.

Significance

Eliud's significance is entirely bound to his place in the messianic genealogy of Matthew 1. Matthew's genealogy serves a profound theological purpose: to demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth is the legitimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, the long-awaited Son of David and Son of Abraham (Matt 1:1). Every ancestor in the list, including Eliud, represents a link in the unbroken chain of divine faithfulness across centuries of history. His placement in the post-exilic generation illustrates that God's redemptive purposes continued even through periods of national humiliation and silence. Eliud embodies the quiet, faithful perseverance of those through whom God worked to bring forth the Messiah at the fullness of time (Gal 4:4).

Authority Records

Wikidata VIAF GND

FatherAchimChildEleazar

Verse Appearances (2)

Matt

Matt 1:14 Matt 1:15

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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