Er
Er is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus as the son of Joshua.
Biography
Er son of Joshua appears in the genealogy of Jesus Christ as recorded by Luke the Evangelist (Luke 3:29). He is situated in the long ancestral chain linking Jesus to Adam, placed between Joshua and Elmadam in Luke's record of Jesus' human lineage. Like many names in Luke's genealogy, Er is not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture, and no biographical details about his life, deeds, or character are preserved. His inclusion in the genealogy suggests he lived during the period of the Divided Monarchy, one of the many unnamed and unchronicled ancestors through whom the line of promise was quietly carried forward across the generations until its culmination in the birth of the Messiah.
Significance
Er's appearance in Luke 3:29 demonstrates the biblical conviction that God's redemptive plan was advanced not only through celebrated figures but through countless ordinary individuals who faithfully passed their heritage to the next generation. Luke's genealogy, tracing Jesus' descent all the way to Adam, emphasizes the universality of Christ's mission, he came as the savior of all humanity. Each name in the list, including Er, represents a generation through whom the promise of redemption was preserved. Er's inclusion reminds readers that participation in God's purposes often requires no extraordinary deed but simply faithful continuity, living, begetting, and passing the covenant heritage forward.
Verse Appearances (1)
Luke
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]