Melea
Melea, mentioned in Luke's genealogy of Jesus (Luk.3.31).
Biography
Melea is listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus at Luke 3:31 as the son of Menna and the father of Eliakim. His position in the genealogy places him in the generations shortly after King David, within the early period of the Divided Monarchy. The name Melea may derive from a Hebrew root meaning 'fullness' or could be a shortened form of a theophoric name. Like many individuals in this portion of Luke's record, Melea is known exclusively through his genealogical listing, with no additional narrative details preserved in Scripture or extrabiblical sources. He represents one of the faithful Israelites who lived in the shadow of David's legacy, carrying forward the lineage through which the promised Messiah would eventually come into the world.
Significance
Melea's theological significance rests in his place within the genealogical bridge connecting David to Christ. Luke's genealogy, by tracing the messianic line through David's son Nathan rather than Solomon, presents an alternative royal lineage that ran parallel to the official throne succession. Melea's generation lived during a period when Israel's kingdom was fracturing, yet God's covenant promise to David remained unshakable. His quiet presence in the genealogy demonstrates that the messianic hope did not depend on political power or public prominence but on God's faithful preservation of a family line across centuries. Melea embodies the truth that God's purposes advance through ordinary people whose faithfulness, though unrecorded, proves indispensable.
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]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]