Σαλμών

Σαλμών

Salmon

Definition

Σαλμών is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Salmon, a personal name in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, it refers specifically to Salmon, the son of Nahshon and the father of Boaz, making him the husband of Rahab (Matthew 1:5). He is a key link in the Messianic lineage, connecting the period of the Exodus and conquest (through Rahab) to the time of the Judges (through Boaz). All three occurrences (Matthew 1:4-5, Luke 3:32) are strictly genealogical, with no variation in meaning.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in the genealogical lists of Jesus found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It appears three times, always in the same context: identifying an ancestor in the line of David. Matthew 1:4-5 lists him as the father of Boaz by Rahab, while Luke 3:32 also records him in the lineage from David back to Judah. There are no other usages or contextual patterns.

Etymology

Σαλμών (Salmōn) is a direct Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name שַׂלְמוֹן (Salmon). The Hebrew name is likely derived from the root שָׁלֵם (shalem), meaning 'peace' or 'complete,' though its exact meaning as a personal name is uncertain. The Greek form simply adopts the Hebrew name phonetically without adding semantic content.

Semantic Range

While the name Σαλμών itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:4-5, Luke 3:32) is theologically significant. It represents a crucial link that incorporates Rahab, a Gentile and former prostitute from Jericho, into the Messianic line. This highlights God's grace and the inclusive nature of His redemptive plan, demonstrating that Christ's ancestry includes both Jews and Gentiles, and individuals with checkered pasts who were transformed by faith. In its original Hebrew context, the name Salmon (שַׂלְמוֹן) was a known personal name. The individual is identified in Ruth 4:20-21 and 1 Chronicles 2:11 as an ancestor of King David. The New Testament's use of the Greek transliteration preserves this identity for a Greek-speaking audience. His marriage to Rahab, as recorded in Matthew 1:5, connects the conquest era (Joshua 2, 6) with the later monarchy, a detail not explicitly stated in the Old Testament but part of Jewish genealogical tradition.

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