Σεμεείν G4584
Semein, an ancestor of Jesus appearing in Luke's genealogy between Mattathias and Joseph
Semein appears only in Luke's genealogy (3:26), part of the post-exilic lineage leading to Jesus through Nathan's line rather than Solomon's. The name is otherwise unknown in biblical or historical records, which is typical for Luke's genealogy between Zerubbabel and Joseph—a period poorly documented in Jewish sources. Like many names in this section, Semein is indeclinable in Greek, suggesting transcription from a Hebrew or Aramaic source. His inclusion demonstrates Luke's concern to trace Jesus's legal ancestry through lesser-known Davidic descendants.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke 3:26 lists Semein (Σεμεΐν) as the son of Mattathias and father of Joseph (not Jesus's stepfather, but an earlier ancestor). The genealogy ascends from Jesus through these otherwise unattested names, filling the gap between Zerubbabel and the first century. The spelling varies in manuscripts (Σεμεΐ, Σεμεΐν), reflecting the challenge of rendering Hebrew names into Greek. This obscure ancestor serves Luke's theological point: Jesus's lineage is legitimate but traces through humble, forgotten branches of David's tree. 1×
AR["سَمَعِينَ"]·ben["শিমিয়ির"]·DE["Σεμεῒν"]·EN["Semein"]·FR["Séméïn"]·heb["שִׁמְעִי"]·HI["शिमईन"]·ID["Simei"]·IT["semein"]·jav["Simèi,"]·KO["세메인-의"]·PT["Semei"]·RU["Семеиев"]·ES["Semeïn"]·SW["Semeïn"]·TR["Simei"]·urd["شمعی-کا"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Σεμεείν (Rec. Σεμεΐ), ὁ, indecl., Semein: Luk.3:26.† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)