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Ragau

biblical_person_name theological_term standard

Variant Greek form of the biblical name Reu, found in Jesus’ genealogy.

At a Glance

A variant spelling of Reu, a name in the ancestral line of Jesus.

Key Points

Description

Ragau appears in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus and is generally understood as the Greek form of the Old Testament name Reu. Scripture does not attach any doctrinal teaching to the name beyond its place in the biblical genealogy. As a result, this entry is best handled as a redirect to the canonical person-name entry Reu rather than as an independent theological term.

Biblical Context

Luke records Ragau in the genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:35), linking the New Testament genealogy with the Old Testament ancestral line in Genesis and Chronicles.

Historical Context

The difference in form reflects transliteration between Greek and Hebrew/Old Testament naming traditions in biblical genealogies.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient genealogies often preserve names across language forms, and Luke’s genealogy follows this pattern by presenting a Greek rendering of a known Old Testament name.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Ragau is commonly understood as a Greek form of the Hebrew name Reu.

Theological Significance

Ragau has no independent theological meaning; its significance is genealogical, showing continuity in the line leading to Christ.

Philosophical Explanation

This is a proper name rather than a doctrinal term, so it should be interpreted by its textual and genealogical function, not by abstract theological categories.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not build doctrine from the name itself. Its importance lies in the genealogy, not in any separate teaching about the person named.

Major Views

Most interpreters identify Ragau with Reu, the Old Testament patriarch in the genealogy between Peleg and Serug.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Any interpretation should remain within the genealogical purpose of the text and avoid speculative significance beyond Scripture’s presentation.

Practical Significance

Ragau reminds readers that the Bible’s genealogies connect the covenant storyline across both Testaments and ultimately to Jesus Christ.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Ragau

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