Eliud, whose name most likely means “God is my praise” or “God of majesty,” is a figure found in the New Testament. While his life is not detailed in a narrative story, his presence is vital to the legal and royal claims of the Messiah.
He is a bridge in the silent years between the Old and New Testaments, appearing in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
His Place in the Royal Lineage
Eliud appears in the Gospel of Matthew, which specifically traces the legal and royal line of Jesus through Joseph. He lived during the period after the Babylonian exile, a time when the physical throne of David was vacant, yet the lineage was being meticulously preserved by God.
Eliud was the great-great-grandfather of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
“And Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;” (Matthew 1:14-15, KJV)
The Generations of Promise
Eliud is part of the final group of fourteen generations recorded by Matthew. This section of the genealogy covers the time from the Captivity in Babylon until the birth of Christ.
- Father: Achim
- Son: Eleazar
During Eliud’s lifetime, the descendants of David were no longer ruling as kings in Jerusalem; they were living as private citizens under the shadow of Persian, Greek, or Roman rule. However, because Eliud and his fathers remained faithful to their heritage, the “Scepter” did not depart from Judah until the “Shiloh” (the Messiah) came.
Theological Significance
The inclusion of Eliud in the Holy Scriptures emphasizes two critical truths:
- Divine Preservation: Even when the throne of David seemed lost and the voice of prophecy was silent (the 400 years between the Testaments), God was working through ordinary men like Eliud to ensure the King would be born of the right house.
- The Legal Right of Christ: For Jesus to be the “King of the Jews,” He had to have a documented legal right to David’s throne. Eliud is a necessary link in that chain of evidence.
His name—“God is my praise”—serves as a reminder that even in times of national subjection and “hiddenness,” the faithful found their identity and their hope in the praise of God rather than earthly status.