Brief Overview of Ῥαγαύ (Strong’s G4466: Rhagau)

Strong’s G4466: A proper noun representing Reu, son of Peleg in Jesus’s genealogy as recorded by Luke. Derived from Hebrew רְעוּ (Re’u), meaning “friend.” Appears in the genealogical line tracing Jesus’s ancestry back to Adam, demonstrating His connection to all humanity.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ῥαγαύ represents one of the important links in the genealogical chain connecting Jesus to humanity’s origins. As the son of Peleg and ancestor of Christ, his inclusion in Luke’s genealogy demonstrates both the historical rootedness of the gospel and its universal scope. Early church fathers saw in these genealogical records proof of Christ’s genuine humanity and the fulfillment of divine promises. Today, this name continues to testify to God’s faithfulness in preserving a lineage for the Messiah and the historical authenticity of Jesus’s human ancestry.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Ῥαγαύ, Rhagau, /raˈgaw/
• Pronunciation Guide: “rah-GAW” (stress on second syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun (masculine)

Etymology:

• Hebrew origin: רְעוּ (Re’u)
• Meaning “friend” or “companion”
• Transliterated into Greek with initial rho

D – Defining Meanings

• Personal name Reu/Ragau
• Ancestor in Christ’s genealogy
• Son of Peleg

Translation Options:

• Ragau – Greek form
• Reu – Hebrew form
• Rehu – Alternative transliteration

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Φάλεκ (Phalek) /ˈfalek/ – Peleg, his father – See G5317
• Σερούχ (Serouch) /seˈrukh/ – Serug, his son – See G4502
• Ναχώρ (Nachōr) /naˈkhor/ – later ancestor – See G3493

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• As a proper noun:
• Indeclinable
• Always masculine
• Used in nominative case
• No plural forms
• Functions primarily in genealogical listings

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG notes its appearance in Luke’s genealogy. Thayer’s connects it to Old Testament genealogies. LSJ provides limited coverage as a biblical name. Vine’s references its place in Christ’s ancestry. Strong’s links it to Hebrew origins. LEH traces its Septuagint usage. Moulton and Milligan note its appearance in Jewish-Greek texts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
“the son of Serug, the son of [Ῥαγαύ] Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber.” Luke 3:35

Additional References:
No additional New Testament references.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

Since Ῥαγαύ is a biblical name, examples come from Jewish historical sources:

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ῥαγαύ reminds us of God’s faithfulness in preserving a lineage for the Messiah. His inclusion in Luke’s genealogy proclaims the good news by showing how God worked through generations to bring about His plan of salvation. This name testifies to both Jesus’s genuine humanity and His divine purpose.

D – Did You Know?

1. Ragau lived during the period after the Tower of Babel.
2. His name appears in various forms across ancient Jewish genealogical records.
3. Early Christian chronologists used his generation to help date biblical events.

Strong’s G4466: A personal name in Jesus’s genealogy, representing Reu son of Peleg. Significant in demonstrating Christ’s connection to human history and God’s faithfulness in preserving the Messianic line. Appears in Luke’s universal genealogy extending to Adam.

Part of speech: Proper Noun (masculine)

Tags: genealogy, ancestry, Luke, Jesus’s lineage, Old Testament, patriarchs, historical records, biblical names, Genesis, messianic line, human ancestry, divine faithfulness​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​