Reu
“Friend”
Summary
Reu was the son of Peleg and father of Serug in the genealogy of Abraham, appearing in the ancestry of Jesus Christ.
☩His Place in the Genealogy
Reu was the son of Peleg and the father of Serug, placing him in the direct line of descent from Shem to Abraham. According to Genesis 11:18-21, Peleg begat Reu when he was thirty years old, and Reu lived 239 years (or 339 according to the Septuagint). He is listed in the genealogy of Christ in Luke 3:35, where his name appears in the Greek form Ragau. The name Reu means "friend," derived from the Hebrew root meaning friendly companionship.
☩Historical Connections
Some scholars have attempted to identify Reu with geographical locations or tribes. Bunsen suggested a connection with Roha, an Arabic name for Edessa, though this lacks linguistic foundation. A closer resemblance has been noted between Reu and Rhagoe, a large town of Media. Regardless of these uncertain identifications, Reu's primary significance lies in his role as a link in the genealogical chain connecting Adam through the patriarchs to Christ.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Reu," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Reu," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Reu," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 4.George Morrish, "Reu," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).