Cainan Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, was an ancestor of Jesus Christ according to Luke's genealogy.
in the lineage of Messiah (LUK 3:36)
Lineage: God › Adam › Seth › Enos › Cainan › Mahalaleel › Jared › Enoch › Methuselah › Lamech › Noah › Shem › Arphaxad › Cainan
Names
-
en
Cainan
possessor; purchaser
-
en
Cainan
· Also called · H7018 G2536 · LUK 3:36 possessor; purchaser
- en son of Arphaxad · Title
- he קֵינָן qaynan · H7018 · LUK 3:36
- el Καϊνὰμ Kaïnàm · G2536 · LUK 3:36
- el Καϊνάν, Καϊνάμ · G2536G
- bg Каинан
Mentioned in (1)
SDA Books
Awaiting permission to publishLinked through an explicitly cited Bible passage
Loading book references…
Conditional birth estimate
Conditional birth bounds under generation assumptions; not attested parental ages, biological limits or a lifespan.
The anchors give incompatible conditional intervals. This calculation establishes no birth year.
Below are relatives with a selected birth year, the generations separating them, and the interval allowed by each anchor. Each relative’s page shows available dates and sources. The overall estimate uses the intersection of the allowed intervals.
| Relative / anchor year | Generations | Conditional interval |
|---|---|---|
| Arphaxad · 2347 BC Ancestor |
1 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2322 BC – 2217 BC |
| Shem · 2447 BC Ancestor |
2 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2397 BC – 2187 BC |
| Noah · 2948 BC Ancestor |
3 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2873 BC – 2558 BC |
| Lamech · 3130 BC Ancestor |
4 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3030 BC – 2610 BC |
| Methuselah · 3317 BC Ancestor |
5 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3192 BC – 2667 BC |
| Enoch · 3382 BC Ancestor |
6 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3232 BC – 2602 BC |
| Jared · 3544 BC Ancestor |
7 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3369 BC – 2634 BC |
| Mahalaleel · 3609 BC Ancestor |
8 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3409 BC – 2569 BC |
| Cainan · 3679 BC Ancestor |
9 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3454 BC – 2509 BC |
| Cain · 4004 BC Ancestor |
9 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3779 BC – 2834 BC |
| Enos · 3769 BC Ancestor |
10 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3519 BC – 2469 BC |
| Adam · 4004 BC Ancestor |
10 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3754 BC – 2704 BC |
| Eve · 4005 BC Ancestor |
10 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3755 BC – 2705 BC |
| Seth · 3874 BC Ancestor |
11 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3599 BC – 2444 BC |
| Salah · 2312 BC Descendant |
1 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2442 BC – 2337 BC |
| Eber · 2282 BC Descendant |
2 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2542 BC – 2332 BC |
| Peleg · 2248 BC Descendant |
3 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2638 BC – 2323 BC |
| Reu · 2218 BC Descendant |
4 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2738 BC – 2318 BC |
| Serug · 2186 BC Descendant |
5 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2836 BC – 2311 BC |
| Nahor · 2156 BC Descendant |
6 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2936 BC – 2306 BC |
| Terah · 2125 BC Descendant |
7 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3035 BC – 2300 BC |
| Abraham · 1995 BC Descendant |
8 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2355 BC – 2155 BC |
| Haran · 2056 BC Descendant |
8 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3096 BC – 2256 BC |
| Sarah · 1985 BC Descendant |
8 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2345 BC – 2145 BC |
| Isaac · 1895 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2300 BC – 2075 BC |
| Ishmael · 1909 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2314 BC – 2089 BC |
| Esau · 1836 BC Descendant |
10 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2286 BC – 2036 BC |
| Jacob · 1835 BC Descendant |
10 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2285 BC – 2035 BC |
| Ben-ammi · 1896 BC Descendant |
10 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2346 BC – 2096 BC |
| Moab · 1896 BC Descendant |
10 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2346 BC – 2096 BC |
| Rebekah · 1876 BC Descendant |
10 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2326 BC – 2076 BC |
| Asher · 1753 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2248 BC – 1973 BC |
| Benjamin · 1740 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2235 BC – 1960 BC |
| Dan · 1756 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2251 BC – 1976 BC |
| Dinah · 1751 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2246 BC – 1971 BC |
| Gad · 1754 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2249 BC – 1974 BC |
| Issachar · 1753 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2248 BC – 1973 BC |
| Joseph · 1744 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2239 BC – 1964 BC |
| Levi · 1748 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2243 BC – 1968 BC |
| Naphtali · 1755 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2250 BC – 1975 BC |
| Reuben · 1757 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2252 BC – 1977 BC |
| Simeon · 1758 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2253 BC – 1978 BC |
| Zebulun · 1752 BC Descendant |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2247 BC – 1972 BC |
| Ephraim · 1709 BC Descendant |
12 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2249 BC – 1949 BC |
| Manasseh · 1710 BC Descendant |
12 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2250 BC – 1950 BC |
| Pharez · 1722 BC Descendant |
12 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2262 BC – 1962 BC |
| Kohath · 1705 BC Descendant |
12 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2245 BC – 1945 BC |
| Aaron · 1573 BC Descendant |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2158 BC – 1833 BC |
| Moses · 1570 BC Descendant |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2155 BC – 1830 BC |
| Amram · 1688 BC Descendant |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2273 BC – 1948 BC |
| Eli · 1167 BC Descendant |
19 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2022 BC – 1547 BC |
| Joshua · 1532 BC Descendant |
21 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2477 BC – 1952 BC |
| David · 1086 BC Descendant |
21 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2031 BC – 1506 BC |
| Absalom · 1051 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2041 BC – 1491 BC |
| Adonijah · 1050 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2040 BC – 1490 BC |
| Amnon · 1053 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2043 BC – 1493 BC |
| Daniel · 1052 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2042 BC – 1492 BC |
| Ithream · 1048 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2038 BC – 1488 BC |
| Nathan · 1033 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2023 BC – 1473 BC |
| Shammua · 1031 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2021 BC – 1471 BC |
| Shephatiah · 1049 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2039 BC – 1489 BC |
| Shobab · 1032 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2022 BC – 1472 BC |
| Solomon · 1036 BC Descendant |
22 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2026 BC – 1476 BC |
| Jehoshaphat · 949 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2119 BC – 1469 BC |
| Joash · 845 BC Descendant |
29 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2150 BC – 1425 BC |
| Amaziah · 826 BC Descendant |
30 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2176 BC – 1426 BC |
| Samuel · 1153 BC Descendant |
30 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2503 BC – 1753 BC |
| Hezekiah · 742 BC Descendant |
34 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2272 BC – 1422 BC |
| Josiah · 649 BC Descendant |
37 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2314 BC – 1389 BC |
| Jehoahaz · 633 BC Descendant |
38 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2343 BC – 1393 BC |
| Jehoiakim · 635 BC Descendant |
38 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2345 BC – 1395 BC |
| Zedekiah · 629 BC Descendant |
38 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2339 BC – 1389 BC |
| Jehoiachin · 617 BC Descendant |
39 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2372 BC – 1397 BC |
| Jesus Christ · 5 BC Descendant |
52 20–45 years per generation |
c. 2345 BC – 1045 BC |
Belonged to (1)
Cainan Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Cainan is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospel of Luke (Luk 3:36). He is listed as the son of Arphaxad and the father of Shelah. This genealogy traces Jesus' lineage back to Adam, emphasizing His humanity and connection to the ancestral line of the Israelites. Cainan's inclusion in this genealogy is notable because he is not mentioned in the genealogies found in Genesis 11 and 1Chronicles 1, which list Shelah as the direct son of Arphaxad. Some scholars suggest that the name Cainan may have been added to Luke's genealogy based on the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) translation, which includes Cainan in Genesis 11. The presence of Cainan in Luke's genealogy highlights the importance of genealogical records in establishing Jesus' lineage and fulfilling messianic prophecies.
Cainan 2 Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
The son of Arphaxad (Luke 3:36). He is nowhere named in the Old Testament. He is usually called the “second Cainan.”
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Cainan_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Cainan@Luk.3.36) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, cainan_535)