Family genealogies and trees can get very complicated. Then, to hear someone introduced as “this is Sarah, my 3rd cousin twice removed on my father’s side,” our eyes glass over and we have no idea what that even means. So, let’s wade through the waters of a family tree and see if we can provide some clarity.
First cousins are easy. These are the children of your aunts and uncles. You all share the same grandparents and probably know these cousins the best. Second cousins, though, begin to cloud our thinking and becomes a bit more complex to understand. The “seconds” are the children of our parent’s first cousins. We share the same great-grandparents but not the same grandparents. For example, if your grandfather’s sister has grandchildren, those grandchildren are your second cousins.
Let’s add third, fourth, and fifth cousins. Where do they come from? “Third cousins share great-great-grandparents and are the great-grandchildren of siblings. Fourth cousins share great-great-great-grandparents, and fifth cousins share great-great-great-great-grandparents. With each generation back, you add one more “great” to the ancestor you share.
“As the generations multiply, the number of possible cousins expands dramatically. By the time you reach fourth and fifth cousins, you may have hundreds — even thousands — spread across regions or countries. That’s because your family tree grows exponentially: Each generation back doubles your number of ancestors, so you have 16 great-great-grandparents, 32 great-great-great-grandparents and 64 great-great-great-great grandparents, each potentially linking you to many different family branches.”1
The other wrinkle added to family trees is when someone declares an individual to be “twice removed.” I’m thinking that it’s bad enough to get removed once! What did this person do to get removed TWICE!
The word “removed” simply indicates the “number of generations that separate cousins. If someone is your cousin “once removed,” that means they’re one generation above or below you.” Depending on the number of generations you explore, the “removed” label can grow indefinitely – three times removed, four times removed, five times removed, etc…”2
YIKES!!! No wonder I’ve never tried to figure out my family tree. Toss a couple of divorces into the mix and this gets way too complicated. Would it make any difference to me if I sorted through a genealogy? Doubtful!
Such confusion often detracts people from getting into Biblical genealogies – and the fact that we can’t pronounce most of the names! Suffice it to say that Biblical genealogies can be even more complex due to the use of a word that isn’t quite as precise in Hebrew as it is in English (ie. Father doesn’t necessarily mean father. It can refer to grandfather, great grandfather, etc.) However, though knowing my family tree isn’t going to make a lot of difference in my life, knowing the Biblical genealogies and family connections is very important as you study out a story from the pages of Scripture.
The first genealogy mentioned in Scripture is in Genesis 5. Verses 1-6 say, “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; (2) Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. (3) And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: (4) And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: (5) And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. (6) And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos…”
I’ve always found this to be one of the most fascinating genealogies because we get to trace the historical beginnings of humanity. Ages are given that help us create a fairly accurate timeline leading to the flood. A careful study introduces us to some hidden gems. For instance, consider Genesis 5:21-24.
“And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: (22) And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: (23) And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: (24) And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”
One key word: after. Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah. Does that mean that he didn’t walk with God before Methuselah was born? We don’t know. The distinction is made, though, about Enoch’s walk after the birth of his son. Parenthood impacted Enoch and though he would live only 365 years (a short amount of time in this time period), his son would live to be 969 years old! Can you imagine living almost a millennium?!?
Let me encourage you today to do something. Rather than skimming over or skipping genealogies entirely in the Bible, do some deep-dive research on what you find. I believe it will be rewarding. And remember, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16)
1https://interestingfacts.com/family-tree-cousin-explainer/
2Ibid.
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