Who was Salathiel?

Salathiel, also known as Shealtiel, was a key figure in the royal lineage of Judah and the Davidic line that led to Jesus Christ. His name in Hebrew is שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל (She’alti’el), meaning “I have asked of God” or “I asked God.” The Greek form of the name appears in the New Testament genealogies as Σαλαθιήλ (Salathiel).

Salathiel is listed in 1 Chronicles 3:17 as the son of Jeconiah (also called Jehoiachin), the king of Judah who was taken into Babylonian exile. He is also mentioned in the genealogical records of Ezra 3:2, Nehemiah 12:1, Matthew 1:12, and Luke 3:27, affirming his role as a transitional figure between the fallen Davidic monarchy and the hope of messianic restoration.

Biblical References and Cross-References

• 1 Chronicles 3:17 – “The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive: Shealtiel his son…”

• Ezra 3:2 – “Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel…”

• Matthew 1:12 – “After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel…”

• Luke 3:27 – “The son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel…”

These passages place Salathiel in the crucial position of preserving the Davidic line during and after the Babylonian exile.

What Happened in the Bible?

Salathiel was born during or shortly after the Babylonian exile, the tragic event that marked the end of the Davidic kings ruling from Jerusalem. As the son of Jeconiah, he belonged to the cursed line of kings (cf. Jeremiah 22:30) who were told none of their descendants would sit on David’s throne.

However, Salathiel appears to have served more as a legal or royal heir rather than a reigning king. His son, Zerubbabel, became a governor of Judah under Persian authority and played a central role in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (cf. Haggai 1-2, Zechariah 4).

There is some textual complexity in identifying Salathiel’s relationship to Zerubbabel. While most passages describe Zerubbabel as his son, 1 Chronicles 3:19 lists Zerubbabel as the son of Pedaiah, Salathiel’s brother. The likely explanation is a case of levirate adoption or legal inheritance—Zerubbabel may have been physically born to Pedaiah but legally regarded as the heir of Salathiel to continue Jeconiah’s line.

What It Means for Today’s Christians

Salathiel’s life is a powerful testimony of how God’s promises persist even through judgment and exile. Though the Davidic line was seemingly cut off due to Israel’s disobedience, God preserved a remnant through Salathiel and his descendants. His inclusion in both the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew (through Joseph) and Luke (possibly through Mary’s line) demonstrates how God faithfully fulfills His covenant to David despite human failure.

Christians can find hope in Salathiel’s story that God is sovereign over history and capable of redeeming broken family lines and fallen legacies. Even a lineage under judgment, as with Jeconiah, becomes a vessel for God’s greatest redemptive act in Jesus Christ.

How Salathiel’s Story Points to Jesus and the Gospel

Salathiel is a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of the promise that a descendant of David would reign forever (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 9:6-7). Despite the apparent curse on Jeconiah‘s line (Jeremiah 22:30), God‘s redemptive plan bypassed human limitations. Jesus, born of a virgin and conceived by the Holy Spirit, was legally part of Joseph’s line—descended from Salathiel and Jeconiah—yet free from the curse.

This shows that grace triumphs over judgment. Jesus entered human history through flawed and broken families, yet brought perfect redemption. The genealogies that include Salathiel are not just records of ancestry—they are declarations of God’s faithfulness and the power of the gospel to restore.

Broader Biblical Themes

1. God’s Sovereignty in Exile and Restoration

Salathiel lived in a time when Israel was under foreign rule and had no king on the throne. Yet God was at work preserving His covenant through unexpected means. His story reminds believers that God is always working—even in seasons of discipline or apparent silence.

2. Genealogy and Messianic Fulfillment

Salathiel’s place in Jesus’ genealogy emphasizes the importance of biblical lineage and prophecy. It validates Jesus as the promised Messiah and shows the intricate detail with which God orchestrated history.

3. Grace Through Brokenness

Though Salathiel’s father Jeconiah was cursed, grace prevailed. This illustrates that no failure or curse is beyond God’s redemptive reach. Jesus comes through a line of imperfect people, showcasing the transforming nature of God‘s plan.

Reflection Questions

1. How does Salathiel’s role in the genealogy of Jesus encourage you about God’s faithfulness through generations?

2. What does Salathiel’s story reveal about God’s ability to redeem even a cursed or broken past?

3. In what ways can you trust God’s sovereign hand in seasons that seem like exile or setback?

4. How do the genealogies of Jesus deepen your understanding of God‘s long-term plan of redemption?

5. What hope does it give you that Jesus came through a line of ordinary and flawed individuals?

Salathiel’s quiet but essential place in Scripture reminds believers that no life is insignificant in God’s redemptive story.