Romans 1:3

Authorized King James Version

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Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Original Language Analysis

περὶ Concerning G4012
περὶ Concerning
Strong's: G4012
Word #: 1 of 11
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
τοῦ which G3588
τοῦ which
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 2 of 11
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
υἱοῦ Son G5207
υἱοῦ Son
Strong's: G5207
Word #: 3 of 11
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
αὐτοῦ G846
αὐτοῦ
Strong's: G846
Word #: 4 of 11
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τοῦ which G3588
τοῦ which
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 5 of 11
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γενομένου was made G1096
γενομένου was made
Strong's: G1096
Word #: 6 of 11
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
ἐκ of G1537
ἐκ of
Strong's: G1537
Word #: 7 of 11
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
σπέρματος the seed G4690
σπέρματος the seed
Strong's: G4690
Word #: 8 of 11
something sown, i.e., seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting)
Δαβὶδ of David G1138
Δαβὶδ of David
Strong's: G1138
Word #: 9 of 11
david, the israelite king
κατὰ according G2596
κατὰ according
Strong's: G2596
Word #: 10 of 11
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
σάρκα to the flesh G4561
σάρκα to the flesh
Strong's: G4561
Word #: 11 of 11
flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e., (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or

Analysis & Commentary

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

The content of the gospel is not a philosophy or ethical system but a Person: Iēsou Christou tou kuriou hēmōn (Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν, 'Jesus Christ our Lord'). Each title carries theological weight: Iēsous (Joshua) means 'Yahweh saves,' Christos is the Greek equivalent of Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah/Anointed One), and kurios (Lord) is the LXX translation of the divine name YHWH—a staggering claim of deity.

The participle genomenou (γενομένου, 'was made/became') paired with ek spermatos Dauid (ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυίδ, 'from the seed of David') affirms Jesus's true humanity and Messianic lineage. The phrase kata sarka (κατὰ σάρκα, 'according to the flesh') indicates His human nature, the incarnation of the eternal Son. This fulfills the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16) that promised an eternal king from David's line. Matthew 1 and Luke 3 meticulously trace Jesus's genealogy through David. Paul's affirmation counters early Gnostic tendencies to deny Christ's full humanity—the gospel requires both true God and true man.

Historical Context

The Davidic lineage was crucial for Jewish Messianic expectations. Prophets foretold that the Messiah would come from David's house (Isaiah 9:7; 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5). When Jesus entered Jerusalem, crowds shouted 'Son of David' (Matthew 21:9), recognizing His Messianic credentials. For Roman readers, understanding Jewish Messianic hopes was essential to grasp why Jesus's death and resurrection were 'good news' and not merely the execution of another failed revolutionary.

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