54. Achim

1. Name and Meaning
• Name: Achim (Greek: Ἀχείμ, Acheim; likely derived from Hebrew)
• Meaning: Possibly from ʾāḥîm (אחים), meaning “brothers” or “kinsmen,” suggesting familial unity or covenantal kinship

2. Genealogical Placement and Lineage Role
• Position: Fifty-fourth generation from Adam; forty-fourth generation after the flood in the Messianic line
• Father: Zadok – post-exilic descendant in the Davidic succession
• Son: Eliud – continued the legal genealogy leading to Joseph
• Lineage Role: Legal heir within the post-exilic Davidic line, maintaining the continuity of descent from David to Jesus

3. Life Summary and Historical Setting
• Mentioned only in Matthew 1:14; no other biblical or historical records exist regarding his life
• Likely lived during the late Hasmonean or early Roman period, a time of increasing messianic expectation and political unrest in Judea
• Part of a silent generation that upheld the Davidic lineage without royal authority or prophetic recognition

4. Theological and Christological Significance
• His presence in Jesus’ genealogy reflects the faithfulness of God in preserving the covenant promise through generations of obscurity
• Name possibly symbolises the collective preservation of God’s people—“kinsman” or “brother” in the Messianic family
• Supports the legal foundation for Jesus’ Davidic claim through Joseph

5. Legacy and Interpretive Reflections
• A representative of the many unknown figures in salvation history whose faithfulness sustained the covenant
• Included in the genealogy of Jesus not for personal fame but for providential purpose
• His generational role affirms that every link in God’s redemptive chain holds theological weight, whether named in history or not

6. Summary Insight
• Achim, though historically silent, held a vital place in the divine narrative—his quiet role in the genealogy of Jesus reflects God’s faithfulness through even the most hidden generations.

7. Biblical References
• Matthew 1:14