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Salathiel

biblical_person theological_term standard

Salathiel is a biblical personal name, commonly identified with Shealtiel, a descendant of David associated with the postexilic period and the genealogy of Jesus.

At a Glance

Biblical person name | Usually identified with Shealtiel | Connected with the Davidic line and the postexilic period

Key Points

Description

Salathiel is a personal name found in biblical genealogies and is commonly understood as another form of Shealtiel. He is associated with the royal line of David during and after the Babylonian exile, and his name appears in the genealogies that lead to Jesus (Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27). Related Old Testament references connect the same Davidic family line with Zerubbabel and the postexilic period. The name is therefore best treated as a biblical person entry rather than a theological term.

Biblical Context

Salathiel belongs to the Davidic family line preserved through the exile. The name appears in the New Testament genealogies of Jesus and in Old Testament postexilic contexts connected with Zerubbabel.

Historical Context

The name reflects the continuation of the royal Davidic line after the Babylonian exile. In later biblical usage, the family is identified in the period when the Judean community returned to the land.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Second Temple-era Jewish genealogical interest emphasized the preservation of tribal and royal lineage, especially for the house of David. Salathiel’s appearance in genealogical lists fits that concern, though Scripture remains the controlling source for interpretation.

Primary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Salathiel is the Greek form commonly associated with the Hebrew name Shealtiel. The name appears in transliterated form in the New Testament genealogies.

Theological Significance

Salathiel matters chiefly because he stands in the preserved Davidic line that leads to Jesus the Messiah. His name supports the biblical testimony that God kept His covenant promises to David through the exile and into the New Testament era.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Salathiel does not express a doctrine in itself. Its significance is historical and covenantal: a real person in the Davidic line serving as part of the Bible’s unified redemptive history.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse the personal name with a theological term. Also handle the Salathiel/Shealtiel relationship carefully, since the spelling differs across languages and textual traditions. The exact family relationship of Zerubbabel in related passages should be stated cautiously and without overclaiming.

Major Views

Most English study resources treat Salathiel and Shealtiel as the same name in different forms. The main interpretive caution concerns harmonizing genealogical details, not the identity of the name itself.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should be limited to the biblical person and the Davidic/genealogical context. It should not be expanded into speculative doctrine about lineage beyond what Scripture states.

Practical Significance

Salathiel reminds readers that God preserved the Davidic line through exile and judgment, keeping the messianic promise in ordinary historical names and genealogies.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Salathiel