Amminadab

Saint Amminadab is an ancestor of Christ, mentioned in the Old Testament and in the Saviour's genealogy in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. He was the son of Aram of the tribe of Judah, the father of Nahshon and the father-⁠in-⁠law of Aaron. The Orthodox Church honours him on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers of Christ, before the Nativity of the Lord.

Who he was Amminadab was born at the time when the people of Israel were in Egypt. According to the biblical sources, he was the son of Ram (Aram), great-⁠grandson of Judah. His name means my people is generous. His son, Nahshon, was chief of the tribe of Judah, as the Book of Numbers shows. His daughter, Elisheba, was the wife of the high priest Aaron, brother of Moses, and by this Amminadab was Aaron's father-⁠in-⁠law, as the Book of Exodus tells.

In the genealogy of Christ Through Nahshon, Salmon and Boaz, Amminadab is an ancestor of King David. He is also mentioned in the Book of Ruth, and his name is found in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospel according to Matthew and the Gospel according to Luke. For that reason the Church counts him among the forefathers of the Lord. One of the lunettes of the Sistine Chapel shows an ancestor of Christ with this name.

In Holy Scripture another Amminadab also appears, a Levite descended from Uzziel, who took part in bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem; he is not to be confused with this one.

Veneration The Orthodox Church has recognized him as a saint and celebrates his memory on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, before Christmas, together with the other righteous of the Old Testament from whom Christ sprang.