Strong’s Greek 689 designates an ancestral name that appears in the Gospel genealogies as Aram (rendered “Ram” in the Berean Standard Bible) and Arni. Both forms represent the same historical figure known from the Hebrew Scriptures as Ram, son of Hezron, of the tribe of Judah (Ruth 4:19; 1 Chronicles 2:9–10). The Greek spelling differences reflect distinct manuscript traditions and translation choices, not distinct individuals.

Occurrences in the New Testament

• Matthew 1:3 – “Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.”
• Matthew 1:4 – “Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.”
• Luke 3:33 – “the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah.”

Thus the name surfaces four times within two parallel genealogies, each time anchoring the line of Messiah to Judah.

Old Testament Background

Ram first appears in Genesis 46:12 (LXX) by implication within the family of Hezron and is fully detailed in genealogical listings such as Ruth 4:19–22 and 1 Chronicles 2:9–15. He stands five generations before King David:

Judah → Perez → Hezron → Ram → Amminadab → Nahshon → Salmon → Boaz → Obed → Jesse → David.

Ram lived during Israel’s formative years in Egypt, making him a bridge between the patriarchal age and the Exodus generation represented by his son‐in‐law Nahshon, leader of Judah in Numbers 1:7.

Place in the Line of Judah and David

By tracing both Joseph’s legal line (Matthew) and Mary’s biological line (Luke) through Ram/Arni, the evangelists demonstrate that Jesus fulfills Genesis 49:10, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah.” Ram’s inclusion affirms:

1. Continuity of covenant promise from Abraham through David to Christ.
2. Verifiable historical grounding for the Messiah’s credentials.
3. Harmony between the two genealogies despite their distinct purposes (royal succession in Matthew; biological descent in Luke).

Textual and Translational Considerations

• Aram vs. Ram: The Greek text contains a prosthetic alpha (Ἀράμ), mirroring the Hebrew definite article in some dialects. Modern English translations often drop the alpha, restoring the shorter “Ram.”
• Arni: Luke’s genealogy follows a textual tradition that reads Ἀρνί instead of Ἀράμ. The shift of one consonant likely arose from transliteration nuances when copying Hebrew names into Greek script.
• Admin (immediately before Arni in Luke 3:33) is another name preserved only in the Lukan record, showing Luke’s commitment to an unabridged ancestral list.

These small variations testify to meticulous preservation rather than contradiction, since the Old Testament provides enough data to align the lists once spelling and generation gaps are considered.

Theological Significance

1. Covenant Faithfulness: Ram embodies the quiet lineage through which God guarded the seed promise. Though little is narrated about his life, his placement in inspired genealogies declares that divine purposes often advance through ordinary, even obscure, people.
2. Typology of Redemption: Ram’s grandson Nahshon was the first to bring an offering for the tabernacle (Numbers 7:12), hinting at a priest‐king motif that reaches its climax in Jesus Christ, the perfect High Priest and King.
3. Messianic Legitimacy: Both genealogies converge on Ram, confirming that Jesus is both the legal heir to David’s throne and the natural offspring of Judah, satisfying prophetic requirements (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5).

Historical Notes

Early Jewish and Christian writings never dispute Ram’s place in Judah’s line. Church fathers such as Eusebius and Jerome treat the spelling differences (Aram/Arni) as transliteration matters rather than textual corruption, reinforcing the reliability of the canonical record.

Practical Ministry Application

• Genealogies encourage believers to value every generation’s role in God’s plan; no faithful life is insignificant.
• Teachers can use Ram/Arni to illustrate how small textual variants do not undermine, but rather underscore, the intricate care with which Scripture has been transmitted.
• The name invites families to trace God’s faithfulness in their own lineage, fostering gratitude and stewardship of spiritual heritage.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 689 points to Ram, an ancestor of David and therefore of Jesus Christ. Though mentioned only in passing, his presence in both Gospel genealogies anchors the Messiah firmly in Judah’s royal line, displaying the unwavering fidelity of God to fulfill His redemptive promise across centuries.