reu

Reu is a minor figure in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in the genealogies rather than in narrative stories. He is placed in the line of descent from Noah through Shem and is part of the generation living after the Flood.

In Genesis 11:18–19, Reu is described as the son of Peleg and the father of Serug, marking him as a link between Peleg and Serug in the lineage that leads to Nahor, Terah, and ultimately Abraham. This genealogical placement is echoed in 1 Chronicles 1:18–19, where the same sequence is given in a parallel list.

The name Reu is of Hebrew origin, and the text does not provide a clear meaning for it within the biblical narrative. Aside from his position in the lineage, there are no recorded deeds, ages, or life events associated with Reu in the biblical record. His significance rests on his role in the structured genealogy that connects the post-Flood generations to the later patriarchal narratives.

Scholars note that these early genealogies serve theological and etiological purposes, shaping the chronology of generations from Noah to Abraham rather than presenting detailed historical biographies. Reu’s presence helps establish the sequence of generations in the ancestral line of the Israelite people.

See also: Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abraham in the Genesis and Chronicles genealogies.