1 Chronicles 1:17 kjv
The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.
1 Chronicles 1:17 nkjv
The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.
1 Chronicles 1:17 niv
The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.
1 Chronicles 1:17 esv
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. And the sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.
1 Chronicles 1:17 nlt
The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The descendants of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
1 Chronicles 1 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 10:22-23 | The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram. And the sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. | Direct parallel and source for 1 Chr 1:17, notes the nuance in Aram's sons. |
| Gen 10:32 | These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood. | General context of the Table of Nations, outlining human origins. |
| Gen 11:10-26 | Genealogy from Shem to Abram, emphasizing Arphaxad's critical role. | Traces the specific lineage from Shem to Abraham. |
| Gen 9:26-27 | He also said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; and may Canaan be his servant... | Prophetic blessing upon Shem, highlighting his importance in God's plan. |
| 1 Chr 1:1 | Adam, Seth, Enosh, | Introduction of the extensive genealogies from creation. |
| 1 Chr 1:4 | Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. | Shem's place as one of Noah's three sons. |
| 1 Chr 1:24 | Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, | Reiterates the direct line through Arphaxad towards Abraham. |
| Lk 3:36 | the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, | Luke's genealogy of Jesus traces back through Arphaxad and Shem (includes Cainan, not in MT). |
| Num 1:2 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names..." | Emphasizes the importance of tribal and family lineage in Israel. |
| Rom 9:4-5 | They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs... | God's specific promises and heritage connected to Abraham's (Shem's) descendants. |
| Heb 7:6 | ...and Melchizedek, who did not have a priestly ancestry, collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. | Genealogy’s significance for priesthood; Abraham (descendant of Shem) met a figure without documented genealogy. |
| Rev 7:9 | After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb... | The universal scope of salvation, foreshadowed by the nations derived from Noah. |
| Deut 32:8 | When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. | Reflects God's ordering of the nations descended from Noah's sons. |
| Isa 11:11 | The Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. | Mentions descendants of Shem (Elam, Asshur/Assyria) as nations God interacts with. |
| Jer 49:34 | The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. | Example of a specific judgment or prophecy against one of Shem's descendants (Elam). |
| Zech 10:11 | He shall pass through the sea of distress, and strike the waves of the sea; and all the depths of the Nile shall dry up. And the pride of Assyria shall be laid low... | Mention of Asshur (Assyria), a powerful Semitic nation interacting with Israel. |
| Acts 2:9 | Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia... | Elamites mentioned among those present at Pentecost, signifying the reach of the Gospel to diverse nations. |
| Col 3:11 | Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. | Though genealogies were vital in the Old Testament, in Christ, tribal distinctions give way to spiritual unity. |
| Gen 2:7 | then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. | Genesis begins with one man (Adam), highlighting common human origin and the universality of genealogies. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession... | New Testament community, defined by spiritual lineage in Christ, contrasting with Old Testament physical lineage. |
| Eph 2:19 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, | Concept of being part of God's household transcends previous national/tribal divisions established in genealogies. |
1 Chronicles 1 verses
1 Chronicles 1 17 Meaning
1 Chronicles 1:17 continues the genealogy of humanity, specifically enumerating the direct sons of Shem, one of Noah's three sons, who became the progenitor of the Semitic peoples. This verse provides a concise listing of nations or tribal founders descended from Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, and then further lists Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. This enumeration is foundational to understanding the lineage leading to Abraham and, consequently, the nation of Israel, placing the chosen people within the broader tapestry of global human history after the Flood.
1 Chronicles 1 17 Context
1 Chronicles 1:17 is part of a grand genealogical narrative that opens the book of Chronicles, stretching from Adam (1 Chr 1:1) to the post-exilic community. This extensive lineage, specifically chapters 1-9, serves to legitimize and reconnect the returning exiles to their divine heritage and covenant identity. After listing the sons of Noah (1 Chr 1:4), the narrative methodically details the descendants of Japheth and Ham, before focusing intently on the lineage of Shem, recognizing him as the blessed progenitor from whom Abraham and eventually the nation of Israel would emerge. The inclusion of nations outside of Israel (like the sons of Shem listed here) underscores God's sovereignty over all nations and His universal plan, even before His particular covenant with Israel. For the original audience, who had returned from Babylonian exile and faced challenges to their identity and land claims, these genealogies provided historical continuity, validated their place as the covenant people, and served as a reminder of God's faithfulness across generations.
1 Chronicles 1 17 Word analysis
The sons of Shem:
- "sons" (בְּנֵי - b’nei): A foundational term in biblical genealogies. It often means direct male offspring, but in a broader sense, especially in extended genealogies, it can also refer to descendants, tribes, or even nations associated with the progenitor. This elasticity allows for a compressed and sometimes selective list.
- "Shem" (שֵׁם - Shem): Literally "name" or "renown." Shem was Noah's oldest son (Gen 5:32; though some interpretations based on Gen 10:21 see Japheth as older). He received Noah's blessing in Gen 9:26-27, distinguishing his line as carrying a special divine favor, leading to Abraham and ultimately to Christ. His name itself points to the establishment of a "name" for God and His chosen people through his lineage.
Elam (עֵילָם - ‘Eilam): Founder of the Elamites, who inhabited the region east of Mesopotamia, in modern-day Iran. Known for their distinct language and culture, Elam was a significant ancient kingdom often at odds with Mesopotamia. Prophetic scriptures sometimes refer to them (e.g., Jer 49:34-39; Isa 21:2; Acts 2:9).
Asshur (אַשּׁוּר - Ashshur): The progenitor of the Assyrian people, who founded the powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire, a dominant force in the Near East and a major oppressor of Israel and Judah. Their capital city was also called Asshur.
Arphaxad (אַרְפַּכְשַׁד - Arpakhshad): This name is highly significant as it marks the direct paternal lineage leading to Abraham (Gen 11:10-26). He is a critical link in the Abrahamic covenant. His name's precise meaning is debated but possibly relates to a geographical area or stronghold.
Lud (לוּד - Lud): Identified with the Lydians of Asia Minor by some, a prosperous people. Others connect them to African tribes, or simply another Semitic group in the Near East, but exact identification remains debated.
Aram (אֲרָם - Aram): The ancestor of the Arameans (Syrians), a widely dispersed Semitic people whose language (Aramaic) became the lingua franca of the ancient Near East and was spoken by Jesus himself. Their various kingdoms (e.g., Aram-Damascus) frequently interacted, often conflictually, with Israel.
Uz (עוּץ - 'Utz):
Hul (חוּל - Ḥul):
Gether (גֶּתֶר - Gether):
Meshech (מֶשֶׁךְ - Meshekh):
- Words-group Analysis (Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech): Here, 1 Chronicles 1:17 lists these four directly as "sons of Shem." However, Genesis 10:23 explicitly states, "The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech." This is a significant point of comparison. Chronicles, being a later compilation, often summarizes or abbreviates genealogies, sometimes telescoping generations (i.e., skipping intermediate names) or treating grandsons as direct "sons" for the sake of conciseness or emphasis on broad family connections rather than precise filiation. The chronicler's purpose is to trace the flow of peoples from Noah, especially those pertinent to Israel's surrounding nations or ancestral lines, making precise direct sonship less critical than inclusion in the lineage. Meshech here is distinct from Meshech of Japheth's line (Gen 10:2, 1 Chr 1:5). This reflects the dynamic nature of ancient genealogies which focused on continuity and relationships.
1 Chronicles 1 17 Bonus section
- Genealogical Flexibility: Ancient Near Eastern genealogies, including those in the Bible, were not always meant to be exhaustive or strictly biological in every "son of" connection. They often served as historical-theological documents, demonstrating lineage for succession, legal rights, tribal identity, or theological progression. "Son of" could imply "descendant of," "belonging to the family/clan of," or "of the same order as." This flexibility explains the difference in the list of Aram's sons between Gen 10:23 and 1 Chr 1:17.
- Significance of Shem: Beyond this verse, Shem is foundational to the concept of the "Semitic" peoples and, critically, to the lineage of salvation history. The Abrahamic covenant, which leads to Israel, Christianity, and Islam, traces back directly to Shem. God's blessing on Shem in Gen 9:26-27 foreshadowed that through his line, humanity would find spiritual renown.
- Masoretic Text vs. Septuagint (LXX): It's noteworthy that some ancient versions of Genesis (like the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament) include an extra name, Cainan, between Arphaxad and Shelah in their genealogies (e.g., Gen 10:24, 11:12-13, and Lk 3:36). The Masoretic Text (the standard Hebrew text followed by most modern Bible translations and used by the Chronicler) does not include Cainan here. This variation highlights textual transmission nuances in biblical genealogies but does not diminish the main flow of descent or theological purpose of the Chronicler's list.
1 Chronicles 1 17 Commentary
1 Chronicles 1:17 serves as a vital genealogical link in the post-exilic context of Judah, reaffirming their heritage by meticulously tracing humanity's origins from Adam, through Noah's sons, with a deliberate emphasis on Shem's lineage. This verse particularizes the nations that sprang from Shem, recognizing their historical reality and relevance to the broader biblical narrative. The careful inclusion of nations like Elam, Asshur, and Aram demonstrates the Chronicler's awareness of the broader ancient Near Eastern world, placing Israel within this global context while simultaneously affirming God's overarching plan for all peoples.
The specific inclusion of Arphaxad is pivotal, as this name points directly to the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and ultimately, to David and Jesus Christ. The slight difference regarding Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech compared to Genesis 10 is not a contradiction but a common characteristic of ancient genealogies which could be abbreviated or tailored to fit the immediate purpose. For the Chronicler, the emphasis was on connecting the returning exiles to the legitimate and covenanted ancestry from creation, fostering identity, continuity, and faith in God's faithfulness through history, confirming their right to their land and covenant promises. These lineages, far from being mere lists of names, underscore the sovereignty of God over human history and the precise unfolding of His redemptive purposes.