1 Chronicles 1:33 kjv
And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.
1 Chronicles 1:33 nkjv
The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
1 Chronicles 1:33 niv
The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.
1 Chronicles 1:33 esv
The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the descendants of Keturah.
1 Chronicles 1:33 nlt
The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Abraham through his concubine Keturah.
1 Chronicles 1 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 25:1-2 | "Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah... She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah." | Keturah as Abraham's wife and mother of Midian. |
| Gen 25:4 | "The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah..." | Direct parallel and source of the verse's content. |
| Num 22:4 | "Then Moab said to the elders of Midian, 'Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.'" | Midianites as a distinct nation in proximity to Israel. |
| Num 25:15,18 | "...Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was a tribal head of a father's house in Midian... They were enemies to you by their wiles..." | Midianite involvement in the Baal-peor apostasy and enmity. |
| Num 31:1-12 | "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites...'" | Divine judgment and war against Midian. |
| Jdg 6:1-6 | "The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years." | Midianite oppression of Israel. |
| Jdg 7:1-25 | "And the LORD said to Gideon, 'The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand...'" | Gideon's victory over the Midianites. |
| Jdg 8:10-21 | "Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men..." | Midianite kings defeated by Gideon. |
| Isa 60:6 | "A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah..." | Midianites and Ephah's descendants in future prophecy of wealth to Zion. |
| Gen 12:2 | "And I will make of you a great nation..." | God's promise to Abraham of numerous descendants. |
| Gen 13:16 | "I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth..." | Reinforcement of Abraham's countless seed. |
| Gen 15:5 | "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'" | Abraham's descendants likened to the stars. |
| Gen 17:5-6 | "...for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful..." | Abraham, father of many nations, beyond Israel. |
| Gen 22:17-18 | "...I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven..." | God's oath to multiply Abraham's seed. |
| Heb 11:12 | "Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven..." | Faith of Abraham resulting in many descendants. |
| Rom 4:16-18 | "...that he might be the father of all who believe... (as it is written, 'I have made you the father of many nations')..." | Abraham as the spiritual father of many nations. |
| Gal 3:16 | "Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, 'And to offsprings,' referring to many, but referring to one, 'And to your offspring,' who is Christ." | The ultimate spiritual "seed" of Abraham is Christ. |
| 1 Chr 1:1-2 | "Adam, Seth, Enosh; Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared..." | Introduction to 1 Chronicles' comprehensive genealogies. |
| 1 Chr 9:1 | "So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel." | Importance and purpose of genealogies in Israel. |
| Ezra 2:62 | "...They searched for their genealogical record, but they could not find it; so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean." | Genealogies' role in confirming purity and privilege. |
| Lk 3:23-38 | Jesus' genealogy from Joseph back through David, Abraham, and Adam. | Demonstrates Jesus' physical lineage, starting from early progenitors. |
1 Chronicles 1 verses
1 Chronicles 1 33 Meaning
1 Chronicles 1:33 delineates a specific branch of Abraham's descendants through his second wife or concubine, Keturah. The verse states that the immediate sons of Midian, who was a direct son of Keturah, were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. The concluding statement emphasizes that these five individuals were all part of Keturah's extensive lineage, thereby linking them to Abraham's vast family. This genealogy serves to record and preserve the ancestral lines from which various peoples originated.
1 Chronicles 1 33 Context
1 Chronicles 1:33 is embedded within the extensive genealogical record that opens the Book of 1 Chronicles, spanning from Adam (1 Chr 1:1) through the return from exile (1 Chr 9:1). This particular verse falls within the section tracing the descendants of Abraham, focusing specifically on those born through Keturah, distinct from the main covenant line of Isaac. The Chronicler's primary goal in compiling these detailed lists was to re-establish the national identity and continuity of the Jewish people after the Babylonian exile, emphasizing their roots, divine covenant, and the legitimacy of their leadership, particularly the Davidic lineage and the Levitical priesthood. Historically, genealogies were paramount for legal claims to land, tribal membership, and succession. Culturally, listing these descendants of Abraham highlights the breadth of God's blessing and the fulfillment of the promise to make Abraham the "father of a multitude of nations," even extending to peoples who later became adversaries of Israel, such as the Midianites. The inclusion of Midian's sons serves to map out these related but distinct peoples within the wider Abrahamic family tree.
1 Chronicles 1 33 Word analysis
- The sons of Midian (בְּנֵ֥י מִדְיָ֖ן - bənê Miḏyān): This phrase specifically identifies a subset of Abraham's descendants. "Sons of" (בְּנֵי, benê) denotes direct offspring, establishing Midian as a progenitor of these five individuals. Midian (מִדְיָן, Miḏyān) means "strife" or "contention," a fitting name given the nation's future hostile interactions with Israel. The name itself anticipates the troubled relationship detailed later in biblical history, particularly during the time of Moses and the judges. This early mention, rooted in Abraham's family, sets the stage for a recurring player in Israelite history.
- were Ephah (עֵיפָ֥ה - ‘Êp̄â): A son of Midian. "Ephah" (עֵיפָה, ʿÊp̄â) can mean "darkness" or "gloomy," and also refers to a specific unit of dry measure. As a personal name, it could suggest a characteristic or an aspect related to their future territory or influence. Historically, an Edomite clan bearing this name is mentioned, indicating interconnections. Isa 60:6 also mentions "dromedaries of Midian and Ephah," suggesting Ephah's descendants became a notable Midianite subtribe associated with commerce.
- Epher (עֵ֑פֶר - ‘Êp̄er): Another son of Midian. "Epher" (עֵפֶר, ʿÊp̄er) means "gazelle" or "fawn," possibly suggesting grace, speed, or beauty. A place in the Shephelah (lower hill country of Judah) called "Ophrah" is related to this root, indicating geographical spread or early tribal land claims.
- Hanoch (חֲנ֖וֹךְ - Ḥănōḵ): A son of Midian. "Hanoch" (חֲנוֹךְ, Ḥănōḵ) means "dedicated" or "initiated." While shared with prominent biblical figures like the son of Cain and the antediluvian patriarch who "walked with God," here it distinguishes a branch within the Midianite lineage, emphasizing their specific identity and perhaps their own form of early dedication or purpose.
- Abida (אֲבִידָ֑ע - ’Ăḇîḏāʿ): A son of Midian. "Abida" (אֲבִידָע, ʾĂḇîḏāʿ) translates to "my father knows" or "father of knowledge." This name may reflect a sense of reverence for paternal wisdom or a community valuing understanding, or even a divine acknowledgement, where "father" implicitly refers to God.
- and Eldaah (וְאֶלְדָּעָֽה׃ - wə’Elḏāʿâ): The final son of Midian listed. "Eldaah" (אֶלְדָּעָה, ʾElḏāʿâ) means "God knows" or "knowledge of God." This theophoric name, containing the divine element "El," indicates a potential awareness or invocation of God, common in ancient Near Eastern naming conventions, signifying divine oversight or connection, even for non-Israelite groups.
- All these were sons of Keturah (כָּל־אֵ֥לֶּה בְּנֵי֙ קְטוּרָֽה - kol-’ēlleh bənê Qəṭûrâ): This summarizing clause is crucial. While Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah were grandsons of Keturah (as sons of Midian), the term "sons of" (בְּנֵי, benê) in ancient Hebrew genealogies often encompassed broader descendants (offspring). This statement firmly places these five lineages under the wider umbrella of Keturah's family, directly linking them to Abraham's post-Sarah household. Keturah (קְטוּרָה, Qəṭûrâ) means "incense" or "perfumed," possibly hinting at her position or perhaps Abraham's devotion to her, although her historical role is largely defined by her maternity. The Chronicler ensures a clear and unambiguous connection back to the patriarch.
1 Chronicles 1 33 Bonus section
The comprehensive genealogical lists in 1 Chronicles, starting with Adam, establish a universal human history leading to Israel, emphasizing that Israel's story is interwoven with all humanity. The specific detail of Abraham's non-Israelite descendants, such as those through Keturah, highlights the scope of Abraham's original blessing beyond just Isaac, underscoring God's initial plan to bless "all the families of the earth" through him (Gen 12:3). This detail implicitly broadens the scope of God's sovereignty and interest even among those not directly in the covenant line that leads to Christ. The Chronicler’s attention to these external lineages provides historical continuity and accounts for the presence of surrounding nations, rooting them in a shared ancestral past with Israel, sometimes offering a basis for alliance and sometimes explaining protracted conflicts as internal family disputes.
1 Chronicles 1 33 Commentary
1 Chronicles 1:33, a seemingly simple genealogical entry, carries profound theological and historical weight within the Chronicler's grand narrative. By listing the sons of Midian and clearly stating their connection to Keturah and thus to Abraham, the verse underscores several key points:First, it demonstrates the extensive fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that he would be the "father of a multitude of nations" (Gen 17:5), stretching beyond the singular covenant line of Isaac. While Isaac's descendants form the core of the Chronicler's interest, the acknowledgment of other Abrahamic peoples, such as the Midianites, grounds Israel's identity within a broader family tree, affirming God's generative power.Second, this verse subtly sets the stage for future biblical interactions. The Midianites, here presented as blood relatives of Abraham, later become significant adversaries of Israel (e.g., Numbers, Judges). The Chronicler, compiling these genealogies post-exile, understands the full history. This early, foundational connection serves as a historical backdrop for both conflict and, potentially, even distant kinship-based reconciliation or trade, as seen in prophetic texts like Isaiah 60:6.Finally, the precise cataloging of these names – Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah – reflects the vital importance of genealogical purity and lineage for ancient Israel. Even peripheral branches of Abraham's family were meticulously recorded, emphasizing identity, land claims, and historical continuity, ultimately strengthening the foundation upon which the Chronicler builds the history of God's covenant people. The naming, with its inherent Hebrew meanings, also provides a subtle characterization or hope tied to each sub-clan.