1 Chronicles 1 4

1 Chronicles 1:4 kjv

Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

1 Chronicles 1:4 nkjv

Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

1 Chronicles 1:4 niv

The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

1 Chronicles 1:4 esv

Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

1 Chronicles 1:4 nlt

and Noah. The sons of Noah were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

1 Chronicles 1 verses

1 Chronicles 1 4 Meaning

This verse serves as a crucial genealogical bridge, rapidly moving the lineage from the primordial figures established in 1 Chronicles 1:1-3 to the new beginnings for humanity after the global flood. It explicitly names the four foundational individuals—Noah, and his three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth—who were preserved through the deluge and from whom all subsequent nations and peoples on earth descended. This listing reaffirms the biblical truth of the singular post-Flood origin of mankind and prepares the ground for the extensive "Table of Nations" found in Genesis, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all humanity through a common ancestry preserved by God.

1 Chronicles 1 4 Context

First Chronicles chapter 1 inaugurates the entire book of Chronicles with an extensive genealogy, starting from Adam and rapidly tracing key figures leading to the twelve tribes of Israel and specifically the lineage of David. The immediate context of 1 Chronicles 1:4 is its position within the initial eleven verses that provide a compressed history of humanity from creation to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This concise recounting of primeval history sets the foundation for the Chronicler's later focus on the kingdom of Judah and the temple worship.

Historically, the Book of Chronicles was likely written during the post-exilic period, after the Jewish community returned from Babylon. For this audience, accurate genealogical records were not mere historical curiosities but vital for establishing tribal identities, determining land inheritances, proving priestly qualifications, and maintaining the link to God's covenant promises, particularly the Davidic line. This verse, by affirming the shared descent of all humanity from Noah's family, implicitly reminds the repatriated exiles of their place within a universal historical narrative guided by God, reinforcing their identity as His covenant people among the nations descended from Noah's sons. It also provides the necessary foundation for tracing the sacred lineage that would eventually lead to the Messiah, showing a seamless divine plan unfolding through generations.

1 Chronicles 1 4 Word analysis

• Noah (נֹחַ - Noach):

  • Word: "Noah"
  • Meaning: Root suggests "rest" or "comfort," a meaning explicitly linked to his name by his father Lamech (Gen 5:29), who hoped Noah would bring relief from the toil of the cursed ground.
  • Significance: Noah is the pivotal figure for humanity's survival through the great Flood, marking a new beginning for mankind. He is a prime example of a righteous man in a wicked generation, chosen by God to preserve life on earth. His actions demonstrate faith and obedience to God's commands (Heb 11:7). He also becomes the recipient of God's universal covenant to never again destroy the earth with a flood (Gen 9:11-17), a covenant symbolized by the rainbow.

• Shem (שֵׁם - Shem):

  • Word: "Shem"
  • Meaning: "Name" or "renown."
  • Significance: Though potentially not the eldest son, Shem is consistently listed first among Noah's sons in passages of genealogical or theological significance due to his special role. He is the ancestor of the Semitic peoples, including the Hebrews. Most importantly, it is through his lineage that Abraham, King David, and ultimately the Messiah, Jesus, descend, making him crucial to the covenant history and redemptive plan (Gen 11:10-26, Luk 3:36). Noah's blessing of Shem (Gen 9:26) further highlights his central place in salvation history.

• Ham (חָם - Cham):

  • Word: "Ham"
  • Meaning: Uncertain, possibly related to "hot," "burnt," or "swarthy."
  • Significance: Ham is the ancestor of peoples broadly associated with parts of Africa and the Near East, most notably Canaan, Egypt (Mizraim), Cush, and Put (Gen 10:6-20). He is notoriously linked to an incident of disrespect towards his father, Noah, which led to a curse on his son Canaan (Gen 9:20-27). This lineage is distinct and historically important for understanding various peoples interacting with ancient Israel.

• Japheth (יֶפֶת - Yepheth):

  • Word: "Japheth"
  • Meaning: "May He enlarge" or "may He expand." This etymology is often connected to Noah's blessing that "God shall enlarge Japheth" (Gen 9:27).
  • Significance: Japheth is the ancestor of various peoples, often understood to be those who settled in northern and western lands from Mesopotamia, generally identified as the ancestors of Indo-European nations (e.g., Gomer, Magog, Javan in Gen 10:2-5). Noah's prophecy concerning Japheth states that his descendants will be enlarged and "dwell in the tents of Shem" (Gen 9:27), often interpreted as an anticipation of the future blessing and inclusion of the Gentiles (Japheth's descendants) within the spiritual blessings initially conferred through Shem's line, hinting at the broader scope of God's redemptive plan to encompass all nations.

• Words-group "Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.":

  • Universal Progenitors: This specific listing unequivocally establishes these four as the foundational patriarchs from whom all humanity repopulated the earth after the Flood, emphasizing the common biological origin of all peoples post-deluge (Gen 9:19). This counters any polygenetic theories of human origin.
  • Concise Summary of Primal History: Within the Chronicler's fast-paced genealogical overview, this phrase efficiently bridges the gap between pre-Flood humanity and the post-Flood diversification of nations, providing the essential figures without delving into the detailed narratives of Genesis.
  • Basis for Subsequent Genealogies: This list acts as the direct lead-in to the specific genealogies of each son's descendants that follow immediately in 1 Chronicles 1:5-23, providing a clear structural and thematic progression for the reader to understand the branching of humanity and, eventually, Israel's place within it.

1 Chronicles 1 4 Bonus section

• The absence of the more elaborate narratives from Genesis (like the flood event or Ham's sin) reflects the Chronicler's primary goal: establishing definitive lineage and connecting the present Israelite community to their ancestral roots and the divine promises, rather than providing a detailed theological or moral commentary on the earlier history. The genealogies serve as pillars, not storytelling canvases.
• The enumeration "Shem, Ham, and Japheth" here is consistent with the general pattern in the Old Testament when referring to the three sons of Noah, even though Japheth is generally considered the eldest. This ordering highlights Shem's pre-eminence as the bearer of the messianic line, underscoring the spiritual emphasis of the lineage despite any birth order.
• This verse subtly reinforces the sovereignty of God over human history, demonstrating that despite the widespread wickedness that necessitated the Flood, God preserved a remnant and orchestrated the repopulation of the earth through one family.

1 Chronicles 1 4 Commentary

1 Chronicles 1:4, in its striking brevity, serves as a profoundly significant theological marker. Following the pre-Flood figures from Adam to Lamech, the Chronicler, driven by his post-exilic agenda, swiftly brings the historical sweep forward by simply listing Noah and his three sons. This concise naming bypasses the entire flood narrative and its moral complexities found in Genesis, emphasizing instead the singular, common ancestry of all post-Flood humanity.

The verse encapsulates a global reset, confirming that Noah’s family constitutes the sole survivors from whom the entire diverse tapestry of nations would emerge (Gen 9:19). This reaffirms a unified origin for all mankind, setting the stage for the detailed "Table of Nations" that unfolds directly from these three brothers. For the Jewish community returning from exile, this initial sweep from Adam to Noah's sons quickly re-establishes their ancient heritage and connects them directly to humanity's earliest history under God's sovereign hand, grounding their identity and reminding them that God’s covenantal promises and redemptive plans have been in motion since the very beginning of human history. The specific inclusion of all three sons, rather than solely the lineage of Shem, underscores the Chronicler's comprehensive view of human history before narrowing the focus to Israel's direct ancestry and the line of the Davidic covenant.