1 Chronicles 1 7

1 Chronicles 1:7 kjv

And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

1 Chronicles 1:7 nkjv

The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshishah, Kittim, and Rodanim.

1 Chronicles 1:7 niv

The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.

1 Chronicles 1:7 esv

The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.

1 Chronicles 1:7 nlt

The descendants of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.

1 Chronicles 1 verses

1 Chronicles 1 7 Meaning

1 Chronicles 1:7 presents a genealogical listing of the direct descendants of Javan, one of the sons of Japheth. It identifies four foundational family lines or proto-nations that sprang from Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. These names correspond to peoples and regions predominantly situated within the Aegean Sea and wider Mediterranean area, laying out a geographical and ethnic map for parts of the ancient world.

1 Chronicles 1 7 Context

This verse forms part of the expansive genealogical records presented at the very beginning of the book of 1 Chronicles, starting from Adam and meticulously detailing the human lineage through Noah's sons to the origins of various nations, eventually narrowing its focus to Abraham and the tribes of Israel. The inclusion of Javan's descendants here, consistent with the "Table of Nations" found in Genesis 10, is vital. It firmly situates the chosen people of Israel within the larger global tapestry of humanity descended from a single ancestor, Noah. For the post-exilic Jewish community, for whom Chronicles was primarily written, these genealogies served to reinforce their identity, reaffirm their divine heritage, and connect them to God's universal plan from the creation of the world. It emphasizes God's sovereign authority over all peoples and nations, not just Israel.

1 Chronicles 1 7 Word analysis

• The sons of: Hebrew: בְּנֵי (bĕnê). This standard genealogical formula signifies "descendants of" or "progeny of." It consistently establishes the patrilineal tracing of family lines and the origin of tribes or nations from a specific patriarch. Its presence throughout these early chapters underpins the structured historical view of human development.
• Javan: Hebrew: יָוָן (Yāvān). This name is widely accepted as the biblical term for Ionia, which broadly represents ancient Greece and the surrounding Aegean region. Javan is recognized as the progenitor of the Greek people, and his inclusion signifies the distant yet influential cultures and powers that would historically interact with Israel, from early trade relations to later prophetic prominence.
• Elishah: Hebrew: אֱלִישָׁה ('Ĕlîšāh). Often identified with Alashiya, an ancient name for Cyprus, or perhaps specific regions of Greece, particularly the Peloponnese. These areas were significant in maritime trade and early civilization.
• Tarshish: Hebrew: תַּרְשִׁישׁ (Tarshish). A place name of considerable debate, frequently associated with Tartessus in southwestern Spain. Tarshish was renowned for its wealth of metals—silver, lead, tin, and iron—and was known through the "ships of Tarshish," large, robust vessels capable of long-distance voyages. It sometimes functioned as a byword for a very distant, yet wealthy, land reachable by sea.
• Kittim: Hebrew: כִּתִּים (Kittîm). Identified with Kition, a major city in Cyprus. Later biblical usage, particularly in prophetical texts (e.g., Daniel), broadened its scope to refer to other Mediterranean islanders and then to more general Western maritime powers, often associated with powerful navies or conquering forces, eventually even applied to the Romans.
• and Rodanim: Hebrew: וְרֹדָנִים (wĕRōḏānîm). The connective "and" introduces the final son in this list. This specific name is a textual variant of "Dodanim" (דֹּדָנִים, Dōḏānîm) found in Genesis 10:4. The form "Rodanim" is commonly associated with the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea, fitting well with the maritime context of Javan's other descendants. This variant illustrates nuances in biblical manuscript transmission and interpretive tradition.

Words-group analysis

• "The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim": This entire phrase, a simple yet profound list, delineates the primary descendants and, by extension, the earliest identified peoples linked to Javan. It organizes geographically and ethnically significant groups that formed crucial elements of the ancient world's political and commercial landscape. By documenting these connections, the Chronicler shows how widespread the nations descended from Noah became, emphasizing a universal origin for humanity and subtly foreshadowing their roles in God's broader redemptive history, which would involve interaction, trade, conflict, and even the eventual spread of God's truth to these distant peoples.

1 Chronicles 1 7 Bonus section

The detailed Table of Nations, as presented in Genesis and reiterated in Chronicles, stands as a unique literary and theological achievement in ancient literature. Unlike other ancient myths that explain disparate origins for different peoples or divine beings, the biblical genealogy presents a single human origin point for all humanity, stemming from Noah's family. This underpins the universality of sin and salvation. The Javanic line's emphasis on maritime peoples and distant lands, such as Tarshish and Kittim, subtly foreshadows the future reach of God's message and the global scope of His Kingdom. The consistent tracking of lineages, even beyond the direct Israelite line, signifies that God's plan unfolds within the historical realities of all nations. These genealogies functioned as a historical charter for the re-established community after the Babylonian exile, emphasizing continuity with the past and God's faithfulness from Adam onwards.

1 Chronicles 1 7 Commentary

1 Chronicles 1:7 is a foundational statement within the elaborate genealogies of the Chronicler. Its precise listing of Javan's descendants—Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim—is not merely an academic register of names but a theologically charged identification of the ancient progenitors of the Hellenistic world and its significant maritime and trading entities. By incorporating these foreign lineages from the outset, the Chronicler grounds Israel's story within the broader sweep of universal history. This inclusion asserts God's overarching sovereignty not only over His covenant people but over all the nations of the earth, who, despite their varied developments, all stem from a single human origin under Noah. The strategic placement of these international progenitors highlights a sophisticated awareness of ancient geography and prefigures future interactions and influences between the Israelite people and the diverse civilizations around them. This comprehensive record was vital for the post-exilic community, reaffirming their identity and place within God's continuous and expansive historical plan, tracing human existence back to its divinely established beginning.