1 Chronicles 2 14

1 Chronicles 2:14 kjv

Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,

1 Chronicles 2:14 nkjv

Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,

1 Chronicles 2:14 niv

the fourth Nethanel, the fifth Raddai,

1 Chronicles 2:14 esv

Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,

1 Chronicles 2:14 nlt

his fourth was Nethanel, his fifth was Raddai,

1 Chronicles 2 verses

1 Chronicles 2 14 Meaning

This verse is part of a detailed genealogy within 1 Chronicles, specifically listing the sons of Jesse, father of King David. It identifies Ozem as Jesse's sixth son and David as the seventh. While seemingly a simple listing, it is a crucial pivot point, highlighting David's lineage and establishing his rightful place within God’s chosen line for the kingship of Israel, thereby reaffirming the Davidic covenant for the post-exilic audience.

1 Chronicles 2 14 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 2 forms part of an extensive genealogical record from Adam through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and especially focusing on the tribe of Judah, from whom kingship would emerge. This specific verse, 1 Chronicles 2:14, sits within the lineage of Jesse and his sons, detailing the family line that directly leads to King David.

Historically and culturally, genealogies were paramount for the ancient Israelite society, serving to establish tribal identities, confirm rights to land, ensure qualifications for priesthood, and validate claims to royal succession. For the post-exilic community to whom the Chronicler addressed this book, reinforcing the Davidic lineage was crucial. It provided reassurance of God's unchanging covenant promises and pointed to the continuity of His divine plan for a Davidic king. The careful enumeration of Jesse’s sons leading to David underscored David’s legitimacy as divinely chosen king, a vital message after the disruption of the Babylonian exile and the cessation of the monarchy. The Chronicler highlights the importance of God's faithfulness to His promises through an unbroken line, culminating in David and hinting at the Messianic future.

1 Chronicles 2 14 Word analysis

• Ozem (אֹצֶם, 'Otsem): This is a Hebrew personal name meaning "strength" or "bone." Ozem is a relatively obscure figure, appearing only twice in the biblical text (1 Chr 2:14-15). His inclusion serves the purpose of completing the list of Jesse's sons before David. The Chronicler meticulously lists each son, demonstrating the thoroughness of the genealogical record that precedes the emergence of the promised king. Ozem's existence as Jesse's sixth son establishes a precise order leading directly to the significantly named seventh son, David.
• the sixth (הַשִּׁשִּׁי, hashishshi): This ordinal number places Ozem sequentially within Jesse's offspring. While "six" in biblical numerology can sometimes indicate incompleteness or human imperfection in contrast to "seven," here it primarily signifies order and progression towards the key figure. It highlights David's specific birth order, which holds greater theological significance.
• David (דָּוִיד, David): The most pivotal name in this verse, meaning "beloved" or "darling." This is King David, Israel's second king and the patriarch from whom the Messiah is promised to descend. His appearance here is climactic, serving as the immediate antecedent to his prominence in biblical history and prophecy. The Chronicler emphasizes David's direct lineage within Judah as foundational for the identity and hope of Israel.
• the seventh (הַשְּׁבִיעִי, hashvi'i): This numerical designation for David carries deep biblical resonance. The number "seven" consistently signifies completeness, perfection, divine order, and spiritual fulfillment throughout scripture (e.g., creation week, sacred festivals). While 1 Samuel 16:10-11 implies David was Jesse’s eighth son (as seven had passed before him), the Chronicler's explicit naming of David as "the seventh" is highly significant. This suggests a theological intent—to present David not just as "one more son" but as the "completed" or "perfect" choice of God among Jesse’s sons. This subtle distinction elevates David's status and reinforces God’s perfect and sovereign plan in choosing him, often selecting the overlooked or youngest.
• Words-group analysis: "Ozem the sixth, David the seventh"This phrase meticulously records the sequential birth order, specifically contrasting Ozem, an unknown figure, with David, the preeminent figure. The Chronicler’s attention to this specific numbering, particularly for David, accentuates God's meticulous plan and foreordained choice. It shows a divine procession culminating in the very specific individual, David. The specific listing by ordinal numbers adds a layer of precision to the divine blueprint.

1 Chronicles 2 14 Bonus section

• The Discrepancy of Jesse's Sons: The identification of David as the seventh son of Jesse in 1 Chronicles contrasts with 1 Samuel 16:10-11, where seven of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel, implying David was the eighth and youngest. Possible reasons for this discrepancy include:
  • A son dying without issue (e.g., childless), making them less relevant for a genealogy focused on continuity.
  • Different counting traditions or emphases. The Chronicler might only count those who became prominent or from whom offspring derived that mattered to his post-exilic audience, or only surviving sons.
  • The possibility of a different textual tradition known to the Chronicler.
  • Most significantly, the Chronicler’s theological agenda. By naming David the "seventh," he intentionally associates David with biblical concepts of completeness, divine perfection, and a divinely appointed chosen status, resonating with a return-from-exile community needing reassurance of God’s perfect plan.
• Divine Choice and Humble Origins: This verse, like 1 Sam 16, subtly reiterates a recurring biblical theme: God often chooses the overlooked, the youngest, or the seemingly least significant to fulfill His great purposes. This aligns with His characteristic method of working against human expectations to display His sovereignty and power. David, a shepherd boy and the youngest/seventh son, was God's chosen king, not based on external grandeur but on the condition of his heart (1 Sam 16:7).

1 Chronicles 2 14 Commentary

1 Chronicles 2:14, though brief, serves as a crucial point of transition within the sprawling genealogies. By placing "David the seventh" in sequence after Ozem, the Chronicler brings the focus to the person through whom God's covenant promises, especially regarding the perpetual monarchy, would be established. The inclusion of David as "the seventh" son carries theological weight, subtly hinting at God's perfect and complete plan, distinct from human expectations. This short verse functions as an introduction to David, preparing the reader for his profound role as Israel's greatest king and the ancestor of the Messiah. It underscores that even within extensive lineage lists, divine purpose and personal significance are carefully maintained. The verse's quiet precision contrasts sharply with the magnitude of David's later story, yet it firmly grounds his authority and kingship in a divinely sanctioned heritage.