1 Chronicles 2:4 kjv
And Tamar his daughter in law bore him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
1 Chronicles 2:4 nkjv
And Tamar, his daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
1 Chronicles 2:4 niv
Judah's daughter-in-law Tamar bore Perez and Zerah to Judah. He had five sons in all.
1 Chronicles 2:4 esv
His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.
1 Chronicles 2:4 nlt
Later Judah had twin sons from Tamar, his widowed daughter-in-law. Their names were Perez and Zerah. So Judah had five sons in all.
1 Chronicles 2 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 31:2-5 | "See, I have called by name Bezalel ...and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship..." | God empowers Bezalel directly with wisdom and skill for sacred work. |
| Exod 35:30-35 | "...Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah... he has filled with skill to perform every work..." | Reiteration of Bezalel's divine endowment for Tabernacle craftsmanship, confirming lineage. |
| Exod 36:1-2 | "Bezalel and Oholiab, and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work of construction..." | Bezalel's leadership in God-given skills. |
| Num 1:7 | "Of Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab." | Bezalel's line is from Judah, an important tribal lineage. |
| Num 26:20 | "The sons of Judah according to their clans: Er... and Onan..." | Part of the broader tribal listing of Judah. |
| Deut 4:6 | "Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples..." | Links divine commands to wisdom, paralleling Bezalel's divine wisdom. |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding..." | God is the ultimate source of wisdom and skill. |
| Isa 28:29 | "This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom." | Attributes profound wisdom and counsel to God, reflecting Bezalel's endowment. |
| 1 Chr 9:1 | "So all Israel was recorded in genealogies... entered into the Book of the Kings of Israel." | Highlights the purpose and importance of genealogies for the Chronicler. |
| Ezra 2:59, 62 | "These were the ones who came up from Tel Melah... unable to prove their fathers' houses..." | Underscores the critical need for verifiable genealogies post-exile. |
| Neh 7:5 | "...my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the common people for enrollment by ancestry..." | Emphasizes the importance of tracing lineages for the post-exilic community. |
| Matt 1:1-17 | "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." | Demonstrates God's faithfulness in preserving specific lineages for His plan. |
| Luke 3:23-38 | "Jesus himself was about thirty years of age... son of Joseph... son of Heli... son of Adam, son of God." | Shows the continuous hand of God through human history and lineage. |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit..." | Believers empowered by Christ for good works, mirroring divine empowerment for service. |
| Rom 12:6-8 | "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith..." | God gives diverse gifts to His people for His service, echoing Bezalel's skill. |
| 1 Cor 12:4, 7-11 | "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit... To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." | Explains that spiritual gifts (like skill, wisdom) originate from the Holy Spirit. |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." | God equips and calls believers for specific tasks, similar to Bezalel's purpose. |
| Heb 11:3, 7 | "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God... By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events..." | Illustrates God's interaction and empowering of faithful individuals throughout history. |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." | Reinforces that true divine work, like Bezalel's, relies on God's Spirit, not human strength. |
| 2 Tim 2:20-21 | "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay... sanctified, useful to the master..." | Individuals are chosen and prepared by God for honorable service. |
1 Chronicles 2 verses
1 Chronicles 2 4 Meaning
This verse precisely details a specific segment of the lineage within the tribe of Judah: Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri was the father of Bezalel. Its inclusion within the extensive genealogies of 1 Chronicles highlights the significance of this particular line, primarily because of Bezalel, a key figure instrumental in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, empowered directly by God. The Chronicler emphasizes not only historical continuity and tribal identity but also God's direct involvement in preparing individuals for sacred service, passing skills and divine favour through generations.
1 Chronicles 2 4 Context
First Chronicles opens with a vast genealogical record stretching from Adam, aiming to reconnect the post-exilic community of Israel with their roots, identity, and the covenant promises. Chapter 2 narrows its focus to the descendants of Judah, the royal tribe, tracing various significant family lines within it. Verse 4 appears as part of a list that specifies the immediate family of Judah's daughter-in-law, Tamar (who bore Perez and Zerah), before diving deeper into the lineage of Perez. Its strategic placement within these records underscores the Chronicler's intent to provide a comprehensive, albeit selective, account of Israel's heritage. The Chronicler highlights particular individuals and families not merely for historical accuracy, but because they hold importance in the religious and national story, especially those linked to the priesthood, kingdom, or the sacred service of the Lord, as Bezalel demonstrably was. This meticulous lineage re-establishes a sense of continuity and divine providence for a people returning from exile, assuring them of God's enduring faithfulness to their tribal and national identity.
1 Chronicles 2 4 Word analysis
And:
וְ(ve) - A simple conjunctive prefix, linking this lineage to the preceding one, emphasizing continuity in the genealogical flow. It serves as a connector in the larger enumeration.Hur:
חוּר(Chur) - This individual is notably presented here as the father of Uri. In Exodus, Hur is also a significant figure, assisting Aaron in supporting Moses' hands during the battle against Amalek (Exod 17:10-12) and being one of those entrusted with authority in Moses' absence (Exod 24:14). His prominent appearance in genealogies (like here) suggests his notable position within the tribe of Judah, beyond just being an ancestor to Bezalel. His role and trust imply a certain stature and integrity.begat:
הוֹלִיד(holid) - The Hifil form of the verbיָלַד(yalad), meaning "to beget," "to father," "to bear." This is the standard biblical term used in genealogies to denote direct paternal descent. It signifies a clear, un broken lineage, establishing legal and hereditary claims.Uri:
אוּרִי(Uri) - Means "My Light" or "Light of the Lord." His primary significance here is his role as the intermediate link in this lineage, the son of Hur and the father of Bezalel. While not directly described with divine empowerment in Scripture, his name carries a thematic resonance of light, connecting to the brilliance of the skilled works his son would accomplish under divine guidance.Bezalel:
בְּצַלְאֵל(Bezalel) - The most significant figure in this verse. His name means "In the Shadow/Protection of God" or "Under God's Shelter." He is divinely gifted and called by name to construct the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings (Exod 31:2-5). The inclusion of his name specifically emphasizes God's providence in equipping His people with extraordinary abilities for His purposes. He represents not merely human talent, but divinely inspired and empowered skill directed towards sacred worship and the establishment of God's dwelling place among His people.Hur begat Uri; and Uri begat Bezalel: This phrasing precisely delineates the line of descent. The Chronicler's choice to present this short, three-generation genealogy is deliberate. It functions to isolate and highlight Bezalel's unique position, showcasing that his divinely-appointed role in building the Tabernacle (which was essentially a portable sanctuary, a precursor to the Temple) was part of a planned, continuous family line within Judah. This emphasizes the intergenerational nature of God's covenant and how He raises up and equips individuals within specific family units to accomplish His will for His people and their worship. It underlines the importance of lineage not just for identity, but for purpose.
1 Chronicles 2 4 Bonus section
The mention of Bezalel here underscores the often-overlooked biblical emphasis on divine craftsmanship and art as forms of worship and service. His gifting was explicitly linked to being "filled with the Spirit of God," an Old Testament precedent for the concept of divine enablement for specific tasks that would later find its fullest expression in the Holy Spirit's empowerment for diverse ministries in the New Testament. This lineage thus prefigures the idea that every skill, every talent, when consecrated to God's purpose, becomes a sacred act. The names themselves are significant: Hur (whose etymology is debated but implies noble or high origin), Uri ("My Light"), and Bezalel ("In the Shadow of God") collectively evoke a progression of God's presence and guidance leading to the construction of a dwelling where God's glory would shine (light) under His protection. This serves as a potent reminder that even the most practical or artistic endeavors can be deeply spiritual and eternally significant when directed by God's wisdom and empowered by His Spirit.
1 Chronicles 2 4 Commentary
1 Chronicles 2:4 serves as a succinct but profound link within Israel's complex genealogies, elevating a particular line for a very specific reason. The verse’s primary importance lies in its highlighting of Bezalel, a name that resonates with divine appointment and supernatural gifting for sacred service. For the post-exilic audience, this would have been a reminder that God actively intervenes in human affairs, empowering individuals not just with military might or political power, but also with artistic and constructive skills directly tied to worship. The meticulous crafting of the Tabernacle and its holy vessels through Bezalel and his co-workers symbolized God's holy presence among His people, and Bezalel's inclusion in these crucial genealogies stresses the theological principle that even creative genius for spiritual purposes is a divine impartation. It illustrates God's sovereignty over every detail, from choosing a people, to establishing their tribes, to even empowering the craftsmen for His holy dwelling.