1 Chronicles 25:5 kjv
All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
1 Chronicles 25:5 nkjv
All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn. For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
1 Chronicles 25:5 niv
(All these were sons of Heman the king's seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.)
1 Chronicles 25:5 esv
All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
1 Chronicles 25:5 nlt
All these were the sons of Heman, the king's seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters.
1 Chronicles 25 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chr 6:33 | These are the men who served… Of the sons of Kohath: Heman... | Heman as a principal musician, Levite lineage |
| 1 Chr 15:19 | The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound bronze cymbals... | Heman's specific musical role in David's time |
| 1 Chr 25:1 | David and the army commanders also set apart some of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun's sons... | Organization of temple musicians by David |
| 1 Chr 25:7 | All these men were sons... of Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman... skilled... in music... numbering 288. | Collective skill and number of musicians |
| 2 Chr 29:30 | King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and Asaph the seer... | Connection of worship with "words of" inspired individuals |
| 2 Sam 24:11 | ...the prophet Gad, David’s seer, came to him... | Gad as David's "seer," similar prophetic role |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire of God, they would say, "Let’s go to the seer," because the prophet of today used to be called a seer. | Clarifies the term "seer" as a prophet |
| 2 Ki 3:15 | But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the Lord’s hand came on Elisha. | Music facilitating prophetic utterance |
| Ps 75:10 | I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted high. | "Horn" as a symbol of power/strength (divinely uplifted) |
| Ps 89:17 | For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. | God as the one who exalts strength/power |
| Ps 92:10 | You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me. | "Horn lifted" signifying strength, blessing |
| Ps 148:14 | He has raised up a horn for his people, the praise of all his faithful ones... | "Horn raised" for God's people as praise |
| Lk 1:69 | He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. | Messianic "horn of salvation" |
| Ps 150:3-5 | Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet... with the harp... the tambourine... | Calls to worship God with various instruments |
| Neh 12:27 | ...they sought out the Levites in all their localities to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness... with trumpets, cymbals and harps. | Joyful, organized worship with music |
| Ps 127:3 | Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. | Children as a blessing from God |
| Gen 1:28 | God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number..." | Divine command and blessing of fruitfulness |
| Prov 17:6 | Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. | Value and blessing of large family |
| 1 Chr 23:5 | Four thousand were gatekeepers and four thousand praised the Lord with the musical instruments... David had made for that purpose. | David's purposeful design for worship music |
| Isa 30:10 | ...“Do not prophesy to us visions that are right! Tell us pleasant things; prophesy illusions." | Contrast: prophetic word not always pleasant; underscores true "words of God" |
| Joel 2:1 | Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill... | Trumpet (horn) used for proclamation/signal |
1 Chronicles 25 verses
1 Chronicles 25 5 Meaning
This verse describes Heman, a prominent Levite musician in King David's time, emphasizing his dual role as a leader of worship and a prophetic "seer." It highlights that his significant musical ministry was divinely inspired and focused on proclaiming God's truth. Crucially, it attributes the large size of his family—fourteen sons and three daughters—directly to God's blessing, indicating divine support and provision for the comprehensive organization of Temple worship, specifically in the Levitical choirs and orchestras.
1 Chronicles 25 5 Context
Chapter 25 of 1 Chronicles meticulously details King David's comprehensive organization of the Levitical musicians for perpetual service in the temple, even before its construction. David, inspired by God, established specific orders and functions for the musicians, categorizing them into groups led by Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. This arrangement ensured continuous and skilled musical praise, psalmody, and prophetic utterance within Israel's worship. Verse 5 specifically zeroes in on Heman, one of the three principal choir masters, highlighting his unique standing not only as a musician but as a "seer" whose ministry flowed "in the words of God," indicating a divinely inspired, authoritative prophetic dimension to his music. The mention of his numerous offspring further contextualizes the sheer scale of the organized worship, underscoring that the Levitical ministry was to be extensive and intergenerational, divinely provided for and supported through the blessing of many skilled participants from Heman's large family.
1 Chronicles 25 5 Word analysis
- All these: (Hebrew: ’ēlĕh kullām, אֵלֶּה כֻלָּם) - Points collectively to the children of Heman, emphasizing the extensive nature of his family and their united contribution to the worship. This collective effort was crucial for the complex musical ministry of the Temple.
- were the sons of Heman: Directly links the following description to Heman’s family and lineage. This emphasizes the intergenerational continuity of worship ministry, a characteristic often found in Levitical service.
- Heman: (Hebrew: Hēymān, הֵימָן) - A significant Kohathite Levite, grandson of Samuel. His name means "faithful" or "true," fitting for a dedicated servant. He was appointed by David as one of the three chief musicians and seers for the sacred music (1 Chr 6:33; 15:19; 25:1).
- the king's seer: (Hebrew: chōzeh hamměleḵ, חֹזֵה הַמֶּלֶךְ) - A "seer" (chōzeh) was an ancient term for a prophet, someone who received divine visions or revelations and conveyed God’s word (cf. 1 Sam 9:9). This indicates that Heman’s musical role was not merely artistic but also prophetic and authoritative, delivering divine messages or insights through his compositions and performances to the king and people.
- in the words of God: (Hebrew: bĕdibrê hā’ĕlōhîm, בְּדִבְרֵי הָאֱלֹהִים) - This phrase qualifies "seer." It asserts that Heman's prophetic sight and musical output were derived directly from divine inspiration, aligning his music with God’s revealed truth. His songs and pronouncements were not of human origin but expressions of God's will and truth. This grants them divine authority and truthfulness.
- to lift up the horn: (Hebrew: lĕhāriym qeren, לְהָרִים קֶרֶן) -
- qeren (קֶרֶן), "horn," symbolically represents strength, power, glory, authority, and exaltation. It can refer to animal horns, military power, or royal dignity.
- hārîm (הָרִים), "to lift up," means to exalt or raise.
- This phrase has a dual meaning:
- Musical Instruments: It can refer literally to the blowing of trumpets or horns, common in Temple worship (cf. Pss 98:6, 150:3). This highlights the celebratory and proclamation aspect of the music.
- Symbolic Exaltation: More profoundly, it signifies the spiritual purpose of the worship—to exalt God’s power and authority, and in doing so, to symbolically raise up the strength and dignity of His people (cf. Ps 75:10, 89:17, 1 Sam 2:10). It embodies triumphal proclamation and divine vindication.
- And God gave to Heman: Explicitly attributes Heman’s numerous progeny to divine grace and provision. This is a direct blessing from God, emphasizing that the extensive nature of the Temple worship was God’s plan and supported by Him, not merely a human endeavor.
- fourteen sons and three daughters: The specific, large number (17 children) highlights the remarkable abundance of God's blessing. Such a numerous household was seen as a sign of divine favor (Ps 127:3-5) and ensured ample personnel for the extensive and complex musical divisions required for the Tabernacle/Temple worship, signifying fruitfulness and longevity in ministry.
1 Chronicles 25 5 Bonus section
- Heman's lineage, specifically being a grandson of Samuel (1 Chr 6:33-38), highlights a continuity of prophetic and spiritual leadership, bridging the era of the judges/prophets into the Davidic monarchy and temple service.
- The meticulous numbering and assignment of all Heman’s 14 sons (and his other family members) in the subsequent verses (1 Chr 25:6-31) underscores the highly organized and systematic approach David took to Temple worship, indicating its profound importance in Israel's national and spiritual life.
- The concept of musical ministry as a form of "prophesying" is reinforced in 1 Chronicles 25:1, where these musicians "prophesy" (in KJV) with musical instruments. This shows that artistic expression in worship can be a legitimate conduit for the Spirit's power and divine message, moving beyond mere entertainment to spiritual declaration.
1 Chronicles 25 5 Commentary
1 Chronicles 25:5 illuminates the unique and divinely empowered role of Heman within David's elaborate structure of worship. He was not merely a musician, but a "seer," indicating that his artistic expressions were a vehicle for God's word and revelation. His compositions and performances were delivered "in the words of God," meaning they were divinely inspired and authoritative, making musical worship itself a form of prophetic ministry. This prophetic dimension imbued the music with spiritual power, serving "to lift up the horn"—a multifaceted symbol for both the literal sounding of trumpets in grand worship, and, more significantly, the spiritual act of exalting God's power, authority, and the strength of His people. The divine hand is further evident in the astounding number of children God granted Heman—fourteen sons and three daughters. This large family was not a mere demographic fact but a clear sign of God's blessing, signifying divine provision for the necessary personnel to maintain and perpetuate the intricate and expansive system of musical worship. Through Heman, God not only raised a prophet and a musician but also multiplied his lineage to ensure the continuation of a vibrant, prophetic, and Spirit-empowered ministry of praise for His glory. This serves as an example of God equipping His servants fully for the ministries He calls them to.