1 Chronicles 26:6 kjv
Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valor.
1 Chronicles 26:6 nkjv
Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born who governed their fathers' houses, because they were men of great ability.
1 Chronicles 26:6 niv
Obed-Edom's son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father's family because they were very capable men.
1 Chronicles 26:6 esv
Also to his son Shemaiah were sons born who were rulers in their fathers' houses, for they were men of great ability.
1 Chronicles 26:6 nlt
Obed-edom's son Shemaiah had sons with great ability who earned positions of great authority in the clan.
1 Chronicles 26 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:28 | ...Be fruitful and multiply... | God's command to be fruitful, blessing of offspring. |
| Gen 49:22 | Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well... | Blessing of numerous descendants and strength. |
| Psa 127:3-5 | Sons are a heritage from the Lord... Like arrows in the hand of a warrior. | Children as a divine gift and source of strength. |
| Prov 31:10 | Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. | "Chayil" (valor) used for moral competence/excellence. |
| Exod 18:21 | ...select able men from all the people, men who fear God... | Choosing competent leaders for service. |
| Deut 1:13 | ...wise and understanding, and known among your tribes... | Leaders identified by wisdom and ability. |
| 2 Sam 6:11-12 | ...the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household... | Divine blessing on Obed-Edom's faithfulness. |
| 1 Chr 26:5 | ...for God blessed him. | Direct statement of God's blessing on Obed-Edom's lineage. |
| 1 Chr 9:26 | ...the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in charge... | Chief gatekeepers' significant roles in temple. |
| 1 Chr 11:26 | ...also the mighty men of valor were: Asahel the brother of Joab... | "Mighty men of valor" typically refers to capable warriors/leaders. |
| 1 Chr 12:8 | From the Gadites there separated themselves unto David men of might... | Description of competent and strong men joining service. |
| 1 Chr 23:2-6 | David gathered all the leaders of Israel... and the Levites were enrolled... | Organization and numbering of Levites for service. |
| Neh 11:19 | Moreover the doorkeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren... | Temple doorkeepers, ongoing vital role. |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring all the tithes into the storehouse... to see if I will not open... | Blessing linked to faithfulness in God's house. |
| Matt 24:45-47 | Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has made ruler... | Emphasis on faithful stewardship and wise rule. |
| Luke 12:42-44 | The Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward...?" | Rewarding faithful and wise stewards. |
| 1 Tim 3:4-5 | He must manage his own household well, with all dignity... | Requirement for managing one's own house for church leadership. |
| 1 Tim 3:12 | Deacons must be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own... | Managing household well reflects spiritual qualification. |
| Titus 1:7 | For an overseer, as God's steward, must be blameless... | Leaders must be stewards, competent and blameless. |
| Heb 3:5-6 | Moses indeed was faithful in all God's house as a servant... | Faithfulness in service in God's house. |
| 2 Tim 2:1-2 | ...and the things that you have heard from me... commit to faithful men... | Passing on responsibility to faithful, capable men. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another... | Using gifts to serve God and others effectively. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | ...He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets... for the equipping of the saints. | God gives various leaders for equipping and service. |
| 2 Cor 3:5-6 | Not that we are sufficient of ourselves... our sufficiency is from God... | Human capability comes from God. |
1 Chronicles 26 verses
1 Chronicles 26 6 Meaning
First Chronicles 26:6 describes Shemaiah, a descendant of Obed-Edom the Gittite, whose sons were divinely blessed with numerous offspring. These sons were given positions of authority and responsibility, faithfully overseeing their assigned duties within their familial division of the temple service. Their designation as "mighty men of valor" highlights their exceptional capability, competence, and reliability in their assigned roles. This verse emphasizes the generational blessing and the divine provision of able leaders for the intricate service of the house of God.
1 Chronicles 26 6 Context
1 Chronicles chapter 26 continues the Chronicler's detailed account of the divisions of the Levites, focusing specifically on the gatekeepers. After describing the descendants of the sons of Kore (v. 1-2) and Merari (v. 10-11), verses 4-8 highlight the prominent family of Obed-Edom, particularly emphasizing their large number of sons, their physical strength, and their competence. This detailed genealogy and organizational structure serve to underscore the order, the divine blessing, and the designated responsibilities within the temple service under King David's reign. The entire chapter focuses on the careful and extensive organization of the temple doorkeepers and treasurers, revealing their vital role in the sanctuary's security, administration, and sanctity. Historically, this account would reassure the post-exilic community of the divinely sanctioned structure and permanence of temple worship, rooted in ancient traditions and divine promises.
1 Chronicles 26 6 Word analysis
- To Shemaiah his son: Shemaiah (שְׁמַעְיָה - Shəmaʻyah) means "heard of Yah" or "Yah has heard." He is explicitly identified as the son of Obed-Edom (mentioned in verse 4), continuing a blessed lineage connected to the handling of the Ark of the Covenant. This highlights generational faithfulness and inherited blessings in service.
- were sons born: The Hebrew (בָנִים יֻלַּדוּ - bānim yullādu) uses a passive form, emphasizing that the birth of these sons was not merely a natural occurrence but a divine provision and blessing, particularly as verse 5 states, "God blessed him." This emphasizes divine favor and enablement for the ongoing sacred duties.
- who ruled: The Hebrew (מֹשְׁלִים - mōshlim), from the root מָשַׁל (māshal), denotes authority, governance, or effective management. In this context, it signifies their administrative leadership and responsible oversight within their designated service area as gatekeepers, managing the various functions related to their family division.
- in the house of their father: This phrase (בֵית אֲבִיהֶם - beit ăḇîhem) refers to their lineage, their familial unit, and specifically to their designated sphere of influence and responsibility within the organized Levitical service at the Temple. It implies stewardship over their specific watch and the duties assigned to their family division.
- for they were mighty men of valor: This common Hebrew idiom (גִּבֹּרֵי חַיִל - gibbōrê ḥayil) conveys far more than mere physical strength. "Gibborim" (mighty men, heroes) indicates robust ability, and "chayil" (valor, strength, wealth, capability, army, virtue) signifies a broad range of qualities including competence, effectiveness, trustworthiness, and perhaps even substantial means or influence. In the Chronicler's context, applied to Levites serving in non-military roles like gatekeepers and treasurers, it signifies their exceptional capability, reliability, and fitness for rigorous temple duties, encompassing administrative skills, vigilance, and moral uprightness required for safeguarding the holy precincts and their contents.
- who ruled in the house of their father, for they were mighty men of valor: This phrase links their administrative capacity directly to their inherent or divinely endowed competence. Their leadership role ("ruled") was a direct consequence or expression of their qualified status as "mighty men of valor." It implies that these roles were not given lightly but entrusted to those most capable and trustworthy.
1 Chronicles 26 6 Bonus section
The detailed enumeration of Obed-Edom's descendants throughout this chapter, particularly their assignment to gatekeeping roles, emphasizes the Chronicler's interest in divine order and structure in sacred service. It showcases how different spiritual gifts and natural abilities, even those not typically associated with priestly or sacrificial functions (like physical strength and administrative prowess for gatekeepers), were essential and valued components of the holistic temple worship. This verse, therefore, implicitly promotes the idea that every role, no matter how seemingly mundane, is vital when performed faithfully by capable individuals designated by God. It also provides a historical and theological basis for the stability and legitimacy of the Levitical families serving in the Second Temple period.
1 Chronicles 26 6 Commentary
First Chronicles 26:6 articulates the profound blessing on the lineage of Obed-Edom, specifically manifested through his grandson Shemaiah's numerous and competent sons. The verse highlights not only the continuation of the family line but also their specific roles in sacred service. Their identification as "mighty men of valor" elevates their responsibility beyond mere routine duties; it signifies exceptional administrative skill, trustworthiness, and an inherent suitability for the important functions of doorkeeping and overseeing temple treasuries. This emphasizes that effective leadership in God's house is rooted in divine enablement and demonstrated competence, securing the sacred operations for future generations. The passage serves as an encouragement that God blesses faithfulness with qualified individuals to carry on His work.