1 Chronicles 27:3 kjv
Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.
1 Chronicles 27:3 nkjv
he was of the children of Perez, and the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month.
1 Chronicles 27:3 niv
He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army officers for the first month.
1 Chronicles 27:3 esv
He was a descendant of Perez and was chief of all the commanders. He served for the first month.
1 Chronicles 27:3 nlt
He was a descendant of Perez and was in charge of all the army officers for the first month.
1 Chronicles 27 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chr 27:1-15 | The detailed list of David's monthly military commanders. | Direct context of rotating military leadership. |
| 1 Chr 28:1 | David assembled all the officials of Israel... the commanders of the divisions that served the king... | Illustrates David's comprehensive organization of his kingdom. |
| 1 Chr 23-26 | Descriptions of the Levite divisions, priestly courses, gatekeepers, and treasurers. | Highlights the overall meticulous administration of David. |
| Num 1:16 | These were the elected officials of the community... commanders of their ancestral tribes. | Shows the importance of tribal heads and chosen leaders in Israel's history. |
| Ex 18:21 | Moreover, you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God... commanders of thousands... | Emphasizes the divine wisdom in delegating leadership and establishing order. |
| Dt 1:15 | So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and appointed them as heads over you... | Reinforces the principle of appointing competent leaders. |
| Num 26:20 | The descendants of Judah were Er and Onan... and Perez and Zerah. | Confirms Perez's lineage as a son of Judah. |
| Gen 38:29 | But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out; and she said, “What a breach you have made... | Account of Perez's birth, from which he derived his name ("breach" or "burst"). |
| Ruth 4:18-22 | Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron... to David. | Establishes Perez's significant lineage leading directly to King David. |
| Matt 1:3 | Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar... | Inclusion of Perez in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. |
| Lk 22:26 | ...let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. | New Testament perspective on spiritual leadership, contrasting with worldly rule. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... | Underscores God's ordination of earthly authority and order. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as supreme, or to governors... | Encourages respect for appointed authorities for the Lord's sake. |
| Neh 11:4-6 | In Jerusalem lived some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin... From the descendants of Perez... | Illustrates the continued prominence and representation of Perez's lineage. |
| 1 Chr 25:1-31 | The courses of the musicians established by David. | Demonstrates David's systematic organization in all aspects of kingdom life. |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. | Principles of submitting to divinely appointed or established leaders. |
| Eph 6:12 | For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities... | Metaphorical understanding of "host" as a spiritual army. |
| Pss 68:11 | The Lord gives the word; Great is the company of those who proclaim it. | Concept of an organized "host" or "company" serving a divine purpose. |
| Isa 40:26 | Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number... | God's meticulous order in creation, reflecting His character of organization. |
| Rom 12:8 | ...the one who leads, with zeal... | Encouragement for effective leadership within the church, requiring dedication. |
1 Chronicles 27 verses
1 Chronicles 27 3 Meaning
The verse details a crucial aspect of King David's organized military administration, specifying the commander appointed over the entire standing army for the first month of the year. This leader was drawn from the lineage of Perez, a son of Judah, indicating the significance of tribal representation and a structured hierarchy within David's kingdom.
1 Chronicles 27 3 Context
This verse is found within 1 Chronicles chapter 27, which meticulously lists the 24,000 men organized by David for various administrative duties in his kingdom. Following details on the Levitical courses, gatekeepers, and treasuries, chapter 27 focuses on the military organization, specifically the monthly rotation of commanders. David implemented this system, likely in his later reign, to ensure a well-trained standing army without placing an undue, constant burden on all soldiers. Each commander led 24,000 men, serving one month out of the year. This sophisticated military and administrative structure provided stability, readiness, and fair distribution of service, reflecting David's vision for a highly ordered kingdom. Historically, this demonstrates the careful preparation for King Solomon's future reign and a reliance on divine wisdom for the nation's governance.
1 Chronicles 27 3 Word analysis
- Of the children of Perez (לִבְנֵי פֶרֶץ - li-bne Pêrets):
- Perez (פֶּרֶץ - perets): Meaning "breach" or "bursting forth." He was the son of Judah and Tamar (Gen 38:29), born with a dramatic entry. This lineage is profoundly significant, as King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ descend directly from Perez (Ruth 4:18-22, Matt 1:3). For a military commander to be from this house underscores the honor and continued prominence of this ancestral line within Israel, specifically Judah's royal tribe.
- was the chief (הָרֹאשׁ - ha-rosh):
- Ha-rosh is the definite form of rosh (רֹאשׁ), meaning "head" or "chief." The definite article "ha-" indicates "the" chief, emphasizing that this individual held a preeminent, specific leadership position among the military officers. It signifies supreme authority for that specific month within the military command structure.
- of all the captains of the host (לְכָל שָׂרֵי הַצָּבָא - lə-ḵol sârey ha-tzava):
- Lə-ḵol (לְכָל): "of all." This highlights the comprehensive nature of the commander's authority, extending over every military leader and division within the army.
- Captains (שָׂרֵי - sârey): Refers to "princes," "officials," or "commanders." These were high-ranking military leaders, not merely lower-level officers. The term denotes significant authority and influence.
- Host (הַצָּבָא - ha-tzava): Specifically means "army," "warfare," or "military force." It can also refer to "assembly" or "service" (e.g., heavenly host). Here, it distinctly denotes Israel's organized fighting force. This phrase defines the specific realm of the commander's authority: the entire active military.
- for the first month (לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן - la-chôdêsh ha-rishôn):
- Ha-rishôn (הָרִאשׁוֹן): "The first." This precise time-marker establishes the rotational aspect of the military command. The "first month" (Abib or Nisan) held special significance in the Hebrew calendar, marking the start of the religious year (Ex 12:2) and associated with major events like Passover and the Exodus. Placing this specific commander from the Perez line at the very beginning of the cycle underscores its importance in David's carefully orchestrated kingdom.
1 Chronicles 27 3 Bonus section
The detailed organizational charts found in Chronicles (chs. 23-27) are distinctive to the Chronicler's narrative, often providing a depth of administrative detail not always prominent in the parallel accounts in Samuel and Kings. This emphasis underscores the Chronicler's theological message: that blessing and stability for Israel come through obedience to God's covenant, particularly demonstrated by maintaining proper order in worship, civil administration, and military preparedness under a righteous king. David's meticulous planning and establishment of these divisions, including the military leadership by month, signify not only his wisdom but his foresight in establishing a sustainable and robust kingdom structure for generations. It paints a picture of David as a strategic planner guided by God, preparing all aspects of the kingdom for its future purpose, culminating in Solomon's building of the Temple.
1 Chronicles 27 3 Commentary
1 Chronicles 27:3 reveals the meticulous and organized nature of King David's reign, particularly in his sophisticated military administration. By instituting a rotating system where a different commander led 24,000 men each month, David ensured both military readiness and a fair distribution of responsibility among the populace. The selection of a leader "of the children of Perez" is significant, connecting this administrative order to the very foundation of Judah's royal lineage, from which David himself sprang, and ultimately the Messiah would come. This highlights a blend of practical governance, divine order, and deep respect for Israel's tribal structures. It exemplifies a kingdom not just strong in might but strong in its structure, reflecting divine principles of order and preparation, as David prepared the nation for Solomon's reign and the eventual construction of the Temple.