1 Chronicles 3 18

1 Chronicles 3:18 kjv

Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

1 Chronicles 3:18 nkjv

and Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

1 Chronicles 3:18 niv

Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah.

1 Chronicles 3:18 esv

Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah;

1 Chronicles 3:18 nlt

Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

1 Chronicles 3 verses

1 Chronicles 3 18 Meaning

1 Chronicles 3:18 lists six individuals: Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. These are presented as the descendants of Jeconiah (also known as Coniah or Jehoiachin), the king of Judah who was carried into Babylonian exile. The verse serves to demonstrate the continuation of the Davidic royal line through Jeconiah, even in the period of exile and despite divine judgment, ensuring the preserving of the lineage that would eventually lead to the promised Messiah.

1 Chronicles 3 18 Context

First Chronicles chapter 3 meticulously records the genealogical line of King David, tracing it from his children born in Hebron to those born in Jerusalem, culminating in the royal line of Judah's kings up to the Babylonian exile. Verse 18 is situated immediately after the mention of Jeconiah (King Jehoiachin), the king under whom Jerusalem fell and who was exiled to Babylon. Jeconiah was notably the subject of a severe prophetic judgment in Jeremiah 22:30, which declared that none of his descendants would prosper or sit on the throne of David. This verse, listing Jeconiah's direct descendants, is therefore critical for understanding how the Davidic line was preserved despite this seeming curse. The Chronicler's primary goal in presenting these genealogies is to establish the continuous historical link of the Israelites from their earliest ancestors, particularly the line of Judah and David, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenants despite national apostasy and exile, and ultimately pointing towards the continuation of the line leading to the Messiah.

1 Chronicles 3 18 Word analysis

• And (וְ – ve): A simple conjunctive, connecting this list of names to the preceding verses which detail the earlier generations of David's lineage, specifically linking these individuals to Jeconiah.

• Malchiram (מַלְכִּירָם – Malki-ram): The first name listed among Jeconiah's sons/descendants in this verse. The name likely means "My king is exalted" or "The king is high." Its prominent position might suggest primogeniture, though the biblical text does not always rigidly adhere to this for subsequent royal lines, especially after a king like Jeconiah who had a significant curse upon him.

• Pedaiah (פְּדָיָה – Pedayah): This name is highly significant, meaning "Yahweh has redeemed" or "Yahweh has delivered." His inclusion, especially with the immediate follow-up in verse 19 naming Zerubbabel and Shimei as his sons, suggests a crucial role in the continuation of the line. The very meaning of his name "Yahweh has redeemed" beautifully prefigures God's redemptive work in preserving the Davidic line through exile and establishing leaders like Zerubbabel.

• Shenazzar (שְׁנְאצַּר – Shena’tzzar): The meaning of this name is debated. It could be of Babylonian origin, potentially meaning "Sin's protection" (Sin being the moon god) or related to "splendor of the prince." Its presence indicates the setting of the Babylonian exile, where foreign names were adopted by the exiled Judahites.

• Jecamiah (יְקַמְיָה – Yeqamyah): Meaning "May Yahweh raise up" or "Yahweh establishes." This name, like Pedaiah, carries a message of divine intervention and promise, emphasizing God's continuous work in raising up or establishing the lineage, despite the current exilic and broken state.

• Hoshama (הוֹשָׁמָע – Hoshama): Meaning "Yahweh has heard." This name signifies God's responsiveness to His people, implying that even in exile and judgment, God still hears their cries or hears the prayer concerning the promises made to David.

• Nedabiah (נְדַבְיָה – Nedavyah): Meaning "Yahweh is generous" or "Yahweh has impelled." This name points to God's sustained generosity and active will in moving events and people, particularly in preserving the promised Davidic line.

• Word-group Analysis:The listing of these six names immediately following Jeconiah is pivotal. The sequence ensures the continuity of David's lineage post-exile. More significantly, the inclusion of "Pedaiah" is paramount, as he is identified in the very next verse (1 Chr 3:19) as the father of Zerubbabel. This relationship provides a critical textual link, as Zerubbabel is mentioned as a descendant of Jeconiah in the Messianic genealogies of Matthew (through Shealtiel) and Luke (through Neri/Shealtiel). The theological message in these names, particularly "Pedaiah" ("Yahweh has redeemed") and "Jecamiah" ("May Yahweh raise up"), combined with their sequential listing, powerfully underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant with David, even as the kingdom itself lay in ruins. The names act as miniature prophecies and assurances that God's plan of redemption through the Davidic line was not thwarted by human sin or the devastating exile. They are not ruling kings, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy, but they are crucial for the continued biological and legal lineage towards the Messiah.

1 Chronicles 3 18 Bonus section

The genealogical presentation in 1 Chronicles 3:17-19 highlights a well-known textual and historical discussion regarding Zerubbabel's parentage. Matthew 1:12 states that Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. However, 1 Chronicles 3:17 names Shealtiel and Pedaiah as sons of Jeconiah, and then states that Pedaiah was the father of Zerubbabel (and Shimei) in 1 Chronicles 3:19. Scholars suggest several possibilities:

1. Levirate Marriage: Shealtiel may have died childless, and his brother Pedaiah then married his widow (a levirate marriage, Deut 25:5-10) to raise up an heir for Shealtiel. Zerubbabel would then be biologically Pedaiah's son but legally (and biblically for genealogical purposes) Shealtiel's son. This would make sense in both Chronicles and Matthew.
2. Flexible Usage of "Son of": In Hebrew genealogies, "son of" can mean "descendant of," allowing for gaps or non-biological relationships (e.g., grandfather/grandson, or adoptive relationships).
3. Variant Genealogies: There might have been slightly differing family traditions or records, both accurately reflecting lineage from different perspectives.Regardless of the precise family dynamics, the Chronicler's specific listing ensures that the Davidic line continues and remains traceable, directly fulfilling the need for a legitimate lineage for the promised Messiah. The focus is on the continuity and God's faithfulness, despite the apparent desolation and the curse pronounced on Jeconiah.

1 Chronicles 3 18 Commentary

1 Chronicles 3:18 is far more than a simple genealogical list; it is a profound theological statement wrapped in names. Coming directly after Jeconiah, who was prophesied to have no reigning descendant on David's throne, this verse, by enumerating his offspring, subtly but powerfully affirms God's commitment to His Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7). While no son of Jeconiah reigned, the divine promise was not nullified regarding the perpetuation of the line. The Chronicler deliberately lists these sons, emphasizing continuity despite judgment and exile. The key figure here is Pedaiah, who, by virtue of being identified as Zerubbabel's father in 1 Chr 3:19 (though Matthew's genealogy states Shealtiel as Zerubbabel's father), suggests a crucial link for bypassing the curse of Jeconiah, perhaps through a levirate marriage arrangement, or simply reflecting a complex family relationship. The very name Pedaiah, "Yahweh has redeemed," highlights God's active role in preserving this lineage through grace, setting the stage for Zerubbabel, a leader of the return from exile and a key Messianic prototype (Hag 2:23; Zech 4:7). The verse thus serves as an assurance of the divine preservation of the line leading to the Messiah, embodying the paradox of judgment and unwavering promise.