1 Chronicles 3 19

1 Chronicles 3:19 kjv

And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:

1 Chronicles 3:19 nkjv

The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam, Hananiah, Shelomith their sister,

1 Chronicles 3:19 niv

The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister.

1 Chronicles 3:19 esv

and the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister;

1 Chronicles 3:19 nlt

The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam and Hananiah. (Their sister was Shelomith.)

1 Chronicles 3 verses

1 Chronicles 3 19 Meaning

This verse details the direct continuation of the Davidic royal line through Zerubbabel, a pivotal figure in the post-exilic return from Babylon. It identifies Pedaiah as the father of Zerubbabel and Shimei, and then lists Zerubbabel’s children: Meshullam, Hananiah, and their sister Shelomith. The inclusion of these names within the genealogical record of David's descendants underscores the enduring covenant promise of God regarding a perpetual seed to occupy the throne, even during periods of exile and restoration.

1 Chronicles 3 19 Context

This verse is situated within the extensive genealogies of 1 Chronicles chapters 1-9, which lay the foundational history of Israel, emphasizing the Davidic line. Specifically, 1 Chronicles 3 focuses on David's own family, meticulously tracing his royal descendants through his son Solomon. Verse 19 represents a critical transition, moving beyond the direct pre-exilic royal succession into the period following the Babylonian captivity. Its inclusion serves to establish the continuity of God's covenant with David, proving that even after the monarchy's collapse and the people's deportation, a royal seed endured. This post-exilic lineage, featuring Zerubbabel, was crucial for validating the claims and roles of leaders during the return and reconstruction, and profoundly, for maintaining the expectation of the coming Messiah from David's restored, albeit humble, line.

1 Chronicles 3 19 Word analysis

• The sons of: Indicates direct male offspring, establishing a lineage. This phrase is central to biblical genealogies, tracing inheritance, identity, and covenant continuity.
• Pedaiah: (Hebrew: פְּדָיָה, Pəḏāyâ) Meaning "Yahweh has ransomed" or "redemption of Yah." This name carries significant weight in a post-exilic context, alluding to God's act of deliverance and return for His people. It implicitly points to divine intervention and covenant faithfulness amidst national despair.
• Zerubbabel: (Hebrew: זְרֻבָּבֶל, Zərûbāḇel) Meaning "Sown in Babylon" or "Offspring of Babylon." His name signifies his birthplace or upbringing during the exile, highlighting the displacement of the Davidic line. Zerubbabel is a monumental figure in the history of Israel's return from Babylon, serving as the governor of Judah and instrumental in rebuilding the Second Temple. He is a prominent symbol of hope and restoration, often understood as a representative of the restored Davidic line and a type of the future Messiah (see Hag 2:23, Zec 4:6-10). While Matthew 1:12 and Luke 3:27 present Zerubbabel as the son of Shealtiel, 1 Chronicles 3:19 explicitly states Pedaiah as his father. This is often reconciled by scholarship suggesting Pedaiah was the biological father while Shealtiel was the legal or adoptive father, or a levirate arrangement where Pedaiah married his deceased brother Shealtiel's widow, thus Zerubbabel could be legally attributed to Shealtiel to continue his line. The Chronicler prioritizes direct biological descent here.
• and Shimei: (Hebrew: שִׁמְעִי, Shimʿî) Meaning "my fame" or "my renown." Shimei is another son of Pedaiah, establishing a collateral line. His mention confirms the continuation of multiple branches within the Davidic family, though the focus is predominantly on Zerubbabel's line.
• The sons of Zerubbabel: Again, emphasizing direct male offspring, continuing the vital royal lineage.
• Meshullam: (Hebrew: מְשֻׁלָּם, Məshullām) Meaning "requited" or "peaceful." This name continues the theme of God's interaction with His people – His restoration and blessing.
• and Hananiah: (Hebrew: חֲנַנְיָה, Ḥănanyâ) Meaning "Yahweh has been gracious" or "grace of Yah." Another significant name reflecting God's kindness and unmerited favor upon the struggling post-exilic community. These names are not just identifiers but expressions of the period's theological understanding and hope.
• and Shelomith was their sister: (Hebrew: שְׁלֹמִית, Shəlômîṯ) Meaning "peaceful" or "peaceable." The mention of a daughter is somewhat unique in a typically male-centric genealogy, indicating her significant standing or specific role, perhaps related to property or lineage rights. Her name echoes themes of peace and restoration which were deeply desired after the tumult of exile.

• "The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei.": This phrase establishes a new direct descendant link within David's royal line, diverging from the direct parental listing for Zerubbabel seen elsewhere. It highlights the continued fertility of the Davidic family even in their humble circumstances.
• "The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister.": This section solidifies Zerubbabel's foundational role not only as a leader but also as a patriarch, securing the future generations of the royal line. The inclusion of his sons, Meshullam and Hananiah, is vital for continuing the unbroken genealogical chain that ultimately leads to the Messiah. Shelomith's mention underscores the breadth of his family.

1 Chronicles 3 19 Bonus section

The Chronicler’s meticulous attention to the post-exilic genealogies, especially highlighting figures like Zerubbabel, serves to bridge the gap between the perceived failure of the Davidic monarchy and the continuing covenant promises. It reassures the returning remnant that they are still a part of God's covenant people and that the hope for a future Davidic king—the Messiah—remains active and unbroken through their lineage. This passage, by carefully listing the post-exilic descendants, provides legitimate proof of lineage for temple service and for royal expectations, a critical requirement for a community striving to rebuild its identity around God's continued faithfulness.

1 Chronicles 3 19 Commentary

1 Chronicles 3:19 is far more than a simple listing of names; it is a profound declaration of God's unswerving faithfulness to His covenant with David. In the wake of the Babylonian exile, when the Davidic throne lay vacant and the nation was scattered, the Chronicler painstakingly documents this specific lineage through Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel, whose name literally suggests "sown in Babylon," emerged from the ashes of national defeat to lead the returning exiles and champion the rebuilding of the Second Temple. His inclusion here highlights God's continuous sovereign plan: even when the promise of an everlasting throne seemed extinguished, the divine thread of the Davidic dynasty was being preserved, often in obscurity. This verse emphasizes divine preservation, restoration, and the enduring hope that God would indeed fulfill His promise of a descendant on David's throne, ultimately realized in the person of Jesus Christ.