1 Chronicles 3:23 kjv
And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.
1 Chronicles 3:23 nkjv
The sons of Neariah were Elioenai, Hezekiah, and Azrikam?three in all.
1 Chronicles 3:23 niv
The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam?three in all.
1 Chronicles 3:23 esv
The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three.
1 Chronicles 3:23 nlt
The sons of Neariah were Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam ? three in all.
1 Chronicles 3 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:12 | "When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom." | Davidic Covenant promise of eternal offspring. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "You have said, 'I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn to David My servant: “I will establish your offspring forever and build your throne for all generations.”'" | God's oath to David's perpetual throne. |
| Ps 132:11-12 | "The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: 'One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne...'" | Promise of David's perpetual royal lineage. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom..." | Prophecy of Messiah inheriting David's throne. |
| Jer 23:5-6 | "'Behold, the days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch...'" | Prophecy of the Davidic Branch, the Messiah. |
| Zech 6:12-13 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Behold, the man whose name is the Branch... He shall build the temple of the Lord...'" | Messianic prophecy of the Builder-King. |
| Amos 9:11 | "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and rebuild its ruins..." | Restoration of David's royal line. |
| Matt 1:1-17 | "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham..." | Jesus' Davidic royal lineage. |
| Lk 3:23-38 | "...Jesus, when He began His ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli...the son of David..." | Jesus' Davidic lineage confirmed. |
| Rom 1:3 | "...concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh..." | Jesus' humanity tied to Davidic descent. |
| Rev 22:16 | "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”" | Jesus' direct claim as David's descendant. |
| Gen 5:1-32 | "This is the book of the generations of Adam...Seth...Noah..." | Biblical genealogies affirming lineage. |
| Ruth 4:18-22 | "These are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron..." | David's specific ancestral line from Perez. |
| 1 Chron 3:1-24 | "These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron..." | Full context of David's descendants. |
| Ezra 2:59-63 | "The following were those who came up from Tel-melah... But they could not prove their father's houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel..." | Importance of genealogies for identity. |
| Neh 7:61-64 | "Also from the sons of the priests...These sought their registration among those enrolled in genealogies, but they were not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean." | Genealogies validating identity & role. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?" | God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises. |
| Deut 7:9 | "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him..." | God's covenant faithfulness. |
| Ps 33:11 | "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations." | God's plans endure through all generations. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." | God's persistent faithfulness despite failure. |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | "If we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself." | God's character ensures His faithfulness. |
1 Chronicles 3 verses
1 Chronicles 3 23 Meaning
1 Chronicles 3:23 lists three specific individuals—Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam—as the sons of Neariah. This seemingly simple genealogical entry is profoundly significant within the Chronicler's narrative, as it is a link in the unbroken lineage of King David, tracing the continuation of the royal line even after the Babylonian exile. It serves as an affirmation of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, specifically the Davidic Covenant, demonstrating that the designated family line through which the Messiah would come remains preserved, offering hope to a humbled post-exilic community.
1 Chronicles 3 23 Context
1 Chronicles chapter 3 details the comprehensive genealogy of King David, tracing his descendants primarily through the royal line of Solomon. Following the detailed list of David's direct sons (vv. 1-9) and Solomon's immediate lineage (vv. 10-16), the chapter shifts focus to the descendants of Jeconiah (also called Coniah or Jehoiachin, vv. 17-24). Jeconiah was a king of Judah who was exiled to Babylon, and whose line faced divine pronouncement of no direct heir on David's throne (Jer 22:30). Despite this, the Chronicler carefully documents his continued descendants, including the line leading to Neariah and his three sons. This context is critical because it highlights God's continued preservation of the royal line even through exile and a seemingly interrupted succession, reassuring the post-exilic community that His ultimate promises regarding the Davidic throne were still valid and ongoing. The overall historical context for 1 Chronicles is the return from Babylonian exile, where establishing clear genealogies was vital for rebuilding Israelite society, claiming land, resuming temple service, and reinforcing national and spiritual identity under God's covenant.
1 Chronicles 3 23 Word analysis
- The sons of Neariah: (בְּנֵי נְעַרְיָה֙ - bənê nǝ‘ar•yâ). "Benei" signifies male offspring or descendants. "Neariah" means "Youth of Yahweh" or "Servant of Yahweh," reflecting a dedication to God. This phrase introduces a specific segment of the Davidic lineage, pinpointing an individual and his direct progeny to maintain the meticulous record of succession.
- Elioenai: (אֱלִיהוֹעֵינַ֥י - ʾĕlîhoʿênay). This significant Hebrew name means "My eyes are toward Yahweh" or "Unto Yahweh are my eyes." Such a name carries profound theological weight, especially for a people grappling with the consequences of exile. It speaks of a steadfast reliance and hopeful gaze upon God for their future, redemption, and the fulfillment of divine promises.
- Hizkiah: (וְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ - wəḥizqîyāhû). This name means "Yahweh strengthens" or "Yahweh is my strength." It shares the root with the name of the faithful King Hezekiah of Judah, though it refers to a distinct individual here. The name reinforces a theme of divine empowerment and resilience, crucial for a community striving to rebuild their spiritual and national life after immense loss.
- Azrikam: (וְעַזְרִיקָ֖ם - wəʿazrîqām). This name translates to "My help has arisen" or "My help has stood up." It suggests a confidence in God's active intervention and timely assistance. Like the preceding names, it expresses a post-exilic hope in God's saving power, highlighting the faith of those naming their children during such a period.
- three: (שְׁלֹשָֽׁה - šəlōšah). The number "three" provides a precise count for this specific branch of the lineage. In genealogies, such numerical precision emphasizes the accuracy and comprehensive nature of the record-keeping. It indicates that the listing for Neariah's direct male descendants is complete for this specific entry.
Words-group analysis:
- "The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, and Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three.": This entire clause is a vital, self-contained record within the longer Davidic genealogy. It underscores the continuation of David's royal line, even through humble and obscured individuals in the post-exilic period. The listing of precisely three sons with hopeful, theophoric names (names that include a divine element, like 'Yah' or 'El') implicitly testifies to God's enduring providence and care over His chosen lineage, patiently moving towards the ultimate fulfillment of His covenant with David. It is a clear and verifiable declaration of historical continuity.
1 Chronicles 3 23 Bonus section
The Chronicler's painstaking effort to list genealogies, particularly the Davidic line, in a context where Israel had no king and was under foreign domination, serves as a powerful theological argument. It provides a historical and spiritual anchor, demonstrating that the community returning from exile was a direct continuation of Abraham, Israel, and David—God's covenant people. The detailed precision of 1 Chronicles 3:23, noting the exact number of sons, reinforces the authenticity and reliability of this sacred record. This precise historical tracking was not for idle historical curiosity, but for establishing legitimacy for temple service, land claims, and, critically, maintaining the messianic hope. The verse subtly underscores that even in periods of national humiliation, God is at work behind the scenes, upholding His word and nurturing the very line from which the "Root and the Offspring of David" (Rev 22:16), the Lord Jesus Christ, would ultimately descend.
1 Chronicles 3 23 Commentary
1 Chronicles 3:23, while seemingly a dry list of names, is a beacon of theological significance within the Chronicler's narrative. Positioned in the lineage of King David's royal house, specifically through the line that includes Jeconiah (a king who faced severe judgment), this verse demonstrates God's persistent faithfulness to His covenant with David (2 Sam 7). Despite the Davidic throne being empty, the kingdom being shattered, and the people enduring exile, the meticulous tracing of Neariah's sons—Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam—underscores that the divinely chosen lineage remained unbroken. The names themselves, translating to "My eyes are toward Yahweh," "Yahweh strengthens," and "My help has arisen," reflect a profound post-exilic faith and expectation of God's redemptive work. This verse, therefore, quietly assures the returning exiles of their identity, the validity of their claims, and most importantly, the unbroken promise of a future Messiah who would ultimately arise from this very royal branch of David's house. It highlights that God's plan unfolds in His own timing, often through quiet preservation rather than overt displays of power.