1 Chronicles 3 24

1 Chronicles 3:24 kjv

And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.

1 Chronicles 3:24 nkjv

The sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani?seven in all.

1 Chronicles 3:24 niv

The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah and Anani?seven in all.

1 Chronicles 3:24 esv

The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven.

1 Chronicles 3:24 nlt

The sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani ? seven in all.

1 Chronicles 3 verses

1 Chronicles 3 24 Meaning

1 Chronicles 3:24 records the final seven sons of Elioenai, concluding the detailed genealogy of King David’s lineage. This verse is part of a larger genealogical list (1 Chronicles 1-9) that establishes the identity, heritage, and continuity of God's people, particularly the Davidic line, in the post-exilic period. It signifies the unbroken link of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants through generations, culminating in what appears to be a generation born after the return from Babylonian captivity. The names themselves, carrying significant theological meanings, act as declarations of faith and hope in God's continuing work of restoration and deliverance for His people.

1 Chronicles 3 24 Context

This verse marks the culmination of the royal Davidic genealogy presented in 1 Chronicles chapter 3. The chapter begins by listing David's immediate family, moves through Solomon's descendants who reigned in Jerusalem, and then details the royal line through Zerubbabel, who led the first group of exiles back to Judah. Verse 24 continues this post-exilic list, mentioning sons of Elioenai, whose family line seems to be the most recent one traced, possibly representing the generation closest to the time of the Chronicler’s writing (c. 5th-4th century BCE).

Historically and culturally, these genealogies were crucial for the returning community after the Babylonian exile. They served multiple purposes: to establish legal claims to land, verify priestly and tribal lineage, reinforce a sense of identity, and provide assurance of God's continued faithfulness to His covenant people, particularly the promise of a perpetual Davidic dynasty (2 Sam 7). Despite the lack of a reigning king in the post-exilic period, the Chronicler's meticulous record of the Davidic line underscored the expectation of a future ruler from this lineage—the Messiah. This verse, with its seemingly ordinary list of names, reaffirms that God's plan unfolds even through the humble, everyday realities of families and generations.

1 Chronicles 3 24 Word analysis

• And: (Hebrew: וְ - ve-) A conjunction, linking this verse to the preceding genealogical entry (1 Chr 3:23). It signifies continuity within the enumeration of descendants.
• the sons of: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי - bᵊnê) The common plural construct noun for "sons," but in genealogical lists, it broadly means "descendants" or "posterity," not necessarily direct biological sons of the same mother, but rather those belonging to the lineage or household.
• Elioenai: (Hebrew: אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי - ’Elyô‘êynay) This name translates to "My eyes are toward Yahweh" or "My eyes are upon the Lord." It's a compound name signifying profound trust, reliance, and expectation centered on God. Its presence in a post-exilic context highlights a spirit of hopeful dependence on God amidst rebuilding and national vulnerability.
• Hodaviah: (Hebrew: הוֹדַוְיָהוּ - Hôdawyāhû) Means "Give thanks to Yah" or "Praise Yahweh." This theophoric name, containing the divine element "Yah" (short for Yahweh), reflects a disposition of gratitude and worship, common in names after the exile as a sign of piety.
• Eliashib: (Hebrew: אֶלְיָשִׁיב - ’Elyāšîb) Translates to "God restores" or "My God will bring back." This name is highly significant for the post-exilic period, encapsulating the deep hope and actual experience of return from exile, viewed as a divine act of restoration. It served as a reminder of God's covenant faithfulness.
• Pelaiah: (Hebrew: פְּלָיָהוּ - Pəlāyāhû) Means "Yahweh has distinguished" or "Yahweh is wonderful/miraculous." This name points to God's unique and extraordinary actions, suggesting divine intervention or special favor. It speaks to God’s wonder-working character.
• Akkub: (Hebrew: עַקּוּב - ‘Aqqûḇ) Its meaning is less certain, possibly "insidious," "supplanting," "cunning," or "footprint/heels." It is a rare name that does not immediately carry a divine element or obvious theological meaning, contrasting with the overtly Yahwistic names in the list. This variation demonstrates the reality of names reflecting diverse human experiences or characteristics.
• Johanan: (Hebrew: יוֹחָנָן - Yôḥānān) Meaning "Yahweh is gracious" or "Yahweh has been gracious." A very common biblical name, expressing a fundamental aspect of God's character: His underserved favor and benevolence.
• Delaiah: (Hebrew: דְּלָיָהוּ - Dəlāyāhû) Translates to "Yahweh has delivered" or "Yahweh has drawn out." This name again echoes the deliverance from exile, portraying God as the liberator and rescuer of His people from oppression.
• Anani: (Hebrew: עֲנָנִי - ‘Anānî) This name's meaning is debated: possibly "Cloud" (alluding to the divine cloud of presence, e.g., in the wilderness, or simply a meteorological phenomenon) or perhaps "my sorrow" or "my affliction." In the context of the hopeful names surrounding it, "Cloud" might subtly refer to God's guiding presence (Exod 13:21-22) even in times of seeming obscurity or simply a descriptive family name.
• seven: (Hebrew: שִׁבְעָה - šiḇ‘â) This number denotes completeness, perfection, or totality in biblical thought. Its inclusion emphasizes the precise and divinely ordered nature of this segment of the genealogy, signifying that the account of this specific family branch is finished and perfectly ordered according by God’s design.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• "And the sons of Elioenai:" This phrase highlights the ongoing nature of David's royal line, even in post-exilic obscurity. The choice of Elioenai, whose name speaks of trusting in Yahweh, sets a spiritual tone for this final branch of the genealogy.
• "Hodaviah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Delaiah, and Anani,": This listing of names serves not merely as a record but as a narrative in miniature. The prevalence of names like Eliashib ("God restores"), Hodaviah ("Praise Yahweh"), and Delaiah ("Yahweh has delivered") profoundly reflects the theology of the post-exilic community: gratitude for restoration, recognition of God's powerful acts, and ongoing dependence on His grace. Even with a less clear name like Akkub, the overall pattern remains a testament to God's faithfulness amidst various life circumstances.
• "seven.": The specific enumeration reinforces the carefulness and divine oversight of the genealogical record. "Seven" signals completeness, suggesting that this particular branch of David’s family, even if it faded from explicit historical mention, fully played its part within God’s overarching, precise plan for the Davidic line leading to the Messiah.

1 Chronicles 3 24 Bonus section

• Theophoric Names as Theological Statements: The high density of "Yahweh" and "El" based names in this and similar post-exilic genealogies (e.g., Eliashib, Delaiah) highlights the renewed spiritual fervor and God-centered focus of the Jewish community returning from Babylon. These names weren't merely labels but served as affirmations of faith, gratitude, and reliance on God’s continued involvement in their lives and history. They functioned as collective prayers and testimonies.
• Genealogies as Anchors: In a period marked by political subjugation and identity crisis, meticulously kept genealogies like this provided crucial anchors for the Israelite community. They legally established land rights, maintained tribal distinctions, confirmed purity of the priesthood, and, most importantly, secured the continuation of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, reminding them of who they were as God's chosen people.
• Hope for Messiah Implicit: While 1 Chronicles 3 ends not with a king but with ordinary descendants of the Davidic line, this very absence of an enthroned monarch heightens the expectation of a future king. The Chronicler, through the diligent record, silently yet powerfully maintains the promise of 2 Samuel 7. This list of unassuming names implicitly points towards the future fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who descended from this very lineage (Matt 1:17; Lk 3:31). God's purposes are accomplished not always through grandeur but through sustained faithfulness in often overlooked details.

1 Chronicles 3 24 Commentary

1 Chronicles 3:24 serves as a seemingly simple concluding verse to the lengthy Davidic genealogy, yet it carries significant theological weight within the Chronicler's narrative. By listing these seven individuals, believed to be late post-exilic descendants of King David, the verse affirms the unbroken continuity of the royal line, even in an era without an active Davidic king. The carefully recorded names, many of which are theophoric (bearing parts of God’s name, "Yah" or "El") and translate to profound statements of faith—such as "My eyes are toward Yahweh," "God restores," "Yahweh has delivered," and "Yahweh is gracious"—underscore the Chronicler’s message of hope and God's faithfulness. These names are miniature sermons, reflecting the piety and theological worldview of a people striving to reconnect with their heritage and trust in God's promises after exile. The mention of "seven" sons signifies completeness and divine order, implying that even these last recorded individuals of David’s line are precisely within God's sovereign plan. This meticulous detail reinforces the theological conviction that despite the apparent loss of kingdom and glory, God's covenant with David remains immutable, quietly preserving the lineage from which the promised Messiah would eventually emerge (2 Sam 7:16). This verse illustrates that God's grand plan unfolds not just through kings and prophets, but also through ordinary individuals whose names bear witness to His enduring presence and purposes.