1 Chronicles 3 8

1 Chronicles 3:8 kjv

And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.

1 Chronicles 3:8 nkjv

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet? nine in all.

1 Chronicles 3:8 niv

Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet?nine in all.

1 Chronicles 3:8 esv

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.

1 Chronicles 3:8 nlt

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

1 Chronicles 3 verses

1 Chronicles 3 8 Meaning

1 Chronicles 3:8 is the concluding part of the list detailing King David's sons born to him in Jerusalem, specifically enumerating five additional sons: Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. The verse culminates with the numerical affirmation "nine," confirming that from 1 Chronicles 3:6 onwards, there were exactly nine sons listed, excluding the initial four prominent sons born to Bathshua. This precise record highlights the comprehensive nature of David's royal family and the continuity of his lineage.

1 Chronicles 3 8 Context

1 Chronicles 3:8 is positioned within a detailed genealogy that begins in Chapter 1, tracing the lineage from Adam through the various tribes of Israel. Chapter 3 specifically focuses on the descendants of David. The immediate context of verse 8 is the conclusion of a list (started in 1 Chronicles 3:5) of David's sons born in Jerusalem, subsequent to his kingship there. While the four prominent sons born to Bathshua are listed first in 1 Chronicles 3:5, verse 6 introduces the start of the nine additional sons who are then named, concluding with the enumeration in verse 8.

The Chronicler, writing for a post-exilic audience, meticulously presents these genealogies to reinforce Israel's identity and connection to their heritage, emphasizing God's enduring covenants, especially the one with David. Listing the full array of David's royal progeny born in Jerusalem served to legitimate the Davidic line as the rightful royal house and maintain the hope for a restored Davidic kingdom, with a future Messiah reigning from his throne.

1 Chronicles 3 8 Word analysis

• And (וְ - ve): A simple conjunction, connecting the list of names with those previously mentioned.
• Nepheg (נֶפֶג - Nepheg): Meaning "sprout" or "bud." This name evokes imagery of growth, new life, and continuation of the lineage, much like a shoot emerging from a branch.
• and Japhia (וְיָפִיעַ - veYaphia'): Meaning "he shines" or "he appears." The name suggests splendor, divine manifestation, or prominence, perhaps reflecting a hopeful expectation for a distinguished life.
• and Elishama (וֶאֱלִישָׁמָע - ve'Eliyshama'): Meaning "My God has heard." This theophoric name, common in ancient Israel, is a statement of faith and gratitude, expressing confidence in God's attentive ear to prayers and His people. It points to divine responsiveness.
• and Eliada (וְאֶלְיָדָע - ve'Elyada'): Meaning "God knows" or "God has known." Another theophoric name, signifying God's omniscience, providence, or intimate knowledge of an individual. It implies that God is fully aware and present.
• and Eliphelet (וֶאֱלִיפָלֶט - ve'Elyphalet): Meaning "My God is deliverance" or "My God is escape." This name speaks to the theme of salvation or divine rescue. Its appearance here (and potentially elsewhere in David's son lists, leading to scholarly discussion of one son mentioned multiple times, or two sons with very similar names) reinforces the idea of God's protecting hand over the royal family.
• nine (תֵּשַׁע - tesha'): The numerical designation. Its significance here is paramount: it provides a precise count that verifies and completes the preceding enumeration of David's sons born in Jerusalem (from 1 Chr 3:6). It underscores the meticulous nature of the record, affirming the extensive nature of David's legitimate royal offspring, through whom the covenant promises would flow.

Words-group by words-group:

• "Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet": This sequence of five names (added to the four previous names in 1 Chron 3:6-7) forms a single, contiguous enumeration of King David's Jerusalem-born sons. Each name, often containing a theological component, subtly speaks to a dimension of God's character (hearing, knowing, delivering) or hopes for growth and glory within the Davidic lineage, despite these particular sons having no significant biblical narratives.

1 Chronicles 3 8 Bonus section

• Genealogical Discrepancies: It is noteworthy that there are slight variations in the names and order of David's sons when comparing the list in 1 Chronicles 3 with those found in 2 Samuel 5 and 1 Chronicles 14. For instance, Eliada is sometimes called Beeliada (1 Chr 14:7), and Eliphelet appears in different positions, leading to scholarly discussions about whether these are scribal variations, different spellings of the same name, or perhaps two different sons with very similar names, reflecting the commonality of certain names in the ancient world. Such minor variations do not undermine the historical core of the genealogies but demonstrate that biblical record-keeping sometimes included diverse sources or slightly different traditions.
• Theological Importance of the Names: The prevalence of theophoric names (names containing a form of "God" or "Lord") like Elishama ("My God has heard"), Eliada ("God knows"), and Eliphelet ("My God is deliverance") subtly reinforces the theological underpinnings of David's dynasty. Even the common names without direct divine references like Nepheg ("Sprout") suggest growth and continuity. This embedded piety within the naming conventions underscores a prevailing recognition of divine sovereignty and blessing upon the royal family, even for sons who were not nationally prominent.
• Purpose of Chronicles' Genealogies: Beyond establishing legitimacy, the extensive genealogies in Chronicles serve to unify the post-exilic community by tracing their origins back to a common ancestor (Adam), through their respective tribes, and crucially, through the unbroken line of David. This emphasis fostered hope for restoration and the re-establishment of the kingdom under a Davidic king, looking forward to a time when all God's promises would be fulfilled.

1 Chronicles 3 8 Commentary

1 Chronicles 3:8 is deceptively simple, merely listing five more of David's sons and a numerical total. Yet, its presence is crucial within the Chronicler's grand narrative. It meticulously concludes a comprehensive record of David's immediate family, emphasizing the fruitfulness of his line as established in Jerusalem. The inclusion of the exact count ("nine") after listing all the sons born in Jerusalem (excluding the four by Bathshua mentioned earlier in the chapter) showcases the Chronicler's precision and reinforces the accuracy and completeness of his genealogical account.

This painstaking detail served not just as a historical record but carried significant theological weight for its original audience. It reassured the returned exiles that God's covenant with David for a perpetual kingdom remained valid and robust, demonstrated by the very multitude of his descendants. While most of these sons play no active role in the biblical narrative, their mere existence and enumeration testify to God's faithfulness in preserving the royal line through which the promised Messiah, the ultimate "Son of David," would eventually come. It speaks to the behind-the-scenes workings of God's plan, where seemingly minor details like names in a genealogy are vital links in a grander story of salvation.