1 Chronicles 3 9

1 Chronicles 3:9 kjv

These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.

1 Chronicles 3:9 nkjv

These were all the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.

1 Chronicles 3:9 niv

All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.

1 Chronicles 3:9 esv

All these were David's sons, besides the sons of the concubines, and Tamar was their sister.

1 Chronicles 3:9 nlt

These were the sons of David, not including his sons born to his concubines. Their sister was named Tamar.

1 Chronicles 3 verses

1 Chronicles 3 9 Meaning

1 Chronicles 3:9 concludes the listing of David's direct descendants by emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the preceding genealogy. It clarifies that the previously enumerated sons represented the core, legitimate line, while acknowledging that David had additional sons born from concubines and also mentioning Tamar, their sister, thus providing a complete overview of his recognized offspring.

1 Chronicles 3 9 Context

1 Chronicles Chapter 3 is a comprehensive genealogy of King David's descendants. It begins by listing his sons born in Hebron (verses 1-4) and then those born in Jerusalem (verses 5-8). This verse (3:9) serves as a summarizing statement for the preceding list, clarifying the full scope of David's recognized offspring. The Chronicler's primary purpose in recounting these genealogies was to reaffirm the continuity of God's covenant with David in the post-exilic period, reminding the returned exiles of their heritage, their connection to the legitimate kingship, and the lineage leading to the Messiah. The inclusion of children from concubines and the mention of Tamar ensures that the record is complete regarding David's known progeny, even acknowledging the more complex or troubled aspects of his family life as part of the broader history.

1 Chronicles 3 9 Word analysis

• All these: Refers directly to the sons explicitly listed in 1 Chronicles 3:1-8. It functions as a summary connector, affirming that the prior detailed listing accounts for David's principal sons.
• were the sons of David: Confirms their paternity and identity as members of the royal family. This statement is foundational for establishing the legitimate Davidic line.
• beside: Hebrew לְבַד (lebad), meaning "apart from," "separate from," or "in addition to." This critical word distinguishes the sons born to David's main wives (listed previously) from those born to his concubines. It indicates that the previous list was not exhaustive of David's male children. The nuance acknowledges another category of sons without merging them into the main genealogical track, typically reserved for those born of primary wives.
• the sons of the concubines: Refers to David's offspring born to his פִּילֶגֶשׁ (pīlegesẖ), women who held a recognized, yet secondary, status to principal wives. While their sons were acknowledged as David's, they often had different inheritance rights or positions within the household hierarchy. This detail emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the genealogy, including all known direct offspring.
• and Tamar: The inclusion of Tamar (תָּמָר, tamar, "date palm"), David's daughter by Maacah, at the very end of this list is highly significant. Genealogies in the Old Testament are overwhelmingly patrilineal, rarely listing daughters unless they serve a specific, critical purpose (e.g., through an inheritance or in the Messiah's lineage as in Matt 1). Tamar's explicit mention here likely highlights her infamy due to the traumatic event with her half-brother Amnon (2 Sam 13), an event that profoundly impacted David's household and the line of succession. Her inclusion reminds the reader of the internal struggles and moral failings within the royal family, even amidst the recording of their lineage.
• their sister: This clarifies Tamar's relationship to all the sons mentioned – both those from main wives and from concubines – marking her as a child of David and integrating her into the extended family record, not as a distinct isolated entity but as an intrinsic part of the royal family unit, emphasizing familial ties despite tragic events.

1 Chronicles 3 9 Bonus section

The Chronicler's decision to include "sons of concubines" and "Tamar" highlights the distinctive nature of biblical genealogies. Unlike mere historical lists, they often served theological purposes, sometimes revealing God's working through complex, imperfect human situations. While 1 Chronicles generally focuses on the legitimate line and often bypasses scandalous details about David (in contrast to Samuel/Kings), the specific inclusion here of concubine's children and Tamar suggests a desire for an exhaustively complete roster of direct descendants. This contrasts with genealogies that might omit such details for brevity or idealization. It implicitly confirms that even children outside the 'principal wife' category were truly of David's seed, significant for the future hope of a continuous Davidic line. The inclusion of Tamar is also an unusual recognition of a woman's prominent role in a family tragedy impacting the royal succession. Her story serves as a stark example of how sin could penetrate and destabilize the very household of the anointed king, yet it did not derail God's overarching plan for the Davidic dynasty.

1 Chronicles 3 9 Commentary

1 Chronicles 3:9 concludes the register of David's immediate family, serving as a comprehensive statement following the detailed listing of his sons born to various wives. The phrase "All these were the sons of David" summarizes the primary lineage presented, yet the subsequent qualifiers – "beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister" – add crucial dimensions.

The inclusion of "sons of the concubines" (pīlegesẖ) is significant. Concubines were recognized legal partners, though secondary to principal wives. Their children were acknowledged as belonging to the father, yet typically had a lesser claim to inheritance or prominence within the family. By explicitly noting these sons, the Chronicler provides a full, though unelaborated, account of David's male progeny, demonstrating thoroughness.

The singular mention of "Tamar their sister" is particularly striking in a male-focused genealogy. Old Testament genealogies generally focus on tracing the male line for covenant and inheritance purposes. Tamar is uniquely included likely due to the deeply impactful and scandalous events of her life, specifically her rape by her half-brother Amnon (2 Sam 13). Her story exposed severe dysfunction and sin within David's household, a chain of events that eventually led to Absalom's rebellion. The Chronicler, while often abbreviating or omitting negative narratives present in Samuel and Kings, chooses to include Tamar here, possibly to convey the full extent of David's offspring and to hint at the complex, imperfect reality of the royal line, a line through which God's promises would nevertheless prevail. Her presence acts as a silent but powerful reminder that even the line of kings, chosen by God, was marked by human brokenness, yet God’s covenant promises remained steadfast, highlighting His faithfulness amidst human fallibility. This serves to connect the historical narrative with the enduring truth of God's covenant to David for an everlasting dynasty, a lineage leading ultimately to Christ.