1 Chronicles 4:38 kjv
These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.
1 Chronicles 4:38 nkjv
these mentioned by name were leaders in their families, and their father's house increased greatly.
1 Chronicles 4:38 niv
The men listed above by name were leaders of their clans. Their families increased greatly,
1 Chronicles 4:38 esv
these mentioned by name were princes in their clans, and their fathers' houses increased greatly.
1 Chronicles 4:38 nlt
These were the names of some of the leaders of Simeon's wealthy clans. Their families grew,
1 Chronicles 4 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | "I will make you a great nation... and you shall be a blessing." | God promises Abram numerous descendants. |
| Gen 13:16 | "I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone.. number..." | Promise of countless offspring. |
| Gen 22:17 | "I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring..." | Blessing of multiplication confirmed to Abraham. |
| Gen 28:14 | "Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth..." | Promise of offspring to Jacob. |
| Gen 35:11 | "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply..." | Command and promise to Jacob for great nation. |
| Exod 1:7 | "But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly..." | Fulfillment of multiplication in Egypt. |
| Num 1:16 | "These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs of their tribal fathers..." | Recognition of leaders for tribal registration. |
| Deut 7:13-14 | "He will love you, bless you, and multiply you... He will also bless..." | God's blessing brings increase. |
| Deut 28:4, 11 | "Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb... The Lord will make you abound..." | Blessings for obedience include multiplication. |
| Josh 19:1 | "The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon according to their clans..." | Simeon's tribal inheritance and organization by clan. |
| Judg 11:8 | "The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah... come and be our leader..." | Leadership recognized by elders. |
| 1 Chr 7:4 | "They were men of valor... and their genealogical enrollment listed 36,000, for they had many wives and sons." | Another example of family increase in Chronicles. |
| 1 Chr 9:11 | "and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam... a chief officer of the house of God." | Leaders associated with God's house. |
| Ezra 10:16 | "Then the descendants of the exile acted accordingly. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of families, for each of their ancestral houses..." | Heads of families as recognized leaders in later times. |
| Psa 107:38 | "He blesses them, and they multiply greatly..." | God's blessing leads to multiplication. |
| Psa 115:14 | "May the Lord give you increase, you and your children!" | A prayer/blessing for increase. |
| Prov 29:2 | "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice..." | The blessing of good leadership. |
| Isa 9:7 | "Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end..." | Messianic prophecy of kingdom expansion. |
| Matt 28:19 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." | New Covenant command for spiritual multiplication. |
| Acts 2:41 | "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls." | Early church's numerical growth under God's blessing. |
| Acts 6:7 | "And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem..." | Growth of God's people and the Word. |
| Eph 4:11 | "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers..." | God gifts leaders for the church's growth. |
1 Chronicles 4 verses
1 Chronicles 4 38 Meaning
First Chronicles 4:38 states that the individuals named in the preceding genealogies were not just ordinary members but served as leaders within their clans, and through divine blessing, their ancestral houses experienced substantial numerical and influence growth. This verse underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises of multiplication and His active role in raising up leadership among His people, setting the stage for their subsequent expansion and conquest as described in the verses that follow.
1 Chronicles 4 38 Context
1 Chronicles 4:38 concludes a long and detailed genealogy beginning in chapter 1, primarily focusing on the tribes of Judah and Simeon in chapter 4. This specific verse acts as a concluding summary and transition point within the account of the tribe of Simeon. Before this verse (1 Chr 4:24-37), the Chronicler meticulously lists the descendants and dwelling places of Simeon. The following verses (1 Chr 4:39-43) narrate Simeon's military expansion and conquest of fertile land in the wilderness. Thus, 1 Chronicles 4:38 serves to establish the standing and prosperity of these named individuals and their clans, indicating God's favor and preparedness for their forthcoming actions. The Chronicler emphasizes tribal organization, divine blessing, and the role of chosen leaders in fulfilling God's covenant promises, a recurring theme meant to encourage the post-exilic community about their identity and God's continued faithfulness.
1 Chronicles 4 38 Word analysis
- These: Refers directly to the specific individuals enumerated in the preceding genealogies, emphasizing that the blessing and status are connected to those who are properly identified within God's chosen lineage.
- mentioned by name: Hebrew: הַנְקֻבִים בְּשֵׁמוֹת (hannequvim be-shemot). Signifies specific selection and identification. Being "mentioned by name" in biblical contexts often implies distinction, honor, or inclusion in a significant group, suggesting divine knowledge and purpose behind their listing. It implies that these are not generic leaders, but chosen and distinguished individuals.
- were leaders: Hebrew: רָאשִׁים (ro'shim), meaning "heads," "chiefs," or "princes." This term denotes authority, prominence, and a position of responsibility. They were not just progenitors but active figures of authority and direction for their respective families and clans, entrusted with guiding their people.
- in their families: Refers to the patriarchal, extended family units or clans (Hebrew: מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם, mishpechotam). This highlights the foundational social structure of Israelite society and the sphere of these leaders' influence. Their leadership was intrinsic to the family and clan structure ordained by God for His people.
- and their fathers' houses: Hebrew: בֵית אֲבֹתָם (beit avotam), literally "house of their fathers." This emphasizes the lineage, clan, or extended household group that descended from a common patriarch. It represents not just a dwelling but an entire lineage and its collective strength and identity.
- increased greatly: Hebrew: לָרֹב (larov), meaning "to great multitude," "exceedingly," "abundantly." This signifies a substantial and widespread multiplication. It reflects God's blessing of fertility and growth, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant promise to make his descendants numerous. This increase isn't just numerical, but can imply prosperity, influence, and strength, preparing them for future undertakings. The passive voice implies that God was the agent of this increase.
1 Chronicles 4 38 Bonus section
The Chronicler's intense focus on genealogies, especially detailing specific leaders and the increase of their families, sets 1 Chronicles apart from the book of Kings. While Kings often concentrates on kingship and the rise and fall of dynasties, Chronicles emphasizes the ongoing life and continuity of the people of Israel, particularly Judah, through their divinely ordained structures of families, clans, and religious leadership. The meticulous listing and the emphasis on "greatly increased" serves to underscore God's faithfulness even through periods of national decline, demonstrating His preservation of a remnant and His covenant promises. This verse encapsulates the Chronicler's larger theological message: God's hand is actively involved in sustaining and multiplying His people, providing righteous leadership, and enabling them to reclaim and thrive in their inheritance, even for seemingly smaller, often-overlooked tribes like Simeon, preparing them for future deeds of valor. It reinforces the idea that true strength and flourishing come not from military might alone, but from God's blessing upon faithful adherence to His covenant structure, expressed through their family units and appointed leaders.
1 Chronicles 4 38 Commentary
1 Chronicles 4:38 serves as a theological statement about God's sustained blessing and faithfulness within the genealogies of Israel. It affirms that the specific individuals documented were not merely ancestors, but divinely appointed "heads" or "leaders" within their established clans, entrusted with guiding God's people. Crucially, the verse highlights that their "fathers' houses" — their family lines and extended households — experienced a "great increase." This growth is presented as a result of God's ongoing commitment to multiply His chosen people, fulfilling the ancient promises made to patriarchs like Abraham and Jacob. The increase signifies divine favor, strengthening these families both numerically and in their societal influence, enabling them to fulfill their destiny and later expand their territory. It implicitly teaches that true leadership and flourishing in God's kingdom come through God's blessing on His people, manifested in growth and divine empowerment. This focus on divinely ordained leaders and supernaturally empowered increase would have profoundly encouraged the post-exilic readers, assuring them of God's continued watch over His people and His readiness to grant them prosperity.