1 Chronicles 5:15 kjv
Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.
1 Chronicles 5:15 nkjv
Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief of their father's house.
1 Chronicles 5:15 niv
Ahi son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was head of their family.
1 Chronicles 5:15 esv
Ahi the son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was chief in their fathers' houses,
1 Chronicles 5:15 nlt
Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the leader of their clans.
1 Chronicles 5 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 5:1 | This is the book of the generations of Adam... | Foundational human genealogies, lineage tracking. |
| Gen 10:1-32 | Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah... | Origin of nations, emphasis on family lines. |
| Gen 46:16 | The sons of Gad: Ziphion and Haggi, Shuni and Ezbon, Eri and Arodi and Areli. | Lists Guni as a son of Gad, progenitor of the clan. |
| Num 1:4-16 | ...a head of each ancestral house... | Registration of tribes, highlighting heads of families. |
| Num 26:15 | The sons of Gad according to their clans: of Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the clan of the Haggites; of Shuni, the clan of the Shunites; | Reaffirms Guni as a tribal ancestor, showing a comprehensive census by clan. |
| Deut 33:20-21 | And of Gad he said: “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad..." | Tribal blessing for Gad, indicating its future prominence. |
| Josh 13:24-28 | Moses also gave an inheritance to the tribe of Gad... | Inheritance given by Moses to the tribe of Gad, tribal land. |
| Ruth 4:18-22 | These are the generations of Perez... David. | Genealogy confirming lineage for legitimate claim or identity. |
| 1 Chr 1:1-2:2 | Adam, Seth, Enosh... sons of Judah... | Expansive genealogies linking back to humanity's origin. |
| 1 Chr 5:11 | All the Gadites lived in the land of Gilead... | Chapter context locating the tribe of Gad geographically. |
| 1 Chr 5:12-16 | Joel the chief and Shapham the second... All these were chiefs of their ancestral houses. | Lists other chiefs within Gad, emphasizing leadership. |
| 1 Chr 5:18-22 | The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, mighty men of valor... | Description of Gad as warriors, connecting to their land on the frontier. |
| 1 Chr 9:9 | all these were heads of ancestral houses by their lineages. | Highlights the significance of "heads of ancestral houses" for settlement in Jerusalem. |
| Ezra 2:59-62 | These are the ones who came up from Tel-melah... whose family was not found... | Importance of accurate lineage for those returning from exile, particularly for priests. |
| Neh 7:61-64 | These are the ones who came up from Tel-melah... | Reiteration of the need for proven lineage, specifically for priests whose names were not found. |
| Job 22:23 | If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; you will remove iniquity far from your tents. | Concept of restoring family/house, indicating divine blessing and order. |
| Ps 78:67-68 | He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but chose the tribe of Judah... | Divine choice in tribal lineage and leadership. |
| Prov 22:28 | Do not move an ancient boundary stone... | Respect for established land boundaries and family inheritances. |
| Mt 1:1-17 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ... | New Testament genealogies affirming identity and fulfillment of prophecy. |
| Lk 3:23-38 | Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph... | Genealogy of Jesus, tracing back to Adam, demonstrating comprehensive lineage. |
| Acts 7:2 | Stephen replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham..." | Acknowledging ancestral figures and their role in God's plan. |
| Rom 9:4-5 | They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. | Importance of Israel's lineage and their unique position in God's salvation history. |
| Heb 7:3 | He is without father or mother or genealogy... | Contrast with traditional Israelite emphasis on lineage, highlighting Christ's unique priesthood. |
1 Chronicles 5 verses
1 Chronicles 5 15 Meaning
This verse records the lineage of Ahi within the tribe of Gad, identifying him as a chieftain among his ancestral clan. It serves as part of the meticulous genealogies compiled in Chronicles, underscoring the preservation of tribal identities and their leadership structures as part of God's continuing covenant faithfulness with Israel.
1 Chronicles 5 15 Context
1 Chronicles chapter 5 details the genealogies of the Transjordanian tribes: Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The chapter first addresses Reuben's loss of his birthright due to sin (5:1), explaining why the blessing passed to Joseph and leadership to Judah. Following this, the focus shifts to Gad, describing its prominent men, settlement in Gilead, and military prowess against local populations. This specific verse, 1 Chronicles 5:15, is embedded within a list of prominent men and chiefs within the tribe of Gad, particularly emphasizing their leadership within their respective ancestral houses. The overarching historical context of Chronicles, compiled post-exile, was to re-establish the identity, heritage, and continuity of the returned Israelites with their ancestral roots, emphasizing the covenants and the established divine order through their lineages and appointed leaders. It provided spiritual and social reassurance, demonstrating God's faithful preservation of His people and their structures.
1 Chronicles 5 15 Word analysis
- Ahi (אֲחִי, ʼAḥî): This Hebrew name means "my brother." The name itself subtly emphasizes kinship and communal identity within the tribal structure, aligning with the Chronicler's focus on Israel as a unified people descended from common ancestors.
- the son of Abdiel (בֶּן־עַבְדִּיאֵל, ben-ʻAbdîʼêl): "Ben" means "son of," a standard genealogical connector. "Abdiel" means "servant of God" or "my servant is God." This name introduces a theological dimension, perhaps hinting at a lineage associated with service to God or recognition of His sovereignty.
- the son of Guni (בֶּן־גּוּנִי, ben-Gūnî): Guni is a significant name here, as he is mentioned elsewhere (Gen 46:16; Num 26:15) as one of the direct sons of Gad, establishing a prominent clan within the tribe. His name is derived from a root that could mean "my garden" or "my defender/protector."
- chief (רֹאשׁ, roʼsh): Literally "head." This term denotes leadership, primary position, and authority. Ahi held a position of considerable importance, not just as a prominent individual but as the recognized leader of his clan.
- of the house of their fathers (בֵּית־אֲבוֹתָם, bêṯ-ʼăḇôṯām): This phrase refers to the extended family unit, or clan, stemming from common ancestry. The "house of their fathers" was the fundamental societal unit in ancient Israel, serving as the basis for tribal organization, land allocation, military units, and religious identity. Being a "chief" of such a house signified inherited leadership and a recognized place within the patriarchal and divinely ordered society.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni: This segment provides a concise yet specific genealogical record. It underscores the importance of a clear and traceable lineage, connecting Ahi directly to Guni, a founding patriarchal figure of one of Gad's clans. Such detailing ensured the legitimate placement of individuals within the tribal and societal framework.
- chief of the house of their fathers: This phrase defines Ahi's primary role and sphere of authority. It signifies not merely a title but an inherent responsibility tied to his family line. The "house of their fathers" highlights the continuity of established family units and their importance in maintaining tribal identity, inheritance rights, and leadership structure from generation to generation, embodying the divinely sanctioned social order of Israel.
1 Chronicles 5 15 Bonus section
The Chronicler's primary goal in compiling these extensive genealogies was theological, not merely historical. By meticulously listing such figures as Ahi and his lineage, the author intended to affirm:
- Divine Faithfulness: Despite Israel's failures, God maintained their tribal distinctions and leadership structures, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His covenant people.
- Continuity and Hope: For the returning exiles, these lists provided a link to their glorious past and established legitimacy for their present claims to land and identity. They showed that the national identity rooted in the twelve tribes was not lost.
- Ordered Society: The emphasis on "chiefs of the house of their fathers" reflects the divinely ordained structure for the social and religious life of Israel, rooted in family and clan units, ensuring stability and proper governance within each tribe.
- Ethical Example: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the qualities implied by names like Abdiel ("servant of God") for tribal leaders implicitly highlighted the desirable character traits within leadership.
1 Chronicles 5 15 Commentary
First Chronicles 5:15, nestled within extensive genealogies, provides more than a mere name. It points to God's careful preservation of the tribal structures and their leaders. Ahi's designation as "chief of the house of their fathers" underscores the deeply rooted patriarchal and clan-based society of Israel, where identity, inheritance, and authority flowed through ancestral lines. For the post-exilic audience of Chronicles, such detailed records offered reassurance of continuity with their past, affirming God's faithfulness to His covenant with the forefathers. It illustrated that even after national upheaval, God maintained His order among His people through their established lineages and appointed leaders, ensuring a structured return and re-settlement in the land. This particular name also features a subtly theocentric layer: Abdiel means "servant of God," implying that a spirit of divine service could have characterized this ancestral line.