1 Chronicles 6 11

1 Chronicles 6:11 kjv

And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,

1 Chronicles 6:11 nkjv

Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub;

1 Chronicles 6:11 niv

Azariah the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub,

1 Chronicles 6:11 esv

Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub,

1 Chronicles 6:11 nlt

Azariah was the father of Amariah.
Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

1 Chronicles 6 11 Cross References

VerseTextReference
1 Chr 6:4These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son...Introduces the Aaronic high priestly lineage in Chronicles.
1 Chr 6:7Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub...A parallel, possibly abridged, reference to the Amariah-Ahitub connection.
1 Chr 6:53and their dwellings were in their villages... the Levites in their allotted places.Emphasizes the detailed accounting of Levites and their dwelling places.
Ezra 7:1-5Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra... the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah...Ezra's priestly genealogy also traces back through a similar line to Aaron.
Ezra 7:3son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth...Highlights Amariah and Azariah's positions in a post-exilic priestly lineage.
Neh 11:11Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam... who was an officer of the house of God.Connects to later generations serving in the Temple after the exile.
2 Sam 8:17And Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests.Directly identifies Zadok as Ahitub's son, a crucial high priest.
1 Kgs 2:35And the king put Benaiah... in his place over the army; and Zadok the priest the king put in the place of Abiathar.Confirms Zadok's ascendancy as the chief priest under Solomon.
1 Chr 24:3David organized them... Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar.Shows David's organization of the priesthood from both lines.
Num 3:32And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was chief of the princes of the Levites...Establishes Eleazar as head of the Levitical leadership under Aaron.
Exod 6:16The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.The tribal origin of all Levites.
Exod 6:23Aaron took Elizabet... and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.The immediate family and initial priestly line of Aaron.
Matt 1:8Joram begot Uzziah...Illustrates how "begot" can skip generations in biblical genealogies.
Gen 5:3Adam lived 130 years and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.An example of "begot" meaning direct paternal lineage.
Heb 7:3Without father, without mother, without genealogy... continues a priest forever.Contrasts the requirements for the Levitical priesthood with Christ's.
Ps 106:31And it was counted unto him for righteousness to all generations forevermore.Implies the lasting spiritual legacy within faithful lineages.
Rom 1:3concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.Emphasizes the significance of specific human lineage for the Messiah.
Luke 3:23-38The genealogy of Jesus...Further exemplifies detailed biblical genealogies that can also be selective.
John 1:17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.Places the Aaronic priesthood (Law) within the broader narrative of God's salvation.
Heb 9:11But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come... through the greater and more perfect tabernacle.Positions Christ's eternal high priesthood as superior to the Aaronic.
Lev 8All of chapter 8 details the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests.Lays out the initial divine appointment and ceremony of the Aaronic priesthood.

1 Chronicles 6 verses

1 Chronicles 6 11 Meaning

This verse is part of the comprehensive genealogical record of the Levites, specifically detailing a portion of the high priestly line descended from Aaron. It states that Azariah was the father of Amariah, and Amariah in turn was the father of Ahitub. This continuous succession served to confirm the authenticity and divinely appointed legitimacy of the priesthood, vital for the spiritual heritage of the Israelites.

1 Chronicles 6 11 Context

First Chronicles Chapter 6 meticulously records the genealogies of the Levites, who were designated for various services within the tabernacle and later the temple. Verses 4 through 15, specifically, trace the high priestly lineage originating from Aaron, through his son Eleazar. First Chronicles 6:11 slots into this precise sequence, naming Azariah, Amariah, and Ahitub as successive figures in this crucial line. The Chronicler's primary purpose in detailing these long genealogies was to provide a historical foundation and reaffirm the legitimacy of the priestly families and their assigned roles for the post-exilic community. These records assured the Israelites returning from Babylon that their current priests and the established system of worship were consistent with God's original divine appointments, linking their present identity to a sacred and continuous past.

1 Chronicles 6 11 Word analysis

  • and (וַ - va): A simple conjunctive particle meaning "and." Its placement emphasizes the continuous flow of the genealogical record, linking each generation in the sequence.
  • Azariah (וַעֲזַרְיָה֙ - va'azaryah): The Hebrew name means "Yahweh has helped" or "My help is Yahweh." This was a common name, particularly among the priesthood. Within this genealogical context, "Azariah" represents a figure in the high priestly succession. The Chronicler may have omitted generations, a common practice in biblical genealogies, implying this Azariah was an ancestor rather than a direct, immediate father.
  • begot (הוֹלִ֣יד - holid): This verb, from the root יָלַד (yalad), literally means "to give birth, to bear, to beget." In biblical genealogies, while it can denote immediate father-to-son succession, it often signifies "was the ancestor of" or "fathered the line of," allowing for the omission of intervening generations to emphasize key figures or condense long lineages for clarity or specific theological purposes.
  • Amariah (אֶת־אֲמַרְיָה֙ - et-amaryah): The name "Amariah" (אֲמַרְיָה) means "Yahweh has said" or "Yahweh has promised/exalted." Similar to Azariah, it is a theophoric name common among the priestly families, further linking this lineage to the divine covenant.
  • Ahitub (אֶת־אֲחִיט֔וּב - et-achituv): The name "Ahitub" (אֲחִיטוּב) means "my brother is good" or "a brother of goodness." Ahitub is a very significant figure as he is universally recognized in other biblical texts (e.g., 2 Sam 8:17) as the father of Zadok, who became the prominent high priest during the reigns of King David and King Solomon, and from whom the long and influential Zadokite high priestly line descended.

Word-groups analysis

  • "Azariah begot Amariah": This phrase serves to continue the ancestral chain. It signifies Azariah's direct or ancestral role in establishing Amariah as the subsequent prominent figure in the sacred priestly lineage, maintaining the flow of God's appointed line.
  • "Amariah begot Ahitub": This further extends the record of the high priestly succession. The inclusion of Ahitub is pivotal, as his son, Zadok, became the highly revered and foundational high priest during Israel's monarchy, establishing the Zadokite line as the legitimate and dominant priestly authority for centuries, ensuring the proper execution of temple worship.

1 Chronicles 6 11 Bonus section

The chronicler's extensive genealogical lists, especially for the Levites, demonstrate a theological intent beyond simple record-keeping:

  • Identity Restoration: For a community displaced and rebuilding after exile, these genealogies provided a crucial anchor, connecting them back to their historical roots and establishing their national and spiritual identity as God's covenant people.
  • Religious Stability: By tracing the priestly lines precisely, the Chronicler reinforced the stable and divinely sanctioned order of temple worship, essential for a people who had lost their monarchy and much of their national infrastructure. The priesthood remained a key pillar of their society.
  • Typological Significance: While specific individuals are listed, the very concept of a continuous, divinely ordained priesthood hints at a greater, perfect high priesthood to come, fulfilled ultimately in the person of Jesus Christ, as depicted in the book of Hebrews.
  • Holiness and Separation: The meticulous tracing of the Aaronic line also underscored the concept of holiness and separation necessary for those who served God in the most sacred capacity, differentiating them from others.

1 Chronicles 6 11 Commentary

First Chronicles 6:11 appears as a simple entry in a lengthy list of names, yet its theological and historical importance for ancient Israel cannot be overstated. By meticulously tracing the line of Azariah to Amariah and then to Ahitub, the Chronicler is not merely listing names but affirming the unbroken, divinely ordained succession of the Aaronic high priesthood. For the returning exiles, this established the legitimacy of their current priests, assuring them that the rituals and services performed in the Second Temple were valid and connected to God's ancient covenant. The lineage underscores God's faithfulness in maintaining a consecrated leadership for His people's worship. The link to Ahitub is particularly significant as he is the father of Zadok, the esteemed high priest during David and Solomon's reigns, thereby cementing the historical and divinely appointed authority of the Zadokite priestly line, which became foundational for centuries of Israelite worship.