1 Chronicles 7 30

1 Chronicles 7:30 kjv

The sons of Asher; Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.

1 Chronicles 7:30 nkjv

The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.

1 Chronicles 7:30 niv

The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah.

1 Chronicles 7:30 esv

The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.

1 Chronicles 7:30 nlt

The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. They had a sister named Serah.

1 Chronicles 7 verses

1 Chronicles 7 30 Meaning

This verse succinctly lists the primary sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Uniquely for genealogies of this type, it also explicitly names their sister, Serah. The verse is part of a broader genealogical section in 1 Chronicles, designed to establish the identity and lineage of the twelve tribes of Israel for the post-exilic community, highlighting their continuous connection to their patriarchs and their inheritance.

1 Chronicles 7 30 Context

1 Chronicles 7:30 is part of the extensive genealogical record that opens the book of 1 Chronicles (chapters 1-9). This section primarily serves the post-exilic Jewish community, recently returned to Judah. For them, genealogies were paramount for re-establishing tribal identity, affirming land claims, defining roles within the priestly and Levitical orders, and preserving the nation's historical connection to God's covenants and promises. Chapter 7 focuses specifically on the tribes of Issachar, Benjamin (briefly), Naphtali (briefly), Manasseh (half-tribe), Ephraim, and Asher. While the Chronicler primarily emphasizes Judah and Benjamin, the inclusion of detailed genealogies for some of the northern tribes (like Asher) demonstrates an aspiration for the restoration of all Israel, reinforcing the historical unity of the twelve tribes despite their long separation and exile. The detailed listing of individuals underscores the historical reality and continuity of God's people.

1 Chronicles 7 30 Word analysis

• The sons of Asher:

  • Hebrew: בְּנֵ֤י אָשֵׁר֙ (bᵊnê ’āšēr).
  • בְּנֵי (bᵊnê): "sons of." A plural construct noun meaning "children of," but commonly translated "sons of" in patriarchal genealogies, denoting male offspring and, by extension, descendants or a clan. It signifies the primary line of descent through the male head.
  • אָשֵׁר (’āšēr): "Asher." One of the twelve sons of Jacob (Genesis 30:13). His name means "happy" or "blessed," from Leah's exclamation upon his birth. His tribe settled in a fertile area along the Phoenician coast (Joshua 19:24-31). The Chronicler's inclusion of this tribe, a Northern Kingdom tribe, emphasizes the broader Israelite heritage beyond just the returnees from Judah.

• Imnah:

  • Hebrew: יִמְנָה (yimnâ). The firstborn son of Asher (Gen 46:17; Num 26:44). His name might mean "he will be right/fortunate."

• Ishvah:

  • Hebrew: יִשְׁוָה (yišwâ). Another son of Asher (Gen 46:17; Num 26:44). His name likely means "he is equal/like."

• Ishvi:

  • Hebrew: יִשְׁוִי (yišwî). Another son of Asher (Gen 46:17; Num 26:44). His name may relate to "my equal" or "my likeness."

• Beriah:

  • Hebrew: בְּרִיעָה (bᵊrî‘â). The fourth and last listed son of Asher in this immediate line (Gen 46:17; Num 26:44). His name means "with evil" or "in trouble," which seems unusual, or possibly "through gift." Uniquely, his lineage is continued in the very next verse (1 Chron 7:31), indicating that his line was of particular interest or prominence to the Chronicler, perhaps suggesting its continuity in the post-exilic community or its importance in tribal land allocations.

• and Serah their sister:

  • Hebrew: וְשֶׂרַח אֲחוֹתָם (wᵉśeraḥ ’ăḥôṯām).
  • וְ (wᵉ): "and." A conjunction linking her to her brothers.
  • שֶׂרַח (śeraḥ): "Serah." The singular female explicitly named among the immediate children of Jacob in these prominent genealogies across the Old Testament (she appears also in Gen 46:17 and Num 26:46). Her name means "residue" or "remnant." This unique mention suggests her enduring significance in the Israelite memory and tradition. Later rabbinic traditions identify Serah as a uniquely long-lived and wise figure, who perhaps survived into the Exodus period and even helped Moses locate Joseph's bones for burial. Her explicit mention here may underline the full and proper tribal lineage, including all primary offspring regardless of gender, especially given the Chronicler's emphasis on communal continuity and heritage.
  • אֲחוֹתָם (’ăḥôṯām): "their sister." This term specifies her relationship to the previously listed sons. Its inclusion here highlights a familial detail not usually present for daughters in such terse genealogical lists, emphasizing her direct relationship within this core Asherite family unit.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • The sons of Asher: This phrase introduces the patriarchal line, common in biblical genealogies, signifying the foundation of the tribal identity through its male founder and his direct male offspring who perpetuate the name and lineage.
  • Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah: These are the foundational names of the Asherite families or clans. Their listing establishes the core subdivisions of the tribe, essential for tribal organization, land allocation, and identifying who belongs to Asher.
  • and Serah their sister: This phrase stands out due to its inclusion of a female name in a typically patrilineal list. Her presence is a unique detail, suggesting a significant historical or traditional role for her within the tribal memory, possibly related to her long life, unique wisdom, or specific importance to the lineage's continuity or legal standing, especially as recorded in Numbers regarding female inheritance. It subtly highlights that all true descendants, regardless of gender, contributed to the family's complete record.

1 Chronicles 7 30 Bonus section

• The emphasis on genealogies in 1 Chronicles (chapters 1-9) strongly reflects the post-exilic concerns of the returning community. Establishing lineage was crucial for asserting legitimate land claims, determining who belonged to which tribe (especially important for priesthood and Levitical duties), and providing a sense of national and spiritual identity after the upheaval of exile.
• The Chronicler's genealogies often differ slightly from earlier lists in Genesis or Numbers, typically by condensing information, omitting minor figures, or focusing on lines relevant to the post-exilic community's immediate needs. The consistent mention of Serah across these disparate texts reinforces her original importance to the historical record of Asher's family.
• Serah's survival in tradition as a key link between the patriarchal period and the Exodus (as described in later Midrash) illustrates how even brief mentions in Scripture can spark rich theological and historical development in religious thought. This points to her enduring symbolic significance as a "survivor" and keeper of sacred knowledge for Israel.
• While this verse does not explicitly give Serah descendants, her name being preserved among the founding children of Asher, similar to how daughters of Zelophehad secured an inheritance (Num 27), underlines the value placed on retaining the full family record in some crucial instances.

1 Chronicles 7 30 Commentary

1 Chronicles 7:30 is a deceptively simple verse within the dense genealogical chapters of 1 Chronicles. While typical of the lists of Israel's tribal founders, its most significant detail is the explicit mention of Serah, the daughter of Asher. In Hebrew genealogies, female names are rarely listed unless they have a direct legal, historical, or theological significance (e.g., contributing to a key lineage like Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba in Matthew's genealogy, or involved in specific inheritance laws as seen with Zelophehad's daughters).

Serah's consistent presence in Asher's initial family listing (Gen 46:17, Num 26:46, and 1 Chron 7:30) points to a unique historical or traditional importance attributed to her. While the biblical text itself does not elaborate on why she is always named, post-biblical Jewish tradition (Midrash Aggadah) paints her as an exceptional figure: incredibly long-lived, believed to have entered Egypt with Jacob and survived to witness the Exodus, serving as a wise woman who helped Moses and Aaron identify Joseph's coffin for retrieval (in fulfillment of Joseph's dying wish, Gen 50:25).

The Chronicler, writing for a post-exilic community grappling with identity, land claims, and historical continuity, meticulously preserved these genealogies. By including Serah, the text might subtly reinforce several aspects: the full extent of the patriarchal family, demonstrating continuity through both male and notably significant female descendants; an implicit acknowledgment of key figures important in tribal memory; or simply the inclusion of accurate traditional records to ensure no foundational individual was forgotten, especially those who were crucial for connecting the present generation with the complete history of their ancestors and their foundational narrative. Her inclusion may serve as a reminder that the tribe was fully recorded, with its female as well as male lineage in its initial generation.