1 Chronicles 9 8

1 Chronicles 9:8 kjv

And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

1 Chronicles 9:8 nkjv

Ibneiah the son of Jeroham; Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri; Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

1 Chronicles 9:8 niv

Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.

1 Chronicles 9:8 esv

Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, Elah the son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah;

1 Chronicles 9:8 nlt

Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Micri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.

1 Chronicles 9 verses

1 Chronicles 9 8 Meaning

This verse is a genealogical record, specifically listing key individuals and their immediate ancestry among those residing in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. It identifies Ibneiah, son of Jeroham; Elah, son of Uzzi, son of Michri; and Meshullam, son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibneiah. The verse serves to establish and confirm the lineage and presence of these specific families within the re-established community of Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 9 8 Context

First Chronicles chapter 9 primarily details the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the other towns of Judah after the return from Babylonian exile. It acts as a continuation and re-emphasis of the genealogical lists provided earlier in the book (chapters 1-8), but specifically focusing on those who resettled the land and re-established the community and temple services in the post-exilic period. The immediate verses prior to 1 Chr 9:8 list various families of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem. Verse 8 itself continues this enumeration, focusing on specific individuals and their multi-generational lineages to show their distinct family groups within the broader Israelite population residing in the capital city. Historically, the re-population and re-organization of Jerusalem were crucial for the re-establishment of the Judean nation's religious and political life. The meticulous genealogical records affirmed identities, secured land claims, and determined eligibility for the sacred service of the temple, ensuring that those appointed were of the legitimate lines, countering any attempt by others to usurp positions.

1 Chronicles 9 8 Word analysis

• and Ibneiah: (וְיִבְנְיָה, wə·yiḇ·nə·yāh). The name Ibneiah (יִבְנְיָה) means "Jehovah builds" or "Yahweh builds." This name, like many Hebrew names, is a sentence in itself, attributing action or character to the divine. Its presence subtly suggests a divine hand in the rebuilding of families and the community in post-exilic Jerusalem, especially in light of the repeated focus on "building" throughout the books related to the return.
• the son of Jeroham: (בֶּן־יְרֹחָם, ben-yə·rō·ḥām). "Ben" (בֶּן) means "son of." Jeroham (יְרֹחָם) means "he will be shown compassion" or "he is pitied." This connection might subtly point to the mercy of God in bringing the exiles back, suggesting the ancestral root for Ibneiah experienced God's compassion.
• and Elah: (וְאֵלָה, wə·’ê·lāh). Elah (אֵלָה) means "terebinth" or "oak tree." These trees were known for their strength, longevity, and sometimes served as landmarks or sacred sites. The name might imply strength, rootedness, or significance for this individual.
• the son of Uzzi: (בֶּן־עֻזִּי, ben-‘uz·zî). Uzzi (עֻזִּי) means "my strength" or "strength of Yahweh." Again, reflecting qualities of robustness or divine empowerment in the family lineage, which would have been vital in the challenging rebuilding period.
• the son of Michri: (בֶּן־מִכְרִי, ben-miḵ·rî). Michri (מִכְרִי) possibly means "my price" or "purchased." This name's meaning is less clear but might allude to a personal experience of redemption or the cost involved in some historical event.
• and Meshullam: (וּמְשֻׁלָּם, ū·mə·šul·lām). Meshullam (מְשֻׁלָּם) means "friend" or "repaid," "at peace." This name is common in post-exilic lists, often associated with administrative or religious roles (Neh 3:4, 3:30, 8:4). It suggests a character of completeness, peace, or reconciliation, significant after a period of conflict and exile.
• the son of Shephatiah: (בֶּן־שְׁפַטְיָה, ben-šə·p̄aṭ·yāh). Shephatiah (שְׁפַטְיָה) means "Yahweh has judged" or "Yahweh is judge." This name serves as a reminder of God's sovereign justice, which would have been prominent in the minds of those who experienced the judgment of exile but now witnessed His righteous restoration.
• the son of Reuel: (בֶּן־רְאוּאֵל, ben-rə·’ū·’êl). Reuel (רְאוּאֵל) means "friend of God" or "shepherd of God." This name highlights a close relationship with the divine or a pastoral leadership quality, reflecting the spiritual lineage of the individual.
• the son of Ibneiah: (בֶּן־יִבְנְיָה, ben-yiḇ·nə·yāh). The recurrence of Ibneiah suggests either a direct naming after an ancestor within the same lineage or possibly a distinct family with a similar significant name. It re-emphasizes the theme of "Yahweh builds," connecting generations through this central concept of divine reconstruction.

• Word Group Analysis:
• "Ibneiah the son of Jeroham": This pair links "Yahweh builds" to "he is shown compassion." It portrays the divine initiative of rebuilding a nation through individuals, specifically connecting this new construction to an ancestor who received God's mercy. This hints at the post-exilic rebuilding being an act of God's grace following a period of deserved judgment.
• "Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri": This three-generation lineage points to the strength and resilience ("Elah" - oak; "Uzzi" - my strength) foundational to the family. "Michri" (my price/purchased) might subtly reflect the cost endured for the family's survival or the value God placed on their return and establishment. The continuity over three generations emphasizes stability and rootedness in a time of re-establishment.
• "Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibneiah": This longer four-generation chain underscores the depth of lineage and historical grounding for Meshullam's family. "Meshullam" (peace/repaid) signifies restored order. "Shephatiah" (Yahweh has judged) grounds this peace in divine justice. "Reuel" (friend of God) highlights piety or leadership. The lineage ends with "Ibneiah" (Yahweh builds), once again bringing the focus back to God's active role in constructing or rebuilding His people and their societal fabric. This full list from Meshullam illustrates God's faithfulness in upholding a continuous covenant line even through periods of upheaval, ultimately reinforcing that divine purpose underpins the post-exilic community.

1 Chronicles 9 8 Bonus section

• The meticulous detailing of names in genealogies across Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah emphasizes God's personal involvement in the lives of His people, down to individual families and their lineages. This is not merely human record-keeping but a testament to divine oversight and purpose.
• In the Ancient Near East, one's identity was intricately linked to their ancestry. These lists weren't just for tax or military purposes but deeply tied to self-understanding, land rights, and roles within the community and cult. For a returning exilic community, such lists were paramount for rebuilding societal structure and preventing chaos.
• The Chronicler often uses the word "all Israel" (1 Chr 9:1), highlighting a hope for a unified return to God, regardless of previous tribal divisions. The genealogies contribute to this unified vision by tracing common roots.
• The re-establishment of Jerusalem’s inhabitants laid the groundwork for the temple service, sacrifices, and a renewed focus on covenant fidelity, which were central to the Chronicler's message of encouraging faithfulness among the returned exiles.

1 Chronicles 9 8 Commentary

First Chronicles 9:8, though seemingly a simple listing of names and lineages, is profoundly significant within the larger narrative of Chronicles. The Chronicler's primary goal was to encourage the post-exilic community, reaffirming their identity and heritage as the covenant people of God, tracing their roots back through unified Israel, all the way to Adam. This verse is part of a detailed roster demonstrating that despite the catastrophic judgment of the exile, God faithfully preserved a remnant and orchestrated their return. The inclusion of specific family heads like Ibneiah, Elah, and Meshullam, with their multi-generational descents, served a crucial purpose: it legitimized their place in the reconstituted community of Jerusalem. This genealogical record was essential for proper temple service assignments (for Levites and priests), for establishing property rights, and for reinforcing tribal affiliations, thereby preventing disunity or false claims within the fragile, nascent community. The underlying theological message is clear: God "builds" (as suggested by the name Ibneiah), "shows compassion," and restores His people, even in their brokenness. It emphasizes that the current generation in Jerusalem were not a random assortment, but an identifiable continuum of God's covenant people.