1 Chronicles 1:39 — Word Study
WLCוּבְנֵ֥י לוֹטָ֖ן חֹרִ֣י וְהוֹמָ֑ם וַאֲח֥וֹת לוֹטָ֖ן תִּמְנָֽע׃ ס
BSAThe sonsbên [descendants, male offspring] of LotanLôwṭân HoriChôrîy [a man of the Horite tribe] and HomamHôwmâm△ [meaning confusion, a leader] TimnaTimnâʻ [a daughter of Seir, an Edomite woman] was Lotan’sLôwṭân [the eldest son of Seir] sisterʼâchôwth [a biological sibling, a close relative]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבְנֵ֥י | and [the] sons of | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct |
| לוֹטָ֖ן | Lotan | Noun proper masculine |
| חֹרִ֣י | Hori | Noun proper masculine |
| וְהוֹמָ֑ם | and Homam | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וַאֲח֥וֹת | and [was] [the] sister of | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct |
| לוֹטָ֖ן | Lotan | Noun proper masculine |
| תִּמְנָֽע׃ ס | Timna | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister. |
| KJV | And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan’s sister. |
| ASV | And the sons of Lotan: Hori, and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister. |
| YLT | And sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam, and sister of Lotan [is] Timna. |
| WEB | The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister. |
| BBE | And the sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan's sister. |
The translations agree in their rendering of the names and relationships in this verse.
The verse consists of two main clauses, presenting the sons of Lotan and identifying Timna's relationship.
1 commentators on this verse
Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Chronicles 1:39
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Descendants of Seirgenerated
1 Chronicles 1:39 is part of a genealogical record that traces the lineage of Seir the Horite. This verse specifically details the sons of Lotan, a descendant of Seir, and mentions Timna, highlighting family relationships within the Edomite tribes. The genealogy serves to connect the descendants of Esau with the broader narrative of Israel's history.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 2:12–22 | The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them as their possession.) |
| 2 | Genesis 36:22 | The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Timna was Lotan’s sister. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — לוֹטָן, lo.Tangenerated
The name לוֹטָן (LoTan) refers to a significant figure in Edomite genealogy, specifically the eldest son of Seir the Horite. The name means 'covering' and indicates his role within the family structure as a leader among his siblings.
As a proper noun, Lotan's mention here emphasizes his lineage, which is crucial for understanding the history of the Edomites. His familial connections are important for the narrative of Israel's neighbors and their interactions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which presents the names of Lotan's sons and identifies Timna as his sister.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The core structure of the verse centers around the finite verb implied by the noun phrases, with the subject being וּבְנֵ֥י לוֹטָ֖ן (and the sons of Lotan) and a compound predicate detailing the names of the sons and the relationship to Timna.
The word order emphasizes the familial connections, placing the sons' names first, followed by the identification of Timna as a sister, thereby highlighting her significance within the family.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, לוֹטָן is rendered as λωταν, maintaining the name's identity. This reflects a consistent understanding of Lotan's role in the genealogical context.
The translation choice indicates a direct correspondence with the Hebrew text, preserving the familial relationships outlined in the original.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 1:39 lists the sons of Lotan, specifically naming Hori and Homam, and identifies Timna as Lotan's sister. This verse is part of a genealogy that traces the descendants of Seir, showing the connections among the Edomite tribes.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1:39.
Timna is associated with the meaning 'restrained' and refers to a daughter of Seir the Horite.
Genealogies serve to establish lineage, inheritance, and connections among the tribes, which are important for understanding the history of Israel and its neighbors.
This verse connects to the broader narrative by detailing the lineage of the Edomites, showing their relationship to Israel and the historical context of their interactions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about family relationships from this verse?
- How do genealogies help us understand the history of the Edomites?
- In what ways do names carry significance in biblical narratives?
- How does understanding Lotan's family help us grasp the larger story of Israel's neighbors?
Commentators on this verse — 1 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 1:39 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(39) And Timna was Lotan’s sister.—This appears to mean that the tribe settled in the town of Timna was akin to the sons of Lotan, but not a subdivision of that tribe. Towns are feminine in Hebrew, and are sometimes called mothers (2 Samuel 20:19), sometimes daughters.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 1 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.
The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister.
The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.
The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. (Timna was Lotan’s sister.)
Tyndale line
And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan’s sister.
And the sons of Lotan: Hori, and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister.
And the sons of Lotan; Hori and Homam: and Timna was Lotan’s sister.
And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan's sister.
And the sonnes of Lotan, Hori, and Homam, and Timna Lotans sister.
Strictly literal
— And the sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. And Lotan's sister, Timna.
And sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam, and sister of Lotan [is] Timna.
And sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam, and sister of Lotan [is] Timna.
And the sons of Lotan: Chori, and Homam: and the sister of Lotan: Thimna'.
The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam, and Timna was Lotan's sister.
From the Latin
The sons of Lotan: Hori, Homam. And the sister of Lotan was Thamna.
Simplified
The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Lotan's sister was Timna.
And the sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan's sister.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in this verse, with six of the seven words matching directly. The Septuagint's order and articles differ, but the essential content remains consistent.
וּבְנֵ֥י לוֹטָ֖ן חֹרִ֣י וְהוֹמָ֑ם וַאֲח֥וֹת לוֹטָ֖ן תִּמְנָֽע׃ ס
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Chronicles 1:39
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural constructHC/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
לוֹטָן (Lowtan) refers to Lotan, a figure from the Old Testament, specifically mentioned in Genesis 36:20. He is described as the eldest son of Seir the Horite and has several siblings. The name is derived from a root meaning 'covering.'
לוֹטָן n.pr.m. 𝔊 Λωταν; a son of שֵׂעִיר
base
H3877 לוֹטָן
3877 Lowtan lo-tawn'
from 3875; covering; Lotan, an Idumaean: -Lotan.
see HEBREW for 03875
לוֹטָן (lo.tan) — Lotan.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.20;
son of: Seir (H8165B);
brother of: Shobal (H7732), Zibeon (H6649H), Anah (H6034H), Dishon (H1787), Ezer (H0687), Dishan (H1789) and Timna (H8555H);
father of: Hori (H2753H), Hemam (H1950)
§ Lotan = "covering"
the eldest son of Seir the Horite
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Lotan
Coverer, one of the sons of Seir, the Horite (Gen. 36:20, 29).
(covering), the eldest son of Seir the Horite. (Genesis 36:20,22,29; 1 Chronicles 1:38,39)
חֹרִי (Choriy) likely means 'cave dweller.' It refers to two individuals: one is a Horite, son of Lotan, mentioned in Genesis 36:22, and the other is a Simeonite, father of Shaphat, noted in Numbers 13:5. The term also denotes the ancient inhabitants of Edom.
חֹרִי, חוֹרִי adj., usu. n.pr.gent. et pers. (prob. = cave-dweller)
adj.gent. Seir the Horite
n.pr.gent. ancient inhabitants of land of Edom
n.pr.pers.m.
an Edomite
a Simeonite
base
H2753 חֹרִי, חוֹרִי (prob. = cave-dweller)
2753 Choriy kho-ree'
or Chowriy {kho-ree'}; the same as 2752; Chori, the name of
two men:--Hori.
see HEBREW for 02752
חֹרִי (cho.ri) — Hori.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.13.5;
father of: Shaphat (H8202)
§ Hori = "cave dweller"
1) a Horite, son of Lotan, the son of Seir
2) a Simeonite, father of Shaphat
חֹרִי (cho.ri) — Hori.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.22;
son of: Lotan (H3877);
brother of: Hemam (H1950)
Also named: cho.ri (חֹרִי "Horite" H2752)
§ Hori = "cave dweller"
1) a Horite, son of Lotan, the son of Seir
2) a Simeonite, father of Shaphat
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
(cave-dweller). A Horite, son of Lotan the son of Seir. (Genesis 36:22; 1 Chronicles 1:39; Genesis 36:30) A man of Simeon, father of Shaphat. (Numbers 13:5)
a prince; freeborn
הוֹמָ֑ם (Howmam) refers to a man from the time of the Patriarchs, specifically a descendant of Seir the Horite and son of Lotan. He is mentioned in Genesis 36:22 and is associated with the name הֵימָם (Hemam). The term is linked to the concept of confusion.
H1950 הוֹמָ֑ם, הֵימָם
1950 Howmam ho-mawm'
from 2000; raging; Homam, an Edomitish chieftain:--Homam.
Compare 1967.
see HEBREW for 02000
see HEBREW for 01967
הוֹמָ֑ם (ho.mam) — Hemam.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.22;
son of: Lotan (H3877);
brother of: Hori (H2753H)
Also named: he.mam (הֵימָם "Hemam" H1967)
§ Homam = "confusion"
a descendant of Seir the Horite, the son of Lotan
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
(destruction), the form under which, in (1 Chronicles 1:39) an Edomite name appears which in (Genesis 36:22) is given HEMAM.
making an uproar
אָחוֹת (achowth) means 'sister' and can refer to a full sister, half-sister, or a relative. It is used both literally and figuratively, symbolizing relationships such as that of Israel and Judah, and can also imply intimacy or connection. The word is built from a feminine form related to other terms for kinship.
אָחוֹת 114 n.f. sister
sister
= beloved
symbol. of Judah, Samaria, Sodom & Jerusalem
fig. of intimate connection
another
base
H269 אָחוֹת sister
269 'achowth aw-khoth'
irregular feminine of 251; a sister (used very widely (like
250), literally and figuratively):--(an-)other, sister,
together.
see HEBREW for 0251
see HEBREW for 0250
אָחוֹת (a.chot) — sister.
1) sister
1a) sister (same parents)
1b) half-sister (same father)
1c) relative
1c1) (metaph) of Israel's and Judah's relationship
1d) beloved
1d1) bride
1e) (fig.) of intimate connection
1f) another
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular constructHC/Ncfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
לוֹטָן (Lowtan) refers to Lotan, a figure from the Old Testament, specifically mentioned in Genesis 36:20. He is described as the eldest son of Seir the Horite and has several siblings. The name is derived from a root meaning 'covering.'
לוֹטָן n.pr.m. 𝔊 Λωταν; a son of שֵׂעִיר
base
H3877 לוֹטָן
3877 Lowtan lo-tawn'
from 3875; covering; Lotan, an Idumaean: -Lotan.
see HEBREW for 03875
לוֹטָן (lo.tan) — Lotan.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.20;
son of: Seir (H8165B);
brother of: Shobal (H7732), Zibeon (H6649H), Anah (H6034H), Dishon (H1787), Ezer (H0687), Dishan (H1789) and Timna (H8555H);
father of: Hori (H2753H), Hemam (H1950)
§ Lotan = "covering"
the eldest son of Seir the Horite
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Lotan
Coverer, one of the sons of Seir, the Horite (Gen. 36:20, 29).
(covering), the eldest son of Seir the Horite. (Genesis 36:20,22,29; 1 Chronicles 1:38,39)
תִּמְנָע (Timna) is an Edomite name referring to multiple figures in the Old Testament, including a chief of Edom and the concubine of Eliphaz, son of Esau. The name is associated with the meaning "restrained" and appears in genealogical contexts, particularly in Genesis 36, where it identifies both a man and a woman linked to the lineage of Esau.
תִּמְנָע n.pr.m. and f. Edomite name.
n.pr.m.
a chief of Edom
son of Eliphaz
f. sister of Lotan (of Seir); concubine of Eliphaz son of Esau
base
H8555 תִּמְנָע Edomite name.
8555 Timna` tim-naw'
from 4513; restraint; Timna, the name of two
Edomites:--Timna, Timnah.
see HEBREW for 04513
תִּמְנָע (tim.na) — Timna.
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.12; married to Eliphaz (H0464);
mother of: Amalek (H6002H)
§ Timna or Timnah = "restrained"
1) a chief or duke of Esau and of Edom
2) the concubine of Eliphaz, the son of Esau
3) daughter of Seir the Horite and sister of Lotan
תִּמְנָע (tim.na) — Timna.
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.22;
daughter of: Seir (H8165B);
sister of: Lotan (H3877), Shobal (H7732), Zibeon (H6649H), Anah (H6034H), Dishon (H1787), Ezer (H0687) and Dishan (H1789)
§ Timna or Timnah = "restrained"
1) a chief or duke of Esau and of Edom
2) the concubine of Eliphaz, the son of Esau
3) daughter of Seir the Horite and sister of Lotan
תִּמְנָע (tim.na) — Timna.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.40
§ Timna or Timnah = "restrained"
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
tim'-na (timna`; Thamna): A conbubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, and the mother of Amalek (Ge 36:12). But in Ge 36:22 and 1Ch 1:39 Timna is the sister of Lotan, and in Ge 36:40 and 1Ch 1:51 a chief or elan of Edom (see TIMNAH (3)). These variations are to be expected when the origin of genealogies is recalled. (In Genesis, English Versions of the Bible read, contrary to rule, "Timnah.") Gunkel's theory is that Ge 36:12 is a later insertion in P.