1 Chronicles 1:54 — Word Study
WLCאַלּ֥וּף מַגְדִּיאֵ֖ל אַלּ֣וּף עִירָ֑ם אֵ֖לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֥י אֱדֽוֹם׃ פ
BSAMagdielMagdîyʼêl [prince of God] and IramʻÎyrâm [belonging to a city] Theseʼêl-leh [specific leaders] [were] the chiefsʼallûwph [governors, leaders, or friends] of EdomʼĔdôm [the region of Esau's descendants]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַלּ֥וּף | chief | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| מַגְדִּיאֵ֖ל | Magdiel | Noun proper masculine |
| אַלּ֣וּף | chief | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| עִירָ֑ם | Iram | Noun proper masculine |
| אֵ֖לֶּה | these | Particle |
| אַלּוּפֵ֥י | [were] [the] chiefs of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| אֱדֽוֹם׃ פ | Edom | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom. |
| KJV | Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom. |
| ASV | chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom. |
| YLT | chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These [are] chiefs of Edom. |
| WEB | chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom. |
| BBE | The chief of Magdiel, the chief of Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom. |
Where they part company is אֵ֖לֶּה — see How Translations Differ.
A main clause identifies the chiefs, with two noun phrases specifying who they are.
1 commentators on this verse
Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֵלֶּה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
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 1:54
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 Chiefs of Edomgenerated
1 Chronicles 1:54 provides a brief list of key leaders among the Edomites, specifically naming Magdiel and Iram as chiefs. This verse is part of a genealogical account that traces the descendants of Esau, highlighting the significance of these figures in the history of Edom. The context is crucial for understanding the leadership structure within the Edomite community, as seen in the preceding verses that list other chiefs.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 36:41–43 | Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אַלּוּף, 'a.Lufgenerated
The Hebrew word אַלּוּף (al-luph) refers to a chief or leader and carries connotations of authority and guidance. It can also mean friend or governor, indicating a position of influence within a community. The parsing as a masculine singular construct suggests that it is used here to denote a specific role among the Edomites.
This word is derived from a root meaning 'tame', which adds a layer of meaning related to familiarity and leadership. The use of אַלּוּף in this context emphasizes the importance of these chiefs in guiding their people.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is implied in the phrase אֵ֖לֶּה, these, which serves as the subject of the sentence. It introduces the two noun phrases that follow: מַגְדִּיאֵ֖ל and עִירָ֑ם, identifying them as the chiefs.
The structure emphasizes the identification of these leaders as significant figures in Edom, with the noun phrases clearly delineating who they are.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אַלּוּף as ἡγεμὼν, which means 'leader' or 'governor'. This choice reinforces the authoritative role of these figures in the Edomite community.
The translation of אֵ֖לֶּה as οὗτοι indicates a direct reference to the specific leaders, maintaining the focus on their significance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 1:54 lists two chiefs of Edom: Magdiel and Iram. Magdiel means 'prince of God', while Iram means 'belonging to a city'. These leaders are important figures in the lineage of Esau's descendants.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Magdiel and Iram were chiefs of Edom, significant leaders among the descendants of Esau.
Magdiel means 'prince of God' and identifies him as a notable figure in Edom.
Iram means 'belonging to a city', indicating a connection to urban leadership.
This record highlights the leadership structure of Edom and the significance of its chiefs in the history of Esau's descendants.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about leadership from the names and roles of Magdiel and Iram?
- How does understanding the historical context of Edom enhance our reading of this verse?
- In what ways do the meanings of these names reflect the values of their society?
- How do genealogies like this one contribute to our understanding of biblical history?
Commentators on this verse — 1 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 1:54 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(54) These are the dukes (chiliarchs) of Edom.—Eleven names only are given, whereas there were twelve (or thirteen) chiliarchs of Edom (Genesis 36:15-19; see Note on 1 Chronicles 1:35-37). A name may have fallen out of the ancient text from which the chronicler derived the list.
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
Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.
Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
Magdiel, Iram. These were the tribal chiefs of Edom.
Tyndale line
Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.
chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.
duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.
Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.
Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these were the dukes of Edom.
Strictly literal
chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These [are] chiefs of Edom.
Chief Magdiel, Chief Iram. These [are] chiefs of Edom.
Duke Magdiel, duke 'Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.
Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
From the Latin
Duke Magdiel, duke Hiram. These are the dukes of Edom.
Simplified
Magdiel, and Iram. These were Edom's chiefs.
The chief of Magdiel, the chief of Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.
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 agree on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched. This consistency across the witnesses supports the reliability of the genealogical record presented.
אַלּ֥וּף מַגְדִּיאֵ֖ל אַלּ֣וּף עִירָ֑ם אֵ֖לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֥י אֱדֽוֹם׃ פ
7 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 1:54
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.
אַלּוּף (al-luph) has meanings related to both tameness and leadership. It can refer to something that is tame or docile, as well as to a friend or chief. The word is built from the root associated with familiarity and gentleness, and it can denote a captain or governor in a leadership context.
אַלּוּף adj. tame
tame, docile
n.m. friend, intimate
i.q.
base
אַלּוּף n.m. chief, chiliarch
base
H441a אַלּוּף tame H441b אַלּוּף chief, chiliarch
441 'alluwph al-loof'
or (shortened) talluph {al-loof'}; from 502; familiar; a
friend, also gentle; hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied,
although masculine, to a cow); and so, a chieftain (as
notable, like neat cattle):--captain, duke, (chief) friend,
governor, guide, ox.
see HEBREW for 0502
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — tame.
1) tame, docile
2) friend, intimate
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — chief.
chief
N-mp — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
chef: The English word is in the King James Version of Old Testament the translation of some 17 different Hebrew words, most frequently of ro'sh, "head," sar, "prince," and re'shith, "beginning." The principal changes made by the Revised Version (British and American) are:
(1) Hebrew beth'abh, "house of a father," being recognized as a technical term denoting a subdivision of a tribe, ro'sh is rendered literally "head," when it occurs in connection with this phrase, so that "chief fathers" (Num 31:26) and "chief of the fathers" (Ezr 1:5) become "heads of fathers' houses";
(2) Hebrew naghidh and nasi' are more accurately translated "prince" in such passages as 1Ch 5:2; Nu 3:32;
מַגְדִּיאֵל (Magdiy'el) refers to a chief of Edom, a descendant of Esau, and is noted in Genesis 36:43. The name is derived from roots meaning 'preciousness of God' and translates to 'prince of God.' The entries consistently identify Magdiel as a significant figure in the lineage of Edom.
מַגְדִּיאֵל n.pr.m. a chief of Edom
base
H4025 מַגְדִּיאֵל a chief of Edom
4025 Magdiy'el mag-dee-ale'
from 4022 and 410; preciousness of God; Magdiel, an
Idumaean:--Magdiel.
see HEBREW for 04022
see HEBREW for 0410
מַגְדִּיאֵל (mag.di.el) — Magdiel.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.43
§ Magdiel = "prince of God"
a descendant of Esau and one of the chiefs of Edom
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
(prince of God), one of the "dukes" of Edom, descended from Esau. (Genesis 36:43; 1 Chronicles 1:54)
declaring God; chosen fruit of God
אַלּוּף (al-luph) has meanings related to both tameness and leadership. It can refer to something that is tame or docile, as well as to a friend or chief. The word is built from the root associated with familiarity and gentleness, and it can denote a captain or governor in a leadership context.
אַלּוּף adj. tame
tame, docile
n.m. friend, intimate
i.q.
base
אַלּוּף n.m. chief, chiliarch
base
H441a אַלּוּף tame H441b אַלּוּף chief, chiliarch
441 'alluwph al-loof'
or (shortened) talluph {al-loof'}; from 502; familiar; a
friend, also gentle; hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied,
although masculine, to a cow); and so, a chieftain (as
notable, like neat cattle):--captain, duke, (chief) friend,
governor, guide, ox.
see HEBREW for 0502
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — tame.
1) tame, docile
2) friend, intimate
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — chief.
chief
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
chef: The English word is in the King James Version of Old Testament the translation of some 17 different Hebrew words, most frequently of ro'sh, "head," sar, "prince," and re'shith, "beginning." The principal changes made by the Revised Version (British and American) are:
(1) Hebrew beth'abh, "house of a father," being recognized as a technical term denoting a subdivision of a tribe, ro'sh is rendered literally "head," when it occurs in connection with this phrase, so that "chief fathers" (Num 31:26) and "chief of the fathers" (Ezr 1:5) become "heads of fathers' houses";
(2) Hebrew naghidh and nasi' are more accurately translated "prince" in such passages as 1Ch 5:2; Nu 3:32;
עִירָם (Iyram) refers to a man associated with Edom, specifically a leader of the Edomites. The name is derived from a root meaning 'city-wise' and is linked to the concept of belonging to a city. He is first mentioned in Genesis 36:43.
עִירָם n.pr.m. in Edom
base
H5902 עִירָם in Edom
5902 'Iyram ee-rawm'
from 5892; city-wise; Iram, an Idumaean:--Iram.
see HEBREW for 05892
עִירָם (i.ram) — Iram.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.43
§ Iram = "belonging to a city"
a leader of the Edomites
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Iram
Citizen, chief of an Edomite tribe in Mount Seir (Gen. 36:43).
(belonging to a city), a leader of the Edomites, (Genesis 36:43; 1 Chronicles 1:54) i.e. the chief of a family or tribe. No identification of him has been found.
the effusion of them; a high heap
אֵ֫לֶּה (el-leh) means 'these' and is used in various grammatical contexts, often in apposition to a noun with a pronoun suffix. It can appear with or without the definite article and is sometimes paired with other terms like וְאֵלֶּה (and these). The word conveys a sense of proximity or specification, referring to particular items or people.
אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these
in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
with preps.
base
H428 אֵ֫לֶּה these . in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
. with preps.
428 'el-leh ale'-leh
prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one
sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those,
thus, which, who(-m).
see HEBREW for 0411
אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.
1) these
1a) used before antecedent
1b) used following antecedent
Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Pron — ParticleHTm
אַלּוּף (al-luph) has meanings related to both tameness and leadership. It can refer to something that is tame or docile, as well as to a friend or chief. The word is built from the root associated with familiarity and gentleness, and it can denote a captain or governor in a leadership context.
אַלּוּף adj. tame
tame, docile
n.m. friend, intimate
i.q.
base
אַלּוּף n.m. chief, chiliarch
base
H441a אַלּוּף tame H441b אַלּוּף chief, chiliarch
441 'alluwph al-loof'
or (shortened) talluph {al-loof'}; from 502; familiar; a
friend, also gentle; hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied,
although masculine, to a cow); and so, a chieftain (as
notable, like neat cattle):--captain, duke, (chief) friend,
governor, guide, ox.
see HEBREW for 0502
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — tame.
1) tame, docile
2) friend, intimate
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — chief.
chief
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
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…
אֱדוֹם (Edom) refers to both a person and a region. It is derived from the Hebrew word for 'red' and is associated with Esau, Jacob's brother. The term encompasses the Edomites, descendants of Esau, and the land of Edom, located southeast of Palestine. It is first mentioned in Genesis 25:25.
אֱדוֹם († אֱדֹם Ez 25:11) n.pr.m.
Edom
coll. Edomites, Idumeans as descend. of Esau
land of Edom, Idumaea
base
H123 אֱדוֹם . Edom
. coll. Edomites, Idumeans as descend. of Esau
. land of Edom, Idumaea
123 'Edom ed-ome'
or (fully) oEdowm {ed-ome'}; from 122; red (see Gen. 25:25);
Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region
(Idumaea) occupied by him:--Edom, Edomites, Idumea.
see HEBREW for 0122
אֱדוֹם (e.dom) — Edom.
Edom = "red"
land of Edom, Idumea-land south and south east of Palestine
אֱדוֹם (e.dom) — Edom.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.25;
son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);
brother of: Israel (H3478); married to Oholibamah (H0173), Judith (H3067), Adah (H5711H) and Mahalath (H4258);
father of: Eliphaz (H0464), Reuel (H7467), Jeush (H3266), Jalam (H3281) and Korah (H7141); also called Edom at Gen.25.30; 36.1,8,19,21; 1x,54;
Another name of e.sav (עֵשָׂו "Esau" H6215G)
§ Edom = "red"
1) Edom
2) Edomite, Idumean-descendants of Esau
3) land of Edom, Idumea-land south and south east of Palestine
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Edom
(1.) The name of Esau (q.v.), Gen. 25:30, “Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage [Heb. haadom, haadom, i.e., ‘the red pottage, the red pottage’] ...Therefore was his name called Edom”, i.e., Red.
(2.) Idumea (Isa. 34:5, 6; Ezek. 35:15). “The field of Edom” (Gen. 32:3), “the land of Edom” (Gen. 36:16), was mountainous (Obad. 1:8, 9, 19, 21). It was called the land, or “the mountain of Seir,” the rough hills on the east side of the Arabah. It extended from the head of the Gulf of Akabah, the Elanitic gulf, to the foot of the Dead Sea (
Red, a name of Esau, Isaac’s eldest son, appropriate on account of his natural complexion, but given, it would seem, from the current name of food for which he sold his birthright-"that same red," Ge 25:25,30. See ESAU and IDUMEA.
red, earthy; of blood
→ (Signifies red)
1. A name of Esau, possibly on account of his being covered with red hair Ge 25:25,30; 36:1,8,19
2. A name of the land occupied by the descendants of Esau
It extended from the Elanitic Gulf to the Red Sea, and was also called IDUMEA Ge 32:3; 36:16,17,21; Jer 40:11
Noted for its wise men Ob 1:8
Sins of Ob 1:10-14
Prophecies concerning Jer 25:21-23; 27:1-11; Da 11:41
See EDOMITES
FIGURATIVE of the foes of Zion Isa 63:1