1 Chronicles 11:36 — Word Study
WLCחֵ֚פֶר הַמְּכֵ֣רָתִ֔י אֲחִיָּ֖ה הַפְּלֹנִֽי׃ ס
BSAHepherChêpher [a well, source of life] the MecherathiteMᵉkêrâthîy△ [from Mekerah, a place of dwelling] AhijahʼĂchîyâh [brother of Jehovah, one closely related to God] the PelonitePᵉlôwnîy [from Palon, a certain one, a distinctive people]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| חֵ֚פֶר | Hepher | Noun proper masculine |
| הַמְּכֵ֣רָתִ֔י | the Mekerathite | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| אֲחִיָּ֖ה | Ahijah | Noun proper masculine |
| הַפְּלֹנִֽי׃ ס | the Pelonite | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, |
| KJV | Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, |
| ASV | Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, |
| YLT | Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, |
| WEB | Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, |
| BBE | Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, |
All translations agree on the names listed in this verse.
The verse consists of a straightforward list of names, emphasizing their importance as David's warriors.
3 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 4 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 11:36
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 — David's Mighty Warriorsgenerated
1 Chronicles 11:36 lists Hepher the Mecherathite and Ahijah the Pelonite among David's warriors. This passage is part of a larger section that details the names and origins of David's mighty men, emphasizing their loyalty and contributions to his reign. The chronicler aims to honor these figures and preserve their legacy within the history of Israel.
Cross References
The Key Word — חֵ֚פֶר, Che.fergenerated
The name חֵ֚פֶר (*Chepher*) is a proper masculine noun, referring to both a person and a place in Palestine. It signifies a well, symbolizing a source of life. In this context, Hepher is recognized as one of David's warriors, highlighting his strength and importance among the ranks.
The lexical entries indicate that Hepher is associated with several individuals, including a warrior of David and a Canaanite town. The name's meaning as 'a well' suggests a deeper connection to life and sustenance, making it a fitting name for a warrior.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses Hepher and Ahijah consistently across translations.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of this verse includes a series of noun phrases, each representing a different individual. The finite verb is implied, as the verse serves as a straightforward list of names without additional action.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the names themselves, presenting them in a way that highlights their importance as David's warriors.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חֵ֚פֶר as οφαρ, indicating a direct correspondence that preserves the name's identity. This choice reflects the translators' intent to maintain the original names while adapting them for a Greek-speaking audience.
The other names are similarly rendered in the Septuagint, suggesting a consistent approach to translating proper nouns within this context.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 11:36 lists Hepher the Mecherathite and Ahijah the Pelonite as part of David's warriors. This verse highlights the diverse backgrounds of those who supported David, showing their importance in his reign.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The Mecherathite refers to someone from Mekerah, while the Pelonite is from a place called Palon. Both names indicate the geographical origins of these warriors.
Hepher means 'a well' and symbolizes a source of life, reflecting the strength and importance of the individual in the context of David's warriors.
These names represent the diverse backgrounds of David's supporters, emphasizing their loyalty and contributions to his reign.
This verse is part of a broader account detailing the names and feats of David's mighty men, celebrating their legacy in Israel's history.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the diverse backgrounds of David's warriors about unity in purpose?
- How does the meaning of Hepher as 'a well' reflect the qualities we value in leaders?
- In what ways can we honor the contributions of those who support us in our endeavors?
- How does understanding the origins of these names enhance our appreciation for the historical context of the Bible?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 11:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryIthai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 11 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(36) Hepher the Mecherathite.—Wanting in the present text of Samuel. Mecherah is unknown as a place, and a comparison with Samuel (1 Chronicles 11:34) suggests “Hepher the Maachathite,” i.e., of Abelbeth-Maachah, or perhaps the Syrian state of Maachah (2 Samuel 10:8). Ahijah the Pelonite.—Instead of this Samuel has “Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite.” For Ahithophel, see 2 Samuel 15:31. The Pelonite—i.e., so-and-so, may indicate either that Ahithophel’s name had become obscure in the chronicler’s MS., or that he was unwilling to mention the traitor. Ahijah (Jah is a brother) and Eliam (God is a kinsman) might be names of one person.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 11 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges36. Ahijah the Pelonite] A mutilated reading of 2 Samuel 23:34, “Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite.” For “Ahithophel” see 1 Chronicles 27:33, note. “Gilonite” means “inhabitant of Giloh,” a town in the hill country of Judah (Joshua 15:51).
Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 11 →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
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Tyndale line
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite;
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahiiah the Pelonite,
Strictly literal
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Chepher the Mecherathite, Achiyah the Pelonite.
Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
From the Latin
Hepher a Mecherathite, Ahia a Phelonite,
Simplified
Hepher the Mecherathite; Ahijah the Pelonite;
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
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 names listed in this verse, with no significant variations noted. The Septuagint matches all four names, indicating a strong consistency between these ancient witnesses.
חֵ֚פֶר הַמְּכֵ֣רָתִ֔י אֲחִיָּ֖ה הַפְּלֹנִֽי׃ ס
4 of the 4 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 11:36
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.
The Hebrew word חֵ֫פֶר (*chepher*) refers to both a personal name and a geographical location. It denotes a Manassite and a man from Judah, as well as a Canaanite town mentioned in the context of battles. The word is associated with several individuals, including a warrior of David and a descendant of Gilead. The name is interpreted to mean 'a well.'
חֵ֫פֶר n.pr.m.
a Manassite
a man of Judah
one of David's heroes
base
חֵ֫פֶר n.pr.loc.
Canaanitish town, with a king, named just before Aphek
in Judah
base
H2660a חֵ֫פֶר . a Manassite
. a man of Judah
. one of David's heroes
H2660b חֵ֫פֶר . Canaanitish town, with a king, named just before Aphek
. in Judah
2660 Chepher khay'-fer
from 2658 or 2659; a pit of shame; Chepher, a place in
Palestine; also the name of three Israelites:--Hepher.
see HEBREW for 02658
see HEBREW for 02659
חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher) — Hepher.
A man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.26.32;
son of: Gilead (H1568H);
brother of: Abiezer (H0044I), Helek (H2507), Asriel (H0844), Shechem (H7928) and Shemida (H8061);
father of: Zelophehad (H6765)
Also named: cheph.ri (חֶפְרִי "Hepherite" H2662)
§ Hepher = "a well"
1) youngest son of Gilead and head of the family of Hepherites
2) son of Asher, the father of Tekoa
3) the Mecherathite, one of David's mighty warriors
חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher) — Hepher.
§ Hepher = "a well"
a place in ancient Canaan, west of the Jordan, conquered by Joshua
חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher) — Hepher.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.6;
son of: Ashhur (H0806) and Naarah (H5292B);
brother of: Ahuzzam (H0275), Temeni (H8488) and Haahashtari (H0326);
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Hepher
A well or stream. (1.) A royal city of the Canaanites taken by Joshua (12:17).
(2.) The youngest son of Gilead (Num. 26:32; 27:1).
(3.) The second son of Asher (1 Chr. 4:6).
(4.) One of David’s heroes (1 Chr. 11:36).
a place in ancient Canaan which occurs in the lists of conquered kings. (Joshua 12:17) It was on the west of Jordan. Comp. (Joshua 12:7) and 1Kin 4:10
a digger
The Hebrew word מְכֵרָתִי (*mekayrati*) refers to a Mecherathite, an inhabitant or descendant of the place Mecherah in Palestine. It is associated with the idea of being 'of the dug-out' or 'of the digging tool.' This term appears in 1 Chronicles 11:36.
מְכֵרָתִי adj.gent. 1 Ch 11:36.
ref
H4382 מְכֵרָתִי
4382 Mkerathiy mek-ay-raw-thee'
patrial from an unused name (the same as 4380) of a place in
Palestine: a Mekerathite, or inhabitant of Mekerah:--
Mecherathite.
see HEBREW for 04380
מְכֵרָתִי (me.khe.ra.ti) — Mecherathite.
Someone descended from Mecherath(?), only mentioned at 1Ch.11.36
§ Mecherathite = "he of the dug-out" or "he of the digging tool"
a native or inhabitant of Mecherah
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
The Hebrew word אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ (*Achiyah*) means 'brother of Jehovah' and is associated with various figures in the Old Testament. It is built from the roots for 'brother' and 'Yah.' The entries highlight multiple individuals named Ahijah, including a prophet, a scribe, and the father of King Baasha. The lexicons provide overlapping details about these figures, with some variations in their roles and lineage.
אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ, אֲחִיָה (always, exc. where other form noted), אֲחִי n.pr.m. (brother of Yah(u))
a priest
a scribe
a prophet
father of king Baasha
grandson of Hezron
son of Ehud, of Benj.
one of Dvd’s heroes
a Levite, Dvd’s time
a chief man under Nehem.
a Gadite
a man of Asher
base
H281 אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ, אֲחִיָה, אֲחִי
281 'Achiyah akh-ee-yaw
or (prolonged) pAchiyahuw {akh-ee-yaw'-hoo}; from 251 and
3050; brother (i.e. worshipper) of Jah; Achijah, the name of
nine Israelites:--Ahiah, Ahijah.
see HEBREW for 0251
see HEBREW for 03050
אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ (a.chiy.yah) — Ahijah.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.3;
son of: Seraiah (H8304);
brother of: Elihoreph (H0456)
§ Ahiah or Ahijah = "brother of Jehovah (Yahu)"
1) grandson of Phinehas
2) scribe of Solomon
3) a prophet who predicted the revolt of the Northern tribes
4) father of Baasha, who usurped the Northern throne
5) grandson of Hezron (or mother of 1-4 above)
6) a Benjamite, son of Ehud
7) one of David's heroes
8) a Levite during David's time
9) a chief man under Nehemiah
אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ (a.chiy.yah) — Ahijah.
A prophet living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.11.29
§ Ahiah or Ahijah = "brother of Jehovah (Yahu)"
1) grandson of Phinehas
2) scribe of Solomon
3) a prophet who predicted the revolt of the Northern tribes
4) father of Baasha, who usurped the Northern throne
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
a-hi'-ja ('achiyah or 'achiyahu, "brother of Yahweh," "my brother is Yahweh," "Yah is brother." In the King James Version the name sometimes appears as Ahiah):
(1) One of the sons of Jerahmeel the great-grandson of Judah (1Ch 2:25).
(2) A descendant of Benjamin (1Ch 8:7).
(3) The son of Ahitub, priest in the time of King Saul (1Sa 14:3,18). Either he is the same with Ahimelech, who is mentioned later, or he is the father or brother of Ahimelech. He is introduced to us when Saul has been so long on the throne that his son Jonathan is a man grown and a warrior. He is in attendance upon Saul, evidently as an official priest, "wearing an ephod." When Saul wishes direction from God he asks the priest to bring hither the ark; but then…
Ahijah
Brother (i.e., “friend”) of Jehovah. (1.) One of the sons of Bela (1 Chr. 8:7, R.V.). In A.V. called “Ahiah.”
(2.) One of the five sons of Jerahmeel, who was great-grandson of Judah (1 Chr. 2:25).
(3.) Son of Ahitub (1 Sam. 14:3, 18), Ichabod’s brother; the same probably as Ahimelech, who was high priest at Nob in the reign of Saul (1 Sam. 22:11). Some, however, suppose that Ahimelech was the brother of Ahijah, and that they both officiated as high priests, Ahijah at Gibeah or Kirjath-jearim, and Ahimelech at Nob.
(4.) A Pelonite, one of David’s heroes (1 Chr. 11:36); called also Eliam (
[AHIAH, OR AHIJAH]
A prophet and chronicler of the times of Solomon and Jeroboam, 1Ki 11:29 2Ch 9:29. He is thought to be the person who spoke in God’s name to Solomon while building the temple, 1Ki 6:11; and again after he fell into sin, 1Ki 11:11. He notified Jeroboam of the separation of Israel from Judah, and of the foundation of his house-the ruin of which he afterwards foretold, 1Ki 14:1-14.
פְּלֹנִי (Plowniy) refers to a Pelonite, someone from an unknown place, derived from an unused name meaning 'separate.' It appears in the context of 2 Samuel 23:26, where it is associated with a figure also called Paltite. The entries indicate that this term can imply 'a certain one' or an inhabitant of an unspecified location.
פְּלֹנִי, פְּלוֹנִי adj.gent. erron.
base
H6397 פְּלֹנִי, פְּלוֹנִי
6397 Plowniy pel-o-nee'
patronymically from an unused name (from 6395) meaning
separate; a Pelonite or inhabitant of an unknown Palon:--
Pelonite.
see HEBREW for 06395
פְּלוֹנִי (pe.lo.ni) — Pelonite.
Someone descended from Pelon or Palet(?), first mentioned at 2Sa.23.26; also called Paltite at 2Sa.23.26;
Also named: pal.ti (פַּלְטִי "Paltite" H6407)
§ Pelonite = "a certain one"
the inhabitants of a presently unknown place
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
falling; secret