1 Chronicles 24:14 — Word Study
WLCלְבִלְגָּה֙ חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לְאִמֵּ֖ר שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃
BSAthe fifteenthchâmêsh to BilgahBilgah [an Israelite priest] the sixteenthshêsh to ImmerʼImmêr [a priestly name, Immer the father of Zadok]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְבִלְגָּה֙ | to Bilgah | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה | fif- | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| עָשָׂ֔ר | teen | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| לְאִמֵּ֖ר | to Immer | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| שִׁשָּׁ֥ה | six- | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| עָשָֽׂר׃ | teen | Noun common, both singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, |
| KJV | The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, |
| ASV | the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, |
| YLT | for Bilgah the fifteenth, for Immer the sixteenth, |
| WEB | the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, |
| BBE | The fifteenth Bilgah, the sixteenth Immer, |
Where they part company is in the additional context provided by the BSB — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses with prepositional phrases indicating the recipients of the priestly assignments.
2 commentators on this verse
Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
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 24:14
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 Divisions of Priestsgenerated
1 Chronicles 24:14 provides a list of the priestly divisions established by David, highlighting the organization of worship and service in the temple. This structure was crucial for maintaining the religious practices of Israel, ensuring that each priestly family had its designated role and responsibilities.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezra 2:37 | the descendants of Immer, 1,052; |
| 2 | Ezra 10:20 | From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. |
| 3 | Nehemiah 7:40 | the descendants of Immer, 1,052; |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בִּלְגָּה, le.vil.Gahgenerated
The name בִּלְגָּה (Bilgah) means 'cheerfulness' and identifies a priest from the 15th course during David's reign. He is mentioned in Nehemiah 10:8, indicating his significance in the priestly lineage.
The parsing shows that בִּלְגָּה is a proper masculine noun, indicating a specific individual rather than a common term. This emphasizes the personal nature of the priestly roles in ancient Israel.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the rendering of the names and numbers in this verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse includes a main clause listing the assignments of the priests, with prepositional phrases specifying the recipients of those assignments. The use of ordinal numbers (fifteenth, sixteenth) clearly organizes the information.
The finite verb is implied in the context, with each assignment being part of a larger list, reflecting the systematic organization of priestly duties.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בִּלְגָּה as βελγα, maintaining the name while adapting it to Greek phonetics. This shows the continuity of the priestly line across cultures.
The Greek rendering does not expand on the meaning of the name, focusing instead on the transliteration.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 24:14 lists the assignments of the priests during David's time. It states that the fifteenth division was assigned to Bilgah and the sixteenth to Immer. This organization was important for the worship practices in ancient Israel.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Bilgah was an Israelite priest mentioned in the Bible, known for his role during the time of David and Zerubbabel.
The name Bilgah means 'cheerfulness,' reflecting a positive attitude.
The division of priests was crucial for maintaining the order and structure of worship in the temple, ensuring that each priestly family had specific duties.
This verse connects to other passages like Ezra 2:37 and Nehemiah 7:40, which also mention the priestly divisions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the organization of the priests in ancient Israel?
- How does understanding the roles of priests enhance our view of worship in the Old Testament?
- In what ways can we apply the concept of structure and organization in our own spiritual practices?
- How does the meaning of names like Bilgah inform our understanding of the individuals in the Bible?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 24:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(14) Immer.—1 Chronicles 9:10; Jeremiah 20:1 (perhaps a lamb).Bilgah.—Nehemiah 10:9 (“Bilgai”), 12:5 (smiling; comp. Isaac, the laugher).
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 24 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges14. Bilgah] “Bilgah” (Nehemiah 12:5) appears as a priest or priestly family in the time of the Return, and (under the form “Bilgai,” Nehemiah 10:8) in the time of Nehemiah. Immer] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:12; Ezra 2:37; Jeremiah 20:1.
Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 24 →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 fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
Tyndale line
The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer;
The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
The fiftenth to Bilgah, the sixtenth to Immer,
Strictly literal
the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer,
for Bilgah the fifteenth, for Immer the sixteenth,
for Bilgah the fifteenth, for Immer the sixteenth,
For Bilgah the fifteenth, for Immer the sixteenth,
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
From the Latin
The fifteenth to Belga, the sixteenth to Emmer,
Simplified
The fifteenth to Bilgah. The sixteenth to Immer.
The fifteenth Bilgah, the sixteenth Immer,
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 six words matched in the translation. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this text.
לְבִלְגָּה֙ חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לְאִמֵּ֖ר שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃
6 of the 6 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 24:14
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.
בִּלְגָּה (Bilgah) refers to a name meaning 'cheerfulness.' It identifies a priest from the 15th course during David's time and another priest who returned with Zerubbabel after the Exile. The name appears in 1 Chronicles 24:14 and Nehemiah 10:8, where it is also noted as 'Bilgai'.
בִּלְגָּה n.pr.m. (cheerfulness)—
priest of 15th course (David’s time)
priest that went up with Zerubbabel
base
H1083 בִּלְגָּה
1083 Bilgah bil-gaw'
from 1082; desistance; Bilgah, the name of two
Israelites:--Bilgah.
see HEBREW for 01082
בִּלְגָּה (bil.gah) — Bilgah.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.24.14
§ Bilgah = "cheerfulness"
1) a priest of the 15th course, in David's time
2) a priest accompanying Zerubbabel
בִּלְגָּה (bil.gah) — Bilgah.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.10.8; also called Bilgai at Neh.10.8;
Also named: bil.gay (בִּלְגַּי "Bilgai" H1084)
§ Bilgah = "cheerfulness"
1) a priest of the 15th course, in David's time
2) a priest accompanying Zerubbabel
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
Bilgah
Cheerful. (1.) The head of the fifteenth sacerdotal course for the temple service (1 Chr. 24:14). (2.) A priest who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:5, 18).
(first-born). A priest in the time of David; the head of the fifteenth course for the temple service. (1 Chronicles 24:14) (B.C. 1015.) A priest or priestly family who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. (Nehemiah 12:5,18) (B.C. 536.)
ancient countenance
חָמֵשׁ (chamesh) means 'five' in Hebrew. It serves as both a cardinal number and can indicate a multiple of five when combined with another number. The word also has an ordinal form, 'fifth.' The entries consistently define this numeral without any noted disagreement.
חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה 342 n.m. and f. five
base
H2568 חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה five
2568 chamesh khaw-maysh'
masculine chamishshah {kham-ish-shaw}; a primitive numeral;
five:--fif(-teen), fifth, five (X apiece).
חָמֵשׁ (cha.mesh) — five.
1) five
1a) five (cardinal number)
1b) a multiple of five (with another number)
1c) fifth (ordinal number)
Adj — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
עָשָׂר (asar) means 'ten' and is used exclusively in combination with other numbers to form the teen numbers (11-19), both as cardinal and ordinal forms. The entries indicate that it is derived from another Hebrew root, but do not elaborate on its etymology.
עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal
base
H6240 עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal
6240 `asar aw-sawr'
for 6235; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also
(ordinal) -teenth:--(eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-,
six-, thir-)teen(-th), + eleven(-th), + sixscore thousand, +
twelve(-th).
see HEBREW for 06235
עָשָׂר (a.sar) — ten.
1) ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers)
1a) used only in combination to make the numbers 11-19
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
אִמֵּר (Immer) refers to a name associated with several priests in the Old Testament, particularly during the times of David and Jeremiah. The name means 'he hath said' and is linked to the lineage of Zadok the priest. The entries note that Immer is a significant figure in the priestly line, mentioned in contexts of exile and return.
אִמֵּר n.pr.m.
a priest assigned to Dvd’s time
ancestor of priest
priest in Jerem.’s time
father of Zadok
n.pr.loc. (?)
base
H564 אִמֵּר
564 'Immer im-mare'
from 559; talkative; Immer, the name of five
Israelites:--Immer.
see HEBREW for 0559
אִמֵּר (im.mer) — Immer.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.12;
father of: Meshillemith (H4921)
§ Immer = "he hath said"
1) a priest in David's time
2) a priest in Jeremiah's time
3) the father of Zadok the priest
4) an ancestor of a priest
אִמֵּר (im.mer) — Immer.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.14
§ Immer = "he hath said"
1) a priest in David's time
2) a priest in Jeremiah's time
3) the father of Zadok the priest
4) an ancestor of a priest
אִמֵּר (im.mer) — Immer.
§ Immer = "he hath said"
birthplace of a priest
אִמֵּר (im.mer) — Immer.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.3.29;
father of: Zadok (H6659K)
§ Immer = "he hath said"
1) a priest in David's time
2) a priest in Jeremiah's time
3) the father of Zadok the priest
4) an ancestor of a priest
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
(talkative). The founder of an important family of priests. (1 Chronicles 9:12; Nehemiah 11:13) This family had charge of, and gave its name to, the sixteenth course of the service. (1 Chronicles 24:14) (B.C. 1014.) Apparently the name of a place in Babylonia. (Ezra 2:59; Nehemiah 7:61)
saying; speaking; a lamb
The Hebrew word שֵׁשׁ, transliterated as shesh, means 'six' and can function as both a cardinal and ordinal number, indicating the sixth position. It is a primitive number that signifies an excess beyond five, as noted in the entries. The Aramaic equivalent is שֵׁת (shet).
שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה 216 n.m. et f. six
base
H8337 שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה six
8337 shesh shaysh
masculine shishshah {shish-shaw'}; a primitive number; six
(as an overplus (see 7797) beyond five or the fingers of the
hand); as ord. sixth:--six((-teen, -teenth)), sixth.
see HEBREW for 07797
שֵׁשׁ (shesh) — six.
1) six
1a) six (cardinal number)
1b) sixth (ordinal number)
1c) in combination with other numbers
Aramaic equivalent: shet (שֵׁת "six" H8353)
Adj — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
עָשָׂר (asar) means 'ten' and is used exclusively in combination with other numbers to form the teen numbers (11-19), both as cardinal and ordinal forms. The entries indicate that it is derived from another Hebrew root, but do not elaborate on its etymology.
עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal
base
H6240 עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal
6240 `asar aw-sawr'
for 6235; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also
(ordinal) -teenth:--(eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-,
six-, thir-)teen(-th), + eleven(-th), + sixscore thousand, +
twelve(-th).
see HEBREW for 06235
עָשָׂר (a.sar) — ten.
1) ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers)
1a) used only in combination to make the numbers 11-19
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa