1 Chronicles 24:8 — Word Study
WLCלְחָרִם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י לִשְׂעֹרִ֖ים הָרְבִעִֽי׃
BSAthe thirdshᵉlîyshîy to HarimChârim [dedicated, a priest or family head] the fourthrᵉbîyʻîy to SeorimSᵉʻôrîym△ [an Israelite priest, in charge of the 4th course of service]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְחָרִם֙ | to Harim | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י | the third | Particle |
| לִשְׂעֹרִ֖ים | to Seorim | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| הָרְבִעִֽי׃ | the fourth | Particle |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, |
| KJV | The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, |
| ASV | the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, |
| YLT | for Harim the third, for Seorim the fourth, |
| WEB | the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, |
| BBE | The third Harim, the fourth Seorim, |
Where they part company is in the additional details provided; however, the core meaning remains consistent across the versions.
The verse presents two main clauses, each identifying a division of priestly service, with prepositional phrases that clarify the recipients.
2 commentators on this verse
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 24:8
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 Division of Priestsgenerated
1 Chronicles 24:8 details the division of the priests into courses, establishing an organized system for their service in the temple. This verse specifically identifies the third course assigned to Harim and the fourth to Seorim, reflecting the careful planning by King David to ensure the proper functioning of worship in Israel.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezra 2:39 | and the descendants of Harim, 1,017. |
| 2 | Ezra 10:21 | From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. |
| 3 | Nehemiah 7:35 | the descendants of Harim, 320; |
| 4 | Nehemiah 12:15 | of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חָרִם, le.cha.Rimgenerated
The word חָרִם (Charim) means 'dedicated' and refers to a priest or family head who returned with Zerubbabel from exile. The parsing indicates it is a noun proper masculine, suggesting a specific individual or family group within the priestly lineage.
In the context of this verse, Harim represents a distinct group of priests responsible for certain duties in the temple. The historical significance of Harim is noted in Ezra and Nehemiah, where they are recognized as key figures in the restoration of worship after the exile.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the identification of the third and fourth divisions of service, using Harim and Seorim respectively.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, presenting two prepositional phrases that identify the third and fourth divisions of priests. The finite verb is implicit, as the verse lists these divisions in a declarative format.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the ordinal nature of the divisions, with each noun phrase directly following the ordinal number, clearly indicating the sequence of service.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חָרִם as ξαρημ, which maintains the identification of the priestly family but does not carry the same connotation of 'dedicated' as in the Hebrew.
This choice may suggest a more general reference to the name rather than the specific qualities associated with the priestly function in the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 24:8 lists the third division of priests as belonging to Harim and the fourth to Seorim. This organization shows how the priests were arranged for their service in the temple, ensuring that worship could be carried out properly.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Harim and Seorim represent specific divisions of priests that played important roles in the worship practices of Israel.
The division into courses allowed for an organized and manageable approach to priestly duties, ensuring that worship was conducted consistently.
This verse illustrates the restoration of worship in Israel after the exile, highlighting the importance of priestly service in the community.
The careful organization reflects the importance of structure and order in religious practices, which can be applied to various aspects of community life.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does the organization of the priests in this verse reflect the importance of order in worship?
- What can we learn from the dedication of the priests like Harim and Seorim in our own service?
- In what ways can we apply the principles of organization and dedication seen in this passage to our community activities?
- How does understanding the roles of these priests enhance our appreciation of the temple services in ancient Israel?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 24:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) Harim—i.e., hârûm, flat-nosed. (Comp. Latin Naso.) This name recurs in Ezra 2:39; Nehemiah 3:11. Seorim (barley)—i.e., bearded (Latin, Barbatus), is not found elsewhere.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 24 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges8. Harim] So Nehemiah 10:5; Nehemiah 12:15, but in Nehemiah 12:3, “Rehum.” The confusion of form is easy in Hebrew writing.
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 third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
Tyndale line
The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim;
The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
Strictly literal
the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim,
for Harim the third, for Seorim the fourth,
for Harim the third, for Seorim the fourth,
For Charim the third, for Se'orim the fourth,
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
From the Latin
The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
Simplified
The third to Harim. The fourth to Seorim.
The third Harim, the fourth Seorim,
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 four key terms matched. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the essential content remains consistent.
לְחָרִם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י לִשְׂעֹרִ֖ים הָרְבִעִֽי׃
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 24:8
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.
חָרִם (Charim) refers to a name meaning 'dedicated' and is associated with various individuals in the Old Testament. It includes a priest during David's reign, heads of families of exiles who returned with Zerubbabel, and a ruler in Nehemiah's time. The entries indicate that Charim is linked to the concept of dedication and service in the priestly context.
חָרִם n.pr.m. (consecrated)
priest of the third course, David’s time
priest of time of Nehemiah
heads of families of returning exiles
a prince
base
H2766 חָרִם
2766 Charim khaw-reem'
from 2763; snub-nosed; Charim, an Israelite:--Harim.
see HEBREW for 02763
חָרִם (cha.rim) — Harim.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.8
§ Harim = "dedicated"
1) a priest in the time of David who had charge of the 3rd course
2) head of a family of exiles totalling 1017 who returned with Zerubbabel
3) another head of a family of exiles totalling 320 who returned with Zerubbabel
4) a priest in the time of Nehemiah
5) a ruler of the people under Nehemiah
חָרִם (cha.rim) — Harim.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.32
§ Harim = "dedicated"
1) a priest in the time of David who had charge of the 3rd course
2) head of a family of exiles totalling 1017 who returned with Zerubbabel
3) another head of a family of exiles totalling 320 who returned with Zerubbabel
4) a priest in the time of Nehemiah
5) a ruler of the people under Nehemiah
חָרִם (cha.rim) — Harim.
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
ha'-rim (charim): A family name.
(1) A non-priestly family that returned from captivity with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:32; Ne 7:35); mentioned among those who married foreign wives (Ezr 10:31); also mentioned among those who renewed the covenant (Ne 10:27).
(2) A priestly family returning with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:39; Ne 7:42; 12:3,15 (see REHUM)); members of this family covenanted to put away their foreign wives (Ezr 10:21; Ne 10:5). A family of this name appears as the…
Harim
Flat-nosed. (1.) The head of the second course of priests (1 Chr. 24:8). (2.) Ezra 2:32, 39; Neh. 7:35, 42. (3.) Neh. 3:11. (4.) 12:3. (5.) 10:5
(flat-nosed). A priest who had charge of the third division in the house of God. (1 Chronicles 24:8) (B.C. 1014.) Bene-Harim, probably descendants of the above, to the number of 1017, came from Babylon with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:39; Nehemiah 7:42) (B.C. 536.) It further occurs in a list of the families of priests "who went up with Zerubbabel and Jeshua," and of those who were their descendants in the next generation. (Nehemiah 12:16) Another family of Bene-Harim, 320 in number, came from the captivity in the same caravan. (Ezra 2:82; Nehemiah 7:35) (B.C. 536.) They also…
destroyed; dedicated to God
שְׁלִישִׁי (shliyshiy) means 'third' and is used as an ordinal number. It can refer to a third part, time, or rank, and can also denote a third-story cell. The entries indicate its feminine form as שְׁלִישִׁית and note its relation to the number three.
שְׁלִישִׁי m. שְׁלִישִׁית f. adj.num.ord. 108 third
base
H7992 שְׁלִישִׁי, שְׁלִישִׁית third
7992 shliyshiy shel-ee-shee'
ordinal from 7969; third; feminine a third (part); by
extension, a third (day, year or time); specifically, a
third-story cell):--third (part, rank, time), three (years
old).
see HEBREW for 07969
שְׁלִישִׁי (she.li.shi) — third.
1) third, one third, third part, third time
1a) ordinal number
Art | Adj — ParticleHTd/Aomsa
thurd (shelishi; tritos): Isa 19:24, "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria," etc., brings out very distinctly the universal and missionary character of Isaiah's prophecies and of Israel's destiny (compare Eze 16:63; and see G. A. Smith, Isaiah, II, 275, 278; Watkinson, Th. Blind Spot 21 ff).
For "third hour," "third month," "third year," see CALENDAR; DAY; TIME.
שְׂעֹרִים (seorim) is the masculine plural form of שְׂעֹר (seor), meaning 'barley grains.' It refers to both barley and a man named Seorim, a priest mentioned in 1 Chronicles 24:8, who served during the Divided Monarchy.
שְׂעֹרִים n.pr.m. priest 1 Ch 24:8
ref
H8188 שְׂעֹרִים
8188 S`oriym seh-o-reem'
masculine plural of 8184; barley grains; Seorim, an
Israelite:--Seorim.
see HEBREW for 08184
שְׂעֹרִים (se.o.rim) — Seorim.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.24.8
§ Seorim = "barley"
a priest in the time of David in charge of the 4th course of service
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
se-o'-rim, se-or'-im (se`orim): The name borne by one of the (post-exilic) priestly courses (1Ch 24:8).
Seorim
Barley, the chief of the forth priestly course (1 Chr. 24:8).
(barley), the chief of the fourth of the twenty-four courses of priests. (1 Chronicles 24:8)
gates; hairs; tempests
רְבִיעִי (rbiy`iy) means 'fourth' and can also refer to a 'fourth part' or describe something as 'foursquare.' It is derived from the root word for 'four' and has both masculine and feminine forms. The term appears in contexts where ordinal numbers are used.
רְבִיעִי m., רְבִיעִית f., adj.num.ordin. fourth
base
H7243 רְבִיעִי, רְבִיעִית fourth
7243 rbiy`iy reb-ee-ee'
or rbiiy {reb-ee-ee'}; from 7251; fourth; also
(fractionally) a fourth:--foursquare, fourth (part).
see HEBREW for 07251
רְבִיעִי (re.vi.i) — fourth.
1) fourth
1a) fourth
1b) four square
1c) fourth part
Aramaic equivalent: re.vi.ay (רְבִיעִי "fourth" H7244)
Art | Adj — ParticleHTd/Aomsa