1 Chronicles 25:12 — Word Study
WLCהַחֲמִישִׁ֣י נְתַנְיָ֔הוּ בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֖יו שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃
BSAthe fifthchămîyshîy to NethaniahNᵉthanyâh [given of Jehovah] his sonsbên [descendants, offspring] and his brothersʼâch [male siblings, close relatives, a dozen, twelve in total] 12 [in all]shᵉnayim
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַחֲמִישִׁ֣י | the fifth | Particle |
| נְתַנְיָ֔הוּ | Nethaniah | Noun proper masculine |
| בָּנָ֥יו | sons his | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְאֶחָ֖יו | and relatives his | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| שְׁנֵ֥ים | two [plus] | Noun common, both dual absolute |
| עָשָֽׂר׃ | ten | Noun common, both singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all; |
| KJV | The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: |
| ASV | the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: |
| YLT | the fifth [to] Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; |
| WEB | the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; |
| BBE | The fifth Nethaniah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve; |
Where they part company is in the phrasing of familial relationships and the total count — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by noun phrases that detail the relationships and conclude with a numeral phrase indicating the total.
2 commentators on this verse
Gill, AdamClarke & 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 25:12
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 Assignments of the Levitesgenerated
1 Chronicles 25:12 details the organization of the Levites for their musical duties in the temple. This verse specifically assigns the fifth position to Nethaniah, indicating his role within a structured group, along with his sons and brothers, totaling twelve individuals. This reflects the careful planning and order in the worship practices of ancient Israel, similar to other assignments noted in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
The Key Word — נְתַנְיָ֔הוּ, ne.tan.Ya.hugenerated
The name נְתַנְיָהוּ (Nethaniah) means 'given of Jehovah'. It is a proper noun referring to a Levite, indicating a divinely appointed role within the community.
As a Levite, Nethaniah's responsibilities would have included participation in temple worship and music, highlighting the importance of lineage and divine selection in ancient Israelite worship.
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 main clause is centered on the subject נְתַנְיָ֔הוּ, Nethaniah, with several noun phrases describing his familial relationships and the total count. The structure emphasizes Nethaniah's role and his connection to his sons and brothers.
The sentence is organized to highlight the assignment of duties, with the numeral phrase שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר indicating the total number involved, thus providing clarity on the group size.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נְתַנְיָ֔הוּ as ναθανιας, maintaining the name's meaning. This choice reflects continuity in the understanding of Nethaniah's role across different linguistic traditions.
The Greek word πέμπτος for 'fifth' aligns with the Hebrew ordinal, demonstrating consistency in the representation of order within the assignments.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 25:12 lists the fifth assignment to Nethaniah, along with his sons and brothers, totaling twelve individuals. This verse is part of a larger context that organizes the Levites' roles in temple worship.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Nethaniah means 'given of Jehovah', indicating a divine appointment.
The number twelve often represents completeness and is significant in the context of the tribes of Israel.
Nethaniah was a Levite responsible for musical duties in the temple, reflecting the importance of worship.
This verse is part of a structured list that assigns specific roles to the Levites for temple service, highlighting their organized worship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding the meaning of names like Nethaniah enhance our reading of biblical texts?
- In what ways can the organization of the Levites inform our understanding of community roles in worship today?
- What significance do you find in the number twelve in the context of biblical history?
- How can we apply the principles of order and structure seen in this verse to our own lives or communities?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 25:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleVer. 12 [See comments on 1 Chronicles 25:9]
Read John Gill on 1 Chronicles 25 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. The fifth to Nethaniah] The third son of Asaph. Thus we find the lot did not run in any particular kind of order.
Read AdamClarke on 1 Chronicles 25 →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 fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;
the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;
the fifth to Nethaniah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
Tyndale line
The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
The fifth to Nethaniah, he , his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fift, to Nethaniah, he, his sonnes and his brethren twelue.
Strictly literal
The fifth to Nethaniah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
the fifth [to] Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
the fifth, Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers—twelve;
The fifth was Nethanyahu, his sons, and his brethren, being twelve:
the fifth fell to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
From the Latin
The fifth to Nathania, to his sons and his brethren twelve.
Simplified
The fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, 12 in total.
The fifth Nethaniah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve;
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 (MT) states, "הַחֲמִישִׁ֣י נְתַנְיָ֔הוּ בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֖יו שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃" which translates to "the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all." The Septuagint (LXX) agrees with the MT in terms of the essential content, as all six words from the MT are matched in the Greek version, though the word order and articles differ due to the nature of translation. No significant differences are noted between these texts in this verse.
הַחֲמִישִׁ֣י נְתַנְיָ֔הוּ בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֖יו שְׁנֵ֥ים 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 25:12
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.
חֲמִישִׁי (chamiyshiy) means 'fifth' and serves as an ordinal number indicating the position of five. It can also refer to a fifth part. The word is derived from a root associated with the number five, as noted in various lexicons.
חֲמִישִׁי m., חֲמִישִׁית f.adj.num.ordin. fifth
base
H2549 חֲמִישִׁי, חֲמִישִׁית fifth
2549 chamiyshiy kham-ee-shee'
or chamishshiy {kham-ish-shee'}; ord. from 2568; fifth; also
a fifth:--fifth (part).
see HEBREW for 02568
חֲמִישִׁי (cha.mi.shi) — fifth.
ordinal number, 5th
Art | Adj — ParticleHTd/Aomsa
נְתַנְיָ֫הוּ (Nethanyah) means 'given of Jehovah' and refers to several individuals from the time of the Divided Monarchy. Notably, he is the son of Elishama and father of Ishmael, who murdered Gedaliah. He is also identified as a Levite and one of the sons of Asaph. The name appears in multiple contexts, including 2 Kings 25:23 and Jeremiah 36:14.
נְתַנְיָ֫הוּ, נְתַנְיָה n.pr.m.
father of Jehudi
father of Ishmael Gedaliah’s murderer
Levite name
base
H5418 נְתַנְיָ֫הוּ, נְתַנְיָה
5418 Nthanyah neth-an-yaw'
or Nthanyahuw {neth-an-yaw'-hoo}; from 5414 and 3050; given
of Jah; Nethanjah, the name of four Israelites:--Nethaniah.
see HEBREW for 05414
see HEBREW for 03050
נְתַנְיָ֫הוּ (ne.tan.yah) — Nethaniah.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.25.23;
son of: Elishama (H0476I);
father of: Ishmael (H3458H)
§ Nethaniah = "given of Jehovah"
1) son of Elishama of the royal family of Judah and father of Ishmael who murdered Gedaliah
2) father of Jehudi
3) a Levite, one of the 4 sons of Asaph the minstrel
4) a Levite in the reign of king Jehoshaphat of Judah
נְתַנְיָ֫הוּ (ne.tan.yah) — Nethaniah.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.25.2;
son of: Asaph (H0623H);
brother of: Zaccur (H2139J), Joseph (H3130I) and Asharelah (H0841)
§ Nethaniah = "given of Jehovah"
1) son of Elishama of the royal family of Judah and father of Ishmael who murdered Gedaliah
2) father of Jehudi
3) a Levite, one of the 4 sons of Asaph the minstrel
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Nethaniah
Given of Jehovah. (1.) One of Asaph’s sons, appointed by David to minister in the temple (1 Chr. 25:2, 12).
(2.) A Levite sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the law (2 Chr. 17:8).
(3.) Jer. 36:14.
(4.) 2 Kings 25:23, 25.
(given of Jehovah). The son of Elishama, and father of Ishmael who murdered Gedaliah. (2 Kings 25:23,25) He was of the royal family of Judah. (B.C. 620.) One of the four sons of Asaph the minstrel. (1 Chronicles 25:12) (B.C. 1015.) A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 17:8) (B.C. 912.) The father of Jehudi. (Jeremiah 36:14) (B.C. 638.)
the gift of the Lord
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)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.
אָח 630 n.m. brother
brother, born of same mother (& father)
indef. = relative
fig. of resemblance
in phr. one … another
base
H251 אָח brother
251 'ach awkh
a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of
literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance
(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.
Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".
see HEBREW for 01
אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.
: male-sibling
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.
: male-relative
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.
: compatriot
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.
שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two
base
H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two
8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim
dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also
(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +
twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
see HEBREW for 08145
שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.
1) two
1a) two (the cardinal number)
1a1) two, both, double, twice
1b) second (the ordinal number)
1c) in combination with other numbers
1d) both (a dual number)
Adj — Noun common · both dual absoluteHNcbda
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