1 Chronicles 25:27 — Word Study
WLCלְעֶשְׂרִים֙ לֶֽאֱלִיָּ֔תָה בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֖יו שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃
BSAthe twentiethʻesrîym to EliathahʼĔlîyʼâthâh [with God has come, a man of Levi] his sonsbên [descendants, male offspring] and his brothersʼâch [male siblings, close relatives, a dozen, twelve in total] 12 [in all]shᵉnayim
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְעֶשְׂרִים֙ | for twenty | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| לֶֽאֱלִיָּ֔תָה | to Eliathah | Preposition, 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 twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all; |
| KJV | The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: |
| ASV | for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve: |
| YLT | at the twentieth [to] Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; |
| WEB | for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; |
| BBE | The twentieth Eliathah, with his sons and his brothers, twelve; |
Where they part company is in the use of עֶשְׂרִים — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause, with additional phrases providing details about the musicians and their total count.
1 commentators on this verse
Gill & 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 25:27
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 Musiciansgenerated
1 Chronicles 25:27 is part of a list detailing the divisions of musicians assigned to serve in the temple. Each division is numbered and includes the names of the leaders along with their sons and brothers, emphasizing the organized structure of worship in ancient Israel under King David. This context highlights the importance of music in worship and the roles of the Levites in the temple service.
Cross References
The Key Word — עֶשְׂרִים, le.'es.Rimgenerated
The word עֶשְׂרִים (esrim) means 'twenty' and can also refer to the ordinal 'twentieth.' It is derived from the root for 'ten,' indicating a foundational numerical structure in Hebrew counting.
In this verse, it specifies the twentieth division of musicians, showing the systematic organization of temple service. The parsing as a noun indicates its role as a quantity, while the preposition suggests its function in describing the group assigned to Eliathah.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses twentieth to convey the ordinal aspect of עֶשְׂרִים.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the noun phrase לְעֶשְׂרִים, for twenty, which introduces the division. The structure follows with a prepositional phrase indicating the leader, לֶֽאֱלִיָּ֔תָה, to Eliathah, and then lists his sons and brothers.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the number of musicians, highlighting the systematic organization of the temple service.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עֶשְׂרִים as εἰκοστὸς, meaning 'twentieth.' This choice reflects a direct translation of the ordinal form, maintaining the numerical structure found in the Hebrew.
The Greek rendering aligns closely with the Hebrew, emphasizing the significance of the number in the context of temple service.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 25:27 lists the twentieth division of musicians, led by Eliathah, along with his sons and brothers, totaling twelve in all. This verse is part of a larger context detailing the organization of temple service in ancient Israel.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The number twenty indicates the specific division of musicians assigned to Eliathah, reflecting the structured approach to temple service.
Eliathah was a Levite and musician, noted for his role in the temple service during King David's reign.
The total number of musicians emphasizes the organized nature of worship and the importance of music in the temple.
The term 'brothers' refers to Eliathah's male siblings and close relatives, highlighting the familial connections among those serving in the temple.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does the organization of the temple service reflect the importance of worship in ancient Israel?
- What can we learn from the roles of musicians like Eliathah in our own worship practices?
- In what ways can family connections enhance our community and service in a church setting?
- How does understanding the structure of temple service help us appreciate the historical context of worship?
Commentators on this verse — 1 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 25:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleVer. 27 [See comments on 1 Chronicles 25:9]
Read John Gill 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 twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;
for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;
the twentieth to Eliathah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
Tyndale line
The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
The twentieth to Eliathah, he , his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The twentieth, to Eliathah, he, his sonnes and his brethren twelue.
Strictly literal
The twentieth to Elijathah; his sons and his brethren, twelve.
at the twentieth [to] Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers—twelve;
The twentieth was for Eliyathah, his sons, and his brethren, being twelve;
the twentieth fell to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
From the Latin
The twentieth to Eliatha, to his sons and his brethren twelve.
Simplified
The twentieth fell to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, 12 in total.
The twentieth Eliathah, 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 and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with all six words matched in the translation. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the list of musicians and their organization.
לְעֶשְׂרִים֙ לֶֽאֱלִיָּ֔תָה 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 25:27
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.
עֶשְׂרִים (esriym) means 'twenty' and can also refer to the ordinal 'twentieth.' It is derived from the root word for 'ten' and has an Aramaic equivalent, עֶשְׂרִין (es.rin). The entries consistently define the term without significant disagreement.
עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty
base
H6242 עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty
6242 `esriym es-reem'
from 6235; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth:--(six-)score,
twenty(-ieth).
see HEBREW for 06235
עֶשְׂרִים (es.rim) — twenty.
twenty, twentieth
Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)
Prep | Adj — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
twen'-ti.
See NUMBER.
אֳלִיאָ֫תָה (Eliy'athah) is a Hebrew name meaning 'God has come.' It refers to a man from the tribe of Levi, specifically a musician in King David's court, first mentioned in 1 Chronicles 25:4. The name is derived from elements meaning 'God' and 'consent,' indicating a connection to divine approval.
אֳלִיאָ֫תָה n.pr.m. (God has come) a Hemanite
base
H448 אֳלִיאָ֫תָה
448 'Eliy'athah el-ee-aw-thaw'
or (contraction) ;Eliyathah {el-ee-yaw- thaw'}; from 410 and
225; God of (his) consent; Eliathah, an Israelite:--
Eliathah.
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 0225
אֳלִיאָ֫תָה (e.li.a.tah) — Eliathah.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.25.4;
son of: Heman (H1968I);
brother of: Bukkiah (H1232), Mattaniah (H4983H), Uzziel (H5816J), Shebuel (H7619H), Jerimoth (H3406L), Hananiah (H2608P), Hanani (H2607H), Giddalti (H1437), Romamti-ezer (H7320), Joshbekashah (H3436), Mallothi (H4413), Hothir (H1956), Mahazioth (H4238)
§ Eliathah = "God has come"
a Hemanite musician in David's court
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
e-li'-a-tha ('eli'-athah, "God has come"):
A Hemanite, head of the twentieth division of the temple musicians (1Ch 25:4,27).
Eliathah
To whom God will come, one of the foureen sons of the Levite Heman, and musician of the temple in the time of David (1 Chr. 25:4).
(to whom God comes), a musician in the temple in the time of King David. (1 Chronicles 25:4,27)
thou art my God
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