1 Chronicles 26:18 — Word Study
WLCלַפַּרְבָּ֖ר לַֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב אַרְבָּעָה֙ לַֽמְסִלָּ֔ה שְׁנַ֖יִם לַפַּרְבָּֽר׃
BSAAs for the courtParbâr [colonnade, Parbar] on the westmaʻărâb [toward the evening sun] there were fourʼarbaʻ [a quartet, a small group] at the highwaymᵉçillâh [raised public road, causeway] and twoshᵉnayim [a pair, a duo] at the courtParbâr [colonnade, Parbar]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לַפַּרְבָּ֖ר | for the Parbar | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לַֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב | to the west | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אַרְבָּעָה֙ | four | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| לַֽמְסִלָּ֔ה | for the highway | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| שְׁנַ֖יִם | two | Noun common, both dual absolute |
| לַפַּרְבָּֽר׃ | for the Parbar | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | As for the court on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court. |
| KJV | At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar. |
| ASV | For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar. |
| YLT | at Parbar, to the west, [are] four at the highway, two at Parbar. |
| WEB | For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar. |
| BBE | For the pillared way, on the west, four at the footway and two at the pillared way itself. |
Where they part company is over the translation of מַעֲרָב — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two prepositional phrases that detail the arrangement of gatekeepers.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאַרְבַּע
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 26:18
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 the Gatekeepersgenerated
1 Chronicles 26:18 describes the organization of the gatekeepers serving at the temple, detailing how many were assigned to various locations. This verse specifically highlights the number of gatekeepers stationed at the western court, emphasizing the structured nature of temple service. The context shows that these divisions were crucial for maintaining order and security in the temple complex.
Cross References
The Key Word — פַּרְבָּר, la.par.Bargenerated
The word פַּרְבָּר (parbar) refers to a colonnade or open area associated with the western side of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. It signifies an important architectural feature of the temple complex, reflecting its grandeur and functional design.
The parsing indicates that it is a masculine singular noun, used here in the absolute form. This highlights its role as a specific location within the temple, contributing to the understanding of the temple's layout and the duties of the gatekeepers.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the meaning of פַּרְבָּר as 'Parbar' or 'colonnade', maintaining the context of the temple structure.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is implied in the structure, as the verse describes the arrangement of the gatekeepers. The phrase structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating location, followed by noun phrases that specify the numbers of gatekeepers.
The sentence is organized to emphasize the specific counts of gatekeepers at different locations, with the western court being a focal point of the arrangement.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses the word διαδεξομένους to translate פַּרְבָּר, indicating a similar concept of receiving or taking on a role. This choice suggests a focus on the function of the space rather than its physical characteristics.
This translation choice may reflect a broader interpretation of the term, emphasizing the role of the Parbar in the context of temple service.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 26:18 describes the number of gatekeepers assigned to the western court of the temple, specifying that there were four at the highway and two at the court. This arrangement highlights the organization of temple service.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The Parbar was an important architectural feature of Solomon's temple, serving as a colonnade or open area that contributed to the temple's grandeur.
The specific numbers of gatekeepers reflect the structured organization of temple service, ensuring proper management and security.
The term 'to the west' refers to the direction associated with the evening sun, indicating the location of the court.
This verse is part of a detailed account of the divisions of the gatekeepers, showing the importance of order in temple worship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding the layout of the temple enhance my appreciation for its significance?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of organization seen in this verse to my own life?
- What role do I see myself playing in my community, similar to the gatekeepers in the temple?
- How can I ensure that I am fulfilling my responsibilities with the same dedication as the gatekeepers?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 26:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAt Parbar westward,.... A gate at the western wall; the Jewish writers generally interpret it an outward place, but Dr.
Read John Gill on 1 Chronicles 26 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAt Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar. Parbar - is, perhaps, the same Parvar (suburbs, 2 Kings 23:11.), and if so, this gate might be so called, as leading to the suburbs.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 26 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAt Parbar, or, as concerning Parbar, which was another gate, or some building on the western quarter of the temple. At the causeway, which led to Parbar. At Parbar; at the gate or house itself; by which it may seem that this was a place of some importance, either the vessels of the temple, or some part of the treasures of God’ s house, being kept here.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Chronicles 26 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Chronicles 26:18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, [and] two at Parbar.Ver. 18. Parbar.] Thought to be the same with Shallecheth.
Read John Trapp on 1 Chronicles 26 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) At (the) Parbar westward.—See 2 Kings 23:11, where a plural Parwârîm occurs. The meaning of the word is unknown. According to Gesenius (Thesaur. p. 1123), “Parwâr” is the right spelling; and the term answers to a Persian word denoting “summer-house,” i.e., a building open to light and air. He makes “the Parbar” a cloister running round the court of the Temple, from which the cells were entered. (See Note on 1 Chronicles 23:28.) Both spellings occur in Persian. Richardson’s Persian Dictionary gives as many as fifteen variant forms of the word, besides Parwâr and Parbâr. His definition of the meaning is, “an open gallery or balcony on the top of a house, au upper room open on all sides…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 26 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. Parbar] This word, apparently the same as parvarim, 2 Kings 23:11 (R.V. “precincts”; cp. R.V. mg. here), seems to denote some building built on the Temple area on the west side. It may have been a colonnade. The word is Persian and means “lighted [by the sun]”.
Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 26 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible“Parbar” must designate here the space between the western wall of the temple building and the wall of the court, which would be a sort of “precinct” or “purlieu” of the temple (2 Kings 23:11 note).
Read Albert Barnes on 1 Chronicles 26 →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
As for the court on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court.
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
As for the court on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court.
At the court on the west there were four posted on the road and two at the court.
Tyndale line
At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
At Parbar westward, four at the causey, and two at Parbar.
In Parbar towarde the West were foure by the paued streete, and two in Parbar.
Strictly literal
At the portico westward, four at the causeway, two at the portico.
at Parbar, to the west, [are] four at the highway, two at Parbar.
at Parbar, to the west, [are] four at the highway, two at Parbar.
At the Parbar on the west, four at the causeway, and two at the Parbar.
At the pillar to the west there were four stationed at the road and two at the pillar
From the Latin
In the cells also of the porters toward the west four in the way: and two at every cell.
Simplified
Six were on duty every day at the west gate, four at the main road, and two at the courtyard.
For the pillared way, on the west, four at the footway and two at the pillared way itself.
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 largely agree in their wording, with five of the six words matching across both texts. This shows a consistent understanding of the verse's content across these ancient witnesses.
לַפַּרְבָּ֖ר לַֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב אַרְבָּעָה֙ לַֽמְסִלָּ֔ה שְׁנַ֖יִם לַפַּרְבָּֽר׃
5 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 26:18
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.
פַּרְוָר (parvar) refers to a structure or colonnade, specifically associated with the western side of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. The term may also denote a quarter or suburb of the city. The entries suggest a connection to foreign origins, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[פַּרְוָר] n.[m.] structure (colonnade ?) attached to W. side of Solomon’s temple; appar. same word in sg. פַּרְבָּר
base
H6503 פַּרְוָר, פַּרְבָּר
6503 Parbar par-bawr'
or Parvar {par-vawr'}; of foreign origin; Parbar or Parvar, a
quarter of Jerusalem:--Parbar, suburb.
פַּרְוָר (par.bar) — colonnade.
§ Parbar = "open apartment"
a structure or building attached to the west side of Solomon's temple
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
par'-bar (parbar (1Ch 26:18), and parwarim, translated "precincts" (the King James Version "suburbs" in 2Ki 23:11); Septuagint pharoureim): In 1Ch 26:18 reference is made to the position of the gatekeepers, "for Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar." The word is supposed to be of Persian origin, connected with Parwar, meaning "possessing light," and hence, the meaning has been suggested of "colonnade" or "portico," some place open to the light. In the plural form (2Ki 23:11) the situation of the house of "Nathan-melech" is described, and the translation, "in the colonnades," should, if the above origin is accepted, be more correct than English…
Parbar
(1 Chr. 26:18), a place apparently connected with the temple, probably a “suburb” (q.v.), as the word is rendered in 2 Kings 23:11; a space between the temple wall and the wall of the court; an open portico into which the chambers of the official persons opened (1 Chr. 26:18).
(open apartment), a word occurring in Hebrew and Authorized Version only in (1 Chronicles 26:18) It would seem that Parbar was some place on the west side of the temple enclosure, probably the suburb mentioned by Josephus as lying in the deep valley which separated the west wall of the temple from the city opposite it.
a suburb
מַעֲרָב (ma'arav) means 'west' or 'place of sunset.' It is derived from a root meaning 'shading' and refers specifically to the western region associated with the evening sun. The term appears in contexts relating to direction and location.
מַעֲרָב n.[m.] west (late) (place of sunset)
base
H4628 מַעֲרָב west (late) (place of sunset)
4628 ma`arab mah-ar-awb'
or (feminine) maearabah {mah-ar-aw-baw'}; from 6150, in the
sense of shading; the west (as a region of the evening
sun):--west.
see HEBREW for 06150
מַעֲרָב (ma.a.rav) — west.
setting place, west, westward
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
(1) Usually (yam), "sea" because the Mediterranean lies to the West of Palestine; not usually in figurative expressions; but compare Ho 11:10.
(2) Often (ma`arabh); compare Arabic (gharb), and (maghrib), "west" (maghrib-ush-shems), or simply (maghrib), "sunset."
(3) (mebho' ha-chemesh), "entrance of the sun," (mabho', bo'), "to come in." (Just as mizrach, is the rising of the sun, or east, so mabho' (or ma'arabh], is the setting of the sun, or west: "From the rising of the sun (mizrach-shemesh) unto the going down (mabho) thereof" (Ps 50:1; compare 113:3; Mal 1:11).)
(4) (dusme, from duo), "to enter," "sink," "set." The Greek usage is parallel to the Hebrew just cited: "Many shall come from the east anatole, "rising") and the…
אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.
אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
base
H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
702 'arba` ar-bah'
masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.
see HEBREW for 07251
אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.
four
Adj — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;
מְסִלָּה (mesillah) means 'highway' and refers to a thoroughfare, which can be literal, like a public road, or figurative, such as a path or course. It is derived from the root word for 'to tread' or 'to walk' (H5549). The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to roads and pathways.
מְסִלָּה n.f. highway
base
H4546 מְסִלָּה highway
4546 mcillah mes-il-law'
from 5549; a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or
figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase:--causeway,
course, highway, path, terrace.
see HEBREW for 05549
מְסִלָּה (me.sil.lah) — highway.
highway, raised way, public road
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
hi'-wa.
See ROAD; WAY.
Highway
A raised road for public use. Such roads were not found in Palestine; hence the force of the language used to describe the return of the captives and the advent of the Messiah (Isa. 11:16; 35:8; 40:3; 62:10) under the figure of the preparation of a grand thoroughfare for their march.
During their possession of Palestine the Romans constructed several important highways, as they did in all countries which they ruled.
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
too.
See NUMBER.
פַּרְוָר (parvar) refers to a structure or colonnade, specifically associated with the western side of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. The term may also denote a quarter or suburb of the city. The entries suggest a connection to foreign origins, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[פַּרְוָר] n.[m.] structure (colonnade ?) attached to W. side of Solomon’s temple; appar. same word in sg. פַּרְבָּר
base
H6503 פַּרְוָר, פַּרְבָּר
6503 Parbar par-bawr'
or Parvar {par-vawr'}; of foreign origin; Parbar or Parvar, a
quarter of Jerusalem:--Parbar, suburb.
פַּרְוָר (par.bar) — colonnade.
§ Parbar = "open apartment"
a structure or building attached to the west side of Solomon's temple
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
par'-bar (parbar (1Ch 26:18), and parwarim, translated "precincts" (the King James Version "suburbs" in 2Ki 23:11); Septuagint pharoureim): In 1Ch 26:18 reference is made to the position of the gatekeepers, "for Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar." The word is supposed to be of Persian origin, connected with Parwar, meaning "possessing light," and hence, the meaning has been suggested of "colonnade" or "portico," some place open to the light. In the plural form (2Ki 23:11) the situation of the house of "Nathan-melech" is described, and the translation, "in the colonnades," should, if the above origin is accepted, be more correct than English…
Parbar
(1 Chr. 26:18), a place apparently connected with the temple, probably a “suburb” (q.v.), as the word is rendered in 2 Kings 23:11; a space between the temple wall and the wall of the court; an open portico into which the chambers of the official persons opened (1 Chr. 26:18).
(open apartment), a word occurring in Hebrew and Authorized Version only in (1 Chronicles 26:18) It would seem that Parbar was some place on the west side of the temple enclosure, probably the suburb mentioned by Josephus as lying in the deep valley which separated the west wall of the temple from the city opposite it.
a suburb