1 Chronicles 4:16 — Word Study
WLCוּבְנֵ֖י יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל זִ֣יף וְזִיפָ֔ה תִּירְיָ֖א וַאֲשַׂרְאֵֽל׃
BSAThe sonsbên [descendants, offspring] of JehallelelYᵉhallelʼêl [God is praised] ZiphZîyph [battlement] ZiphahZîyphâh△ [battlement] TiriaTîyrᵉyâʼ△ [fearful, one who inspires fear] and AsarelʼĂsarʼêl△ [God holds, supported by God]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבְנֵ֖י | and [the] sons of | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct |
| יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל | Jehallelel | Noun proper masculine |
| זִ֣יף | Ziph | Noun proper masculine |
| וְזִיפָ֔ה | and Ziphah | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| תִּירְיָ֖א | Tiria | Noun proper masculine |
| וַאֲשַׂרְאֵֽל׃ | and Asarel | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. |
| KJV | And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel. |
| ASV | And the sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. |
| YLT | And sons of Jehaleleel: Ziph and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel. |
| WEB | The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. |
| BBE | And the sons of Jehallelel: Ziph and Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel. |
Where they part company is יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל — see How Translations Differ.
The structure is straightforward, listing the names of Jehallelel's sons without additional complexity.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
3 of 6 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words 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 4:16
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 Descendants of Calebgenerated
1 Chronicles 4:16 lists the sons of Jehallelel, emphasizing their lineage as part of the broader genealogical narrative in Chronicles. This section connects the descendants of Caleb, showcasing the importance of family ties and heritage in Israel's history. The mention of these names serves to preserve the memory of these individuals and their roles within the tribe of Judah.
Cross References
The Key Word — יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל, ye.ha.lel.'Elgenerated
The name יְהַלֶּלְאֵל (yehallel'el) means 'God is praised' and signifies a connection to divine worship. It is a proper noun referring to a person, specifically a Levite during the time of King Hezekiah. This name reflects the spiritual heritage of the family.
The parsing as a noun proper masculine indicates that Jehallelel is a specific individual within the genealogical record, emphasizing the importance of his lineage in the context of the tribe of Judah.
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 finite verb is absent, as this verse is structured as a list of names, which is common in genealogical texts. The noun phrase וּבְנֵ֖י (u.ve.Nei) serves as the subject, introducing the descendants.
The names follow in a straightforward sequence, each connected by conjunctions, indicating a familial relationship without additional clauses.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל as γεσεηλ, which does not carry the same meaning as the Hebrew. This choice may indicate a focus on the name's phonetic qualities rather than its theological implications.
The other names are similarly rendered, maintaining a connection to their Hebrew forms but potentially altering their meanings in the Greek context.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 4:16 lists the sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. Each name has a meaning that reflects their identity and heritage, emphasizing family connections within the tribe of Judah.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Jehallelel means 'God is praised', indicating a connection to worship and divine acknowledgment.
The sons of Jehallelel were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel, each with names that carry specific meanings.
Genealogies serve to preserve family heritage, establish lineage, and affirm the fulfillment of God's promises to His people.
The names reflect attributes of God and the characteristics of the individuals, emphasizing their roles within the tribe of Judah.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding the meanings of these names enhance my appreciation of the biblical text?
- What can I learn from the genealogies about the importance of family and heritage in my own life?
- In what ways can I reflect the meaning of my own name or identity in my actions?
- How does the lineage of Jehallelel connect to the broader narrative of Israel's history?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 4:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the sons of Jehaleleel,.... Who probably was the son of Uknaz: Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel; there were two cities in the tribe of Judah of the name of Ziph, Joshua 15:24, which might be
Read John Gill on 1 Chronicles 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleJehaleleel; the son of Kenaz, or Uknaz, last mentioned.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Chronicles 4 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) The sons of Jehaleleel.—Heb., Yehallel-çl, “he praiseth God.” Ziph is known, from Joshua 15:21; Joshua 15:24, as one of the cities of the children of Judah, “towards the border of Edom, southwards.” Perhaps, therefore, the sons of Jehallel-el also were Edomite-Kenizzites. Another Ziph, perhaps our Ziphah, is mentioned as in the hill-country, Joshua 15:55. Asareel is perhaps a dialectic form of Israel (See 1 Chronicles 25:2; 1 Chronicles 25:14.) A foreign clan might take the name of its adopted people.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 4 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16, 17. The connexion of these names with Judah does not appear. Ziph however is the name of a place in the south of Judah (1 Samuel 23:15; 1 Samuel 23:19).
Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 4 →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 sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
Tyndale line
And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
And the sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
And the sons of Jehallelel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
And the sonnes of Iehaleel were Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
Strictly literal
— And the sons of Jehalleleel: Ziph and Ziphah, Tiria and Asareel.
And sons of Jehaleleel: Ziph and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
And sons of Jehaleleel: Ziph and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
And the sons of Jehalelel: Ziph, and Ziphah, Thireya, and Assarel.
Jehallelel's sons were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
From the Latin
The sons also of Jaleleel: Ziph, and Zipha, Thiria, and Asrael.
Simplified
The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
And the sons of Jehallelel: Ziph and Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel.
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 share similarities in the names listed, with four out of six words matched. However, the Septuagint's word order and articles differ, indicating a variation in translation approach.
וּבְנֵ֖י יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל זִ֣יף וְזִיפָ֔ה תִּירְיָ֖א וַאֲשַׂרְאֵֽל׃
4 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 4:16
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.
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)
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural constructHC/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יְהַלֶּלְאֵל (Yhallel'el) means 'God is praised' and refers to two individuals from the tribe of Judah mentioned in the Old Testament. One is a Calebite descendant, while the other is a Merarite Levite during King Hezekiah's reign. Both are noted for their familial connections, with the first mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:16 and the second in 2 Chronicles 29:12.
יְהַלֶּלְאֵל n.pr.[m.] (he shall praise God)
a man of Judah
a Levite
base
H3094 יְהַלֶּלְאֵל
3094 Yhallel'el yeh-hal-lel-ale'
from 1984 and 410; praising God; Jehallelel, the name of two
Israelites:--Jehalellel, Jehalelel.
see HEBREW for 01984
see HEBREW for 0410
יְהַלֶּלְאֵל (ye.hal.lel.el) — Jehallelel.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.16;
father of: Ziph (H2128J), Ziphah (H2129), Tiria (H8493), Asarel (H0840)
§ Jehaleleel or Jehalelel = "God is praised"
1) a Calebite descendant of Judah
2) father of Azariah and a Merarite Levite in the time of Hezekiah
יְהַלֶּלְאֵל (ye.hal.lel.el) — Jehallelel.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 2Ch.29.12;
father of: Azariah (H5838V)
§ Jehaleleel or Jehalelel = "God is praised"
1) a Calebite descendant of Judah
2) father of Azariah and a Merarite Levite in the time of Hezekiah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
זִיף (ziyp) refers to Ziph, a city in southern Judah known for its location southeast of Hebron, described as a battlement. It is also the name of a man from the tribe of Judah, mentioned in the context of the Divided Monarchy. The entries indicate that Ziph has both geographical and personal significance in biblical texts.
זִיף n.pr.
n.pr.loc.
city S.E. from Hebron
city of southern Judah
n.pr.m. a son of יְהַלָּלְאֵל of Judah
base
H2128 זִיף
2128 Ziyph zeef
from the same as 2203; flowing; Ziph, the name of a place in
Palestine; also of an Israelite:--Ziph.
see HEBREW for 02203
זִיף (ziph) — Ziph.
§ Ziph = "battlement"
a city in southern Judah, between Ithnan and Telem
זִיף (ziph) — Ziph.
Ziph = "battlement"
a city of Judah, southeast of Hebron, between Carmel and Juttah in the highland district
Also named: zi.phi (זִיפִי "Ziphite" H2130)
זִיף (ziph) — Ziph.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.2.42;
son of: Mareshah@1Ch.2.42 (H4337)
§ Ziph = "battlement"
1) a son of Jehaleleel, a descendant of Judah, and brother of Ziphah
2) a city in southern Judah, between Ithnan and Telem
3) a city of Judah, southeast of Hebron, between Carmel and Juttah in the highland district
זִיף (ziph) — Ziph.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.16;
son of: Jehallelel (H3094);
brother of: Ziphah (H2129), Tiria (H8493) and Asarel (H0840)
§ Ziph = "battlement"
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Ziph
Flowing. (1.) A son of Jehaleleel (1 Chr. 4:16).
(2.) A city in the south of Judah (Josh. 15:24), probably at the pass of Sufah.
(3.) A city in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:55), identified with the uninhabited ruins of Tell ez-Zif, about 5 miles south-east of Hebron. Here David hid himself during his wanderings (1 Sam. 23:19; Ps. 54, title).
(battlement), the name of two towns in Judah. In the south, named between Ithnan and Telem. (Joshua 15:24) It does not appear again in the history, nor has any trace of has been met with. In the highland district, named between Carmel and Juttah. (Joshua 15:55) The place is immortalized by its connection with David. (1 Samuel 23:14,15,24; 26:2) These passages show that at that time it had near it a wilderness (i,e, a waste pasture-ground) and a wood. The latter has disappeared but the former remains. The name of Zif if, found about three miles south of Hebron, attached to a rounded hill of some 100 feet in height, which is called Tell Zif . Son of Jehaleleel. (1 Chronicles…
A city of Judah, four miles south-east of Hebron; near it were wild fastness in which David for a long time lay hid, 1Sa 23:14,15.
this mouth or mouthful; falsehood
זִיפָה (Ziyphah) refers to a male figure from the tribe of Judah, specifically mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:16. He is described as the son of Jehallelel and the brother of Ziph, Tiria, and Asarel. The name Ziphah is noted to mean 'battlement' and is derived from the root of another Hebrew word.
זִיפָה n.pr.m. a son of יְהַלֶּלְאֵל 1 Ch 4:16
ref
H2129 זִיפָה
2129 Ziyphah zee-faw'
feminine of 2128; a flowing; Ziphah, an Israelite:--Ziphah.
see HEBREW for 02128
זִיפָה (zi.phah) — Ziphah.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.16;
son of: Jehallelel (H3094);
brother of: Ziph (H2128J), Tiria (H8493) and Asarel (H0840)
§ Ziphah = "battlement"
a son of Jehaleleel, a descendant of Judah, and brother of Ziph
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
zi'-fa (ziphah, a feminine form of "Ziph"): A Judahite, "son" of Jehallelel. The name being feminine may be a dittography of the previous Ziph (1Ch 4:16).
Ziphah
A descendant of Judah (1 Chr. 4:16).
(feminine of Ziph), another son of Jehaleleel. (1 Chronicles 4:16)
→ A son of Jehaleleel 1Ch 4:16
תִּֽירְיָא (Tiyrya) refers to a man from the tribe of Judah mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:16. The name is associated with the meaning 'fear.' He is identified as the son of Jehaleleel and has siblings named Ziph, Ziphah, and Asarel. The word may derive from a root meaning 'fearful.'
תִּֽירְיָא n.pr.m. (in Judah) 1 Ch 4:16
ref
H8493 תִּֽירְיָא
8493 Tiyrya' tee-reh-yaw'
probably from 3372; fearful, Tirja, an Israelite:--Tiria.
see HEBREW for 03372
תִּירְיָא (tir.ya) — Tiria.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.16;
son of: Jehallelel (H3094);
brother of: Ziph (H2128J), Ziphah (H2129) and Asarel (H0840)
§ Tiria = "fear"
a Judaite, son of Jehaleleel
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
tir'-i-a, ti'-ri-a (tireya', Baer tirya'; Codex Vaticanus omits it; Codex Alexandrinus Theria; Lucian Ethria): A son of Jehallelel (1Ch 4:16).
(fear), son of Jehaleleel, of the tribe of Judah. (1 Chronicles 4:16) (B.C. about 1451.)
searching out
→ Son of Jehaleleel 1Ch 4:16
אֲשַׂרְאֵל (Asar'el) refers to a man from the tribe of Judah, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:16. His name can be interpreted as "God holds" and he is noted as a descendant of Judah through Caleb. The entries indicate that he is connected to other family members, including brothers Ziph and Tiria.
אֲשַׂרְאֵל n.pr.m. a descendant of Judah 1 Ch 4:16
ref
H840 אֲשַׂרְאֵל
840 'Asar'el as-ar-ale'
by orthographical variation from 833 and 410; right of God;
Asarel, an Israelite:--Asareel.
see HEBREW for 0833
see HEBREW for 0410
אֲשַׂרְאֵל (a.sar.el) — Asarel.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.16;
son of: Jehallelel (H3094);
brother of: Ziph (H2128J), Ziphah (H2129) and Tiria (H8493)
§ Asareel = "God holds"
a descendant of Judah through Caleb
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
as'-ar-el ('asar'el, "God is ruler"; the King James Version Asareel): A descendant of Judah and a son of Jehallelel (1Ch 4:16).