1 Chronicles 7:36 — Word Study
WLCבְּנֵ֖י צוֹפָ֑ח ס֧וּחַ וְחַרְנֶ֛פֶר וְשׁוּעָ֖ל וּבֵרִ֥י וְיִמְרָֽה׃
BSAThe sonsbên [descendants, offspring] of ZophahTsôwphach [an Israelite from the tribe of Asher] SuahÇûwach△ [a son of Zophah] HarnepherCharnepher△ [a brother of Suah] ShualShûwʻâl [a member of the tribe of Asher] BeriBêrîy△ [a chief of the tribe] ImrahYimrâh△ [a son of Zophah, a chief of the tribe]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּנֵ֖י | [the] sons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| צוֹפָ֑ח | Zophah | Noun proper masculine |
| ס֧וּחַ | Suah | Noun proper masculine |
| וְחַרְנֶ֛פֶר | and Harnepher | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְשׁוּעָ֖ל | and Shual | Conjunction, noun proper |
| וּבֵרִ֥י | and Beri | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְיִמְרָֽה׃ | and Imrah | 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 Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, |
| KJV | The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah, |
| ASV | The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah, |
| YLT | Sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah, |
| WEB | The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, |
| BBE | The sons of Zophah: Suah and Harnepher and Shual and Beri and Imrah, |
There are no significant differences among the translations on this verse.
The sentence is straightforward, with a main clause followed by a list of names, reflecting the genealogical nature of the text.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
4 of 7 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 7:36
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 — Genealogy of the Tribe of Ashergenerated
1 Chronicles 7:36 provides a list of the sons of Zophah, showing the lineage of the tribe of Asher. This genealogical record highlights the importance of family ties and tribal heritage in ancient Israel, as seen in the broader context of 1 Chronicles 7:35 and 1 Chronicles 7:37.
Cross References
The Key Word — בֵּן, be.Neigenerated
The word בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'child' and is used to denote not just immediate offspring but also descendants and familial connections. This word appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing lineage and inheritance.
In this verse, it specifically refers to the sons of Zophah, establishing their identity within the tribe of Asher and linking them to their father. The parsing as a masculine plural construct indicates a group of male descendants.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which translates the phrase consistently across versions.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, with a noun phrase serving as the subject: בְּנֵ֖י צוֹפָ֑ח (the sons of Zophah). The subsequent names are presented as a list, indicating the sons of Zophah in a clear and direct manner.
The simplicity of the structure reflects the genealogical nature of the text, focusing on lineage without complex grammatical constructions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בְּנֵ֖י as υἱοὶ (huioi), which also means 'sons'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the familial aspect of the names listed.
The Greek rendering maintains the focus on lineage, consistent with the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 7:36 lists the sons of Zophah, who are Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, and Imrah. This verse emphasizes the importance of family and lineage within the tribe of Asher.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, and Imrah, all descendants of Zophah from the tribe of Asher.
Genealogies serve to establish lineage, inheritance, and the fulfillment of God's promises through specific families and tribes.
Zophah is mentioned to highlight his descendants and their role within the tribe of Asher, showing the continuity of the family line.
The name Zophah is thought to mean a cruse or container, reflecting a possible significance in the context of his lineage.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do genealogies help us understand the history of Israel?
- What can we learn from the names listed in this verse about family and heritage?
- Why do you think the chronicler emphasized these particular descendants?
- In what ways can understanding our own family history impact our identity today?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 7:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleVer. 36,37. And the sons of Zophah,.... The eldest of the sons of Helem: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah, Bezer; and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera; in all eleven.
Read John Gill on 1 Chronicles 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 7 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(36) The branches of Helem through Zophah the elder house. Eleven names of the sons of Zophah. The second, “Harnepher,” has a name which looks like pure Egyptian: Har nefer, “the beauteous Horus,” or morning sun. Comp. the case of the Egyptian slave Jarha 34), and the marriage of Mered with “Pharaoh’s daughter” (1 Chronicles 4:18). (See also the Notes on 1 Chronicles 7:10.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 7 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesThe treatment of different tribes is unequal in this chapter. In the case of Issachar (1 Chronicles 7:1-5), Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:6-12), and Asher (1 Chronicles 7:30-40), genealogies are given and the number of fighting-men of each tribe is stated. To Naphtali is devoted a single verse, giving only the names of his sons. For Manasseh and Ephraim genealogies are given and their possessions are shortly enumerated. The mention of Dan is obliterated, owing to the state of the text of 1 Chronicles 7:12.
Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 7 →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 Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
Tyndale line
The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah;
The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
The sonnes of Zophah, Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
Strictly literal
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Jimrah,
Sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
Sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
The sons of Zophach: Suach, and Charnepher, and Shu'al, and Berl, and Yimrah,
Zophah's sons were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
From the Latin
The sons of Supha: Sue, Hernapher, and Sual, and Beri, and Jamra.
Simplified
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
The sons of Zophah: Suah and Harnepher and Shual and Beri and Imrah,
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 names listed in this verse, with all seven words matched. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the essential content remains consistent with the Hebrew.
בְּנֵ֖י צוֹפָ֑ח ס֧וּחַ וְחַרְנֶ֛פֶר וְשׁוּעָ֖ל וּבֵרִ֥י וְיִמְרָֽה׃
7 of the 7 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 7:36
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)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
See SON, SONS.
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…
צוֹפַח (Tsowphach) refers to Zophah, a man from the tribe of Asher during the Divided Monarchy. He is noted as the son of Hotham and has several children, including Suah and Harnepher, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:35. The name may imply a meaning related to 'a cruse' or 'to expand'.
צוֹפַח n.pr.m. in Asher
base
H6690 צוֹפַח
6690 Tsowphach tso-fakh'
from an unused root meaning to expand, breadth; Tsophach, an
Israelite:--Zophah.
צוֹפַח (tso.phach) — Zophah.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.7.35;
son of: Hotham (H2369);
brother of: Imna (H3234), Shelesh (H8028) and Amal (H6000);
father of: Suah (H5477), Harnepher (H2774), Shual (H7777B), Beri (H1275), Imrah (H3236), Bezer (H1221H), Hod (H1936), Shamma (H8037H), Shilshah (H8030), Ithran (H3506H) and Beera (H0878)
§ Zophah = "a cruse"
an Asherite, son of Helem and father of Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, and Imrah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
zo'-fa (tsophach, meaning uncertain): An Asherite (1Ch 7:35,36).
Zophah
Spreading out, a son of Helem (1 Chr. 7:35), a chief of Asher.
(a cruse) son of Helem or Hotham the son of Heber, an Asherite. (1 Chronicles 7:35,36)
viol; honeycomb
סוּחַ (su.ach) refers to a man named Suah from the tribe of Asher, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:36. The name is derived from an unused root meaning 'to wipe away' or 'sweeping.' Suah is identified as the son of Zophah and has several brothers listed in the genealogical context.
סוּחַ n.pr.m. an Asherite 1 Ch 7:36
ref
H5477 סוּחַ
5477 Cuwach soo'-akh
from an unused root meaning to wipe away; sweeping; Suach, an
Israelite:--Suah.
סוּחַ (su.ach) — Suah.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.36;
son of: Zophah (H6690);
brother of: Harnepher (H2774), Shual (H7777B), Beri (H1275), Imrah (H3236), Bezer (H1221H), Hod (H1936), Shamma (H8037H), Shilshah (H8030), Ithran (H3506H) and Beera (H0878)
§ Suah = "sweeping"
an Asherite, son of Zophah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
su'-a (cuach): Son of Zophah, of the tribe of Asher (1Ch 7:36).
(sweeping), son of Zophah an Asherite. (1 Chronicles 7:36) (B.C. about 1020.)
speaking; entreating; ditch
→ (An Asherite)
→ Son of Zophah 1Ch 7:36
חַרְנֶ֫פֶר (Charnepher) is a personal name of uncertain origin, referring to an Israelite from the tribe of Asher mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:36. He is identified as the son of Zophah and has several brothers. The name is glossed as meaning "panting."
חַרְנֶ֫פֶר n.pr.m. name in tribe of Asher 1 Ch 7:36 = n.pr.loc.
ref
H2774 חַרְנֶ֫פֶר
2774 Charnepher khar-neh'fer
of uncertain derivation; Charnepher, an
Israelite:--Harnepher.
חַרְנֶ֫פֶר (char.ne.pher) — Harnepher.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.36;
son of: Zophah (H6690);
brother of: Suah (H5477), Shual (H7777B), Beri (H1275), Imrah (H3236), Bezer (H1221H), Hod (H1936), Shamma (H8037H), Shilshah (H8030), Ithran (H3506H) and Beera (H0878)
§ Harnepher = "panting"
a son of Zophah of the tribe of Asher
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
har'-ne-fer, har-ne'-fer (charnepher): A member of the tribe of Asher (1Ch 7:36).
Harnepher
A chief of the tribe of Asher (1 Chr. 7:36).
(panting), one of the sons of Zophah, of the tribe of Asher. (1 Chronicles 7:36)
the anger of a bull; increasing heat
שׁוּעָל (Shuwal) refers to both a personal name and a geographical location in Israel, specifically a district associated with the tribe of Asher. The term can mean "jackal" and is linked to an Israelite named Shual, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:36, who was a descendant of Zophah. The entries indicate that Shual is both a man and a place.
ref
H7777a שׁוּעָל district in Israel H7777b שׁוּעָל in Asher
7777 Shuw`al shoo-awl'
the same as 7776; Shual, the name of an Israelite and of a
place in Palestine:--Shual.
see HEBREW for 07776
שׁוּעָל (shu.al) — Shual.
§ Shual = "jackal"
as Asherite, son of Zophah
שׁוּעָל (shu.al) — Shual.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.7.36;
son of: Zophah (H6690);
brother of: Suah (H5477), Harnepher (H2774), Beri (H1275), Imrah (H3236), Bezer (H1221H), Hod (H1936), Shamma (H8037H), Shilshah (H8030), Ithran (H3506H) and Beera (H0878);
father of: Arah (H0733), Hanniel (H2592H) and Rizia (H7525); also called Ulla at 1Ch.7.39;
Also named: ul.la (עֻלָּא "Ulla" H5925)
§ Shual = "jackal"
a district in Benjamin probably north of Michmash
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
shoo'-al (shu`al): An Asherite (1Ch 7:36).
(a jackal), son of Zophah, an Asherite. (1 Chronicles 7:36) (B.C. after 1445.)
fox; path; first
בֵּרִי (Beriy) refers to a man from the tribe of Asher, specifically mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:36. He is identified as the son of Zophah and has several brothers. The name is likely derived from a term meaning 'a well,' although the entries do not provide further details on its usage.
בֵּרִי n.pr.m. a descendant of Asher 1 Ch 7:36
ref
H1275 בֵּרִי
1275 Beriy bay-ree'
probably by contraction from 882; Beri, an Israelite:--Beri.
see HEBREW for 0882
בֵּרִי (be.ri) — Beri.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.36;
son of: Zophah (H6690);
brother of: Suah (H5477), Harnepher (H2774), Shual (H7777B), Imrah (H3236), Bezer (H1221H), Hod (H1936), Shamma (H8037H), Shilshah (H8030), Ithran (H3506H) and Beera (H0878)
§ Beri = "a well"
son of Zophah, of the tribe of Asher
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
be'-ri (beri, "wisdom"): A descendant of Asher (1Ch 7:36).
(a well), son of Zophah, of the tribe of Asher. (1 Chronicles 7:36)
my son; my corn
→ Son of Zophah 1Ch 7:36
יִמְרָה (Yimrah) refers to a man from the tribe of Asher, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:36. He is identified as a chief and is a descendant of Zophah, with several brothers listed. The name is associated with the meaning 'bitterness.' The entries indicate that the word is primarily a proper noun.
יִמְרָה n.pr.m. 1 Ch 7:36 a chief of Asher.
ref
H3236 יִמְרָה
3236 Yimrah yim-raw'
probably from 3235; interchange; Jimrah, an Israelite:--
Imrah.
see HEBREW for 03235
יִמְרָה (yim.rah) — Imrah.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.36;
son of: Zophah (H6690);
brother of: Suah (H5477), Harnepher (H2774), Shual (H7777B), Beri (H1275), Bezer (H1221H), Hod (H1936), Shamma (H8037H), Shilshah (H8030), Ithran (H3506H) and Beera (H0878)
§ Imrah = "bitterness"
a descendant of Asher of the family of Zophah and a chief of the tribe
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
im'-ra (yimrah): A descendant of Asher (1Ch 7:36).
(stubborn), a descendant of Asher, of the family of Zophah (1 Chronicles 7:36) (B.C. after 1445.)
a rebel; waxing bitter; changing
→ A chief of the tribe of Asher 1Ch 7:36