1 Chronicles 23:16 — Word Study
WLCבְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֖וֹם שְׁבוּאֵ֥ל הָרֹֽאשׁ׃
BSAThe descendantsbên [sons, offspring, or posterity] of GershomGêrᵉshôm [a Levite, son of Moses] ShebuelShᵉbûwʼêl [the chief, head, or first] was the firstrôʼsh [chief, head, or foremost]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּנֵ֥י | [the] sons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| גֵרְשׁ֖וֹם | Gershom | Noun proper masculine |
| שְׁבוּאֵ֥ל | Shebuel | Noun proper masculine |
| הָרֹֽאשׁ׃ | the chief | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The descendants of Gershom: Shebuel was the first. |
| KJV | Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief. |
| ASV | The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. |
| YLT | Sons of Gershom: Shebuel the head. |
| WEB | The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. |
| BBE | The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the first. |
Where they part company is in the emphasis on Shebuel's role as the first descendant — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is straightforward, consisting of a main clause that identifies Shebuel as the first descendant.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, 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 23:16
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 Genealogy of the Levitesgenerated
1 Chronicles 23:16 records the lineage of Gershom, the son of Moses, highlighting his descendant Shebuel as the first in line. This genealogy serves to establish the priestly lineage and the roles of the Levites within the Israelite community, as seen in other genealogical records throughout the Old Testament.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 24:20 | Now these were the remaining descendants of Levi: From the sons of Amram: Shubael; from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah. |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 25:20 | the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all; |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 26:24 | Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שְׁבוּאֵל, she.vu.'Elgenerated
The name שְׁבוּאֵל (Shebuel) means 'captive of God.' It refers to a notable individual from the tribe of Levi, specifically the son of Gershom, who is recognized as the first in his lineage. The parsing indicates it is a proper masculine noun, showing its significance in the genealogical context.
Shebuel's mention as the first descendant emphasizes his importance in the priestly line. The term 'first' indicates a position of leadership and prominence among Gershom's descendants, which is essential in the context of the Levites' roles in worship and service.
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 implied in the structure, with the phrase שְׁבוּאֵל serving as the subject and הָרֹאשׁ as the predicate. The Hebrew structure is straightforward, presenting the subject followed by the predicate without additional clauses.
The word order places emphasis on Shebuel, highlighting his role as the chief among the descendants of Gershom. This straightforward construction reflects the genealogical nature of the text.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שְׁבוּאֵל as σουβαηλ, maintaining the name while providing a Greek equivalent. This choice shows a direct correspondence in identifying Shebuel as a significant figure in the lineage.
The use of υἱοὶ for בְּנֵי indicates a consistent understanding of the term 'sons' in the context of genealogy.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 23:16 tells us that the descendants of Gershom include Shebuel, who is noted as the first among them. This verse is part of a larger genealogical account that highlights the lineage of the Levites, important for their roles in the worship of God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Gershom was the son of Moses and Zipporah, and he played a significant role in the Israelite community as a Levite.
The name Shebuel means 'captive of God,' indicating a special relationship with the divine.
Genealogy is crucial in the Bible for establishing lineage, inheritance rights, and the roles of individuals within the community, especially among the priestly class.
This verse contributes to the broader genealogical framework in 1 Chronicles, which emphasizes the heritage and roles of the Levites in Israel's worship and service.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to be a 'firstborn' in the context of biblical genealogies?
- How can understanding the lineage of the Levites enhance our appreciation for their role in worship?
- In what ways does Shebuel's designation as the first descendant impact our understanding of his significance?
- How does this genealogical record reflect the importance of family and lineage in the Bible?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 23:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleOf the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief. Of the posterity of Gershom in the times of David, called Shubael, 1 Chronicles 24:20, the Targum makes him to be the same with Jonathan, Jude 18:30. (l) (l) So in Hieron. Trad. Heb.
Read John Gill on 1 Chronicles 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) The sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief (Heb., head).—The statement that “Shebuel was the chief” implies that Gershom had other sons not mentioned here, as being reckoned members of the clan the sons of Gershom. Shebuel is called Shubael in 1 Chronicles 24:20.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 23 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 16. To this verse the Targum adds, "The same Jonathan, who became a false prophet, repented in his old age; and David made him his chief treasurer."
Read AdamClarke on 1 Chronicles 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. Of the sons] R.V. The sons. Cp. 1 Chronicles 2:31, where the plural, The sons, is thrice followed by a single name only. Shebuel] In 1 Chronicles 24:20 Shubael; so LXX. here.
Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 23 →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 descendants of Gershom: Shebuel was the first.
The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.
The descendants of Gershom: Shebuel was the first.
The son of Gershom: Shebuel the oldest.
Tyndale line
Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.
The sons of Gershom; Shebuel the chief.
Of the sons of Gershom; Shebuel was the chief.
Of the sonnes of Gershom was Shebuel the chiefe.
Strictly literal
The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the head.
Sons of Gershom: Shebuel the head.
Sons of Gershom: Shebuel the head.
Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
Gershom's descendant was Shubael the oldest.
From the Latin
The sons of Gersom: Subuel the first.
Simplified
The sons of Gershom: Shebuel (chief).
The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the first.
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 wording of this verse, with all four words matched. This consistency across witnesses reinforces the reliability of the genealogical record presented.
בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֖וֹם שְׁבוּאֵ֥ל הָרֹֽאשׁ׃
4 of the 4 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 23:16
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)
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…
גֵּרְשֹׁם (Gershom) refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, primarily the firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah, and also a son of Levi. The name is associated with the meaning 'foreigner.' The entries note that Gershom is mentioned in contexts related to the Exodus and the priestly lineage, including references in Exodus and Ezra.
גֵּרְשֹׁם n.pr.m.
son of Moses and Ṣipporah
a son of Levi
a son of Phinehas
base
H1647 גֵּרְשֹׁם . son of Moses and Ṣipporah
. a son of Levi
. a son of Phinehas
1647 Gershom gay-resh-ome'
for 1648; Gereshom, the name of four Israelites:--Gershom.
see HEBREW for 01648
גֵּרְשֹׁם (ge.re.shom) — Gershom.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.2.22;
son of: Moses (H4872) and Zipporah (H6855);
brother of: Eliezer (H0461H);
father of: Jonathan (H3083)(?) and Shebuel (H7619)
§ Gershom = "foreigner"
1) firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah
2) firstborn son of Levi
3) a son of the priestly family of Phinehas who returned from exile with Ezra
גֵּרְשֹׁם (ge.re.shom) — Gershom.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11;
son of: Levi (H3878);
brother of: Kohath (H6955), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115);
father of: Libni (H3845G) and Shimei (H8096G); also called Gershom at 1Ch.6.16,17,20,43,62,71; 15.7;
Another spelling of ge.re.shon (גֵּרְשׁוֹן "Gershon" H1648)
§ Gershom = "foreigner"
1) firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
gur'-shom (gereshom, from garash, "to cast out"; explained, however, in Ex 2:22 and 18:3 as from gur, "For he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land"):
(1) Firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah. The only details of his life contained in the Pentateuch are the account of his circumcision (Ex 4:25), and his remaining under the care of Jethro, while Moses was in Egypt leading the Exodus. His descendants were numbered among the tribes of Levi (1Ch 23:14). One of them apparently was the Jonathan who officiated as priest of the idolatrous sanctuary at Dan, and whose descendants held the office until the captivity. The Massoretic Text inserts a suspended nun, "n," in the name of Moses (mosheh), causing it to be lead Manasseh…
Gershom
Expulsion. (1.) The eldest son of Levi (1 Chr. 6:16, 17, 20, 43, 62, 71; 15:7)=GERSHON (q.v.).
(2.) The elder of the two sons of Moses born to him in Midian (Ex. 2:22; 18:3). On his way to Egypt with his family, in obedience to the command of the Lord, Moses was attacked by a sudden and dangerous illness (4:24-26), which Zipporah his wife believed to have been sent because he had neglected to circumcise his son. She accordingly took a “sharp stone” and circumcised her son Gershom, saying, “Surely a bloody husband art thou to me”, i.e., by the blood of her child she had, as it were, purchased her husband, had won him back again.
(3.) A descendant of Phinehas who returned with Ezra from Babylon (Ezra 8:2).
(a stranger or exile). The first-born son of Moses and Zipporah. (Exodus 2:22; 18:3) (B.C. 1530.) The form under which the name GERSHON--the eldest son of Levi--is given in several passages of Chronicles, viz., (1 Chronicles 6:16,17,20,43,62,71; 15:7) The representative of the priestly family of Phinehas, among those who accompanied Ezra from Babylon. (Ezra 8:2) (B.C. 536.)
שְׁבוּאֵל (Shbuw'el or Shuwael) means "captive of God" and refers to two individuals from the tribe of Levi. One is the son of Gershom and grandson of Moses, while the other is one of Heman's sons. Both are also called Shubael in some contexts.
שְׁבוּאֵל, שְׁבֻאֵל n.pr.m. son of Gershom
base
H7619 שְׁבוּאֵל, שְׁבֻאֵל, שׁוּבָאֵל
7619 Shbuw'el sheb-oo-ale'
or Shuwbanel {shoo-baw-ale'}; from 7617 (abbrev.) or 7725 and
410; captive (or returned) of God; Shebuel or Shubael, the
name of two Israelites:--Shebuel, Shubael.
see HEBREW for 07617
see HEBREW for 07725
see HEBREW for 0410
שְׁבוּאֵל (she.vu.el) — Shebuel.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at 1Ch.23.16;
son of: Gershom (H1647);
father of: Jehdeiah (H3165); also called Shubael at 1Ch.24.20;
§ Shebuel or Shubael = "captive of God"
1) son of Gershom and grandson of Moses
2) one of the 14 sons of Heman the musician
שְׁבוּאֵל (she.vu.el) — Shebuel.
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), Jerimoth (H3406L), Hananiah (H2608P), Hanani (H2607H), Eliathah (H0448), Giddalti (H1437), Romamti-ezer (H7320), Joshbekashah (H3436), Mallothi (H4413), Hothir (H1956) and Mahazioth (H4238); also called Shubael at 1Ch.25.20;
§ Shebuel or Shubael = "captive of God"
1) son of Gershom and grandson of Moses
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
she-bu'-el, sheb'-u-el (shebhu'el; Soubael):
(1) A son of Gershom and grandson of Moses (1Ch 23:16). He was "ruler over the treasures" (1Ch 26:24). In 1Ch 24:20 he is called "Shubael," which is probably the original form of the name (see Gray, HPN, 310).
(2) A son of Heman (1Ch 25:4), called in 1Ch 25:20 "Shubael" (Septuagint as in 25:4).
Shebuel
Captive of God. (1.) One of the descendants of Gershom, who had charge of the temple treasures in the time of David (1 Chr. 23:16; 26:24).
(2.) One of the sons of Heman; one of those whose duty it was to “lift up the horn” in the temple service (1 Chr. 25:4, 5); called also Shubael (ver. 20).
turning, or captivity, or seat, of God
רֹאשׁ (ro'sh) means 'head' and encompasses various meanings related to position and rank. It can refer to the head of a person or animal, the top of a mountain, or a chief in various contexts, such as a city or nation. The word also signifies beginnings and sums, appearing in phrases related to enumeration. Additionally, it serves as a proper noun for 'Rosh,' a title for a chief or prince.
רֹאשׁ 599 n.m.
(c. 230 t.) head, of human being
head, of animals
top (88 t.)
height, of stars
head = chief (man)
= chief (city)
chief nation
= chief (place, position)
= chief priest
= head of a family
head = front, leader's place
of time, beginning, of night watch
of things, river-heads
chief, choicest, best, of spices
head = division of army, company, band
= sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate
other phr.
base
רֹאשׁ n.pr.gent. Rôsh
base
H7218a רֹאשׁ . . (c. 230 t.) head, of human being
. head, of animals
. . top (88 t.)
. height, of stars
. . head = chief (man)
. = chief (city)
. chief nation
. = chief (place, position)
. = chief priest
. = head of a family
. . head = front, leader's place
. of time, beginning, of night watch
. of things, river-heads
. chief, choicest, best, of spices
. head = division of army, company, band
. = sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate
. other phr.
H7218b רֹאשׁ n. pr. gent. Rôsh
7218 ro'sh roshe
from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as
most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many
applications, of place, time, rank, itc.):--band, beginning,
captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company,
end, X every (man), excellent, first, forefront, ((be-))head,
height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), X lead, X poor,
principal, ruler, sum, top.
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head.
: head
1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
1a) head (of man, animals)
1b) top, tip (of mountain)
1c) height (of stars)
1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)
1e) head, front, beginning
1f) chief, choicest, best
1g) head, division, company, band
1h) sum
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — prince.
Rosh, a tite for a chief or prince
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: leader.
: leader
1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
1a) head (of man, animals)
1b) top, tip (of mountain)
1c) height (of stars)
1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)
1e) head, front, beginning
1f) chief, choicest, best
1g) head, division, company, band
1h) sum
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: top.
: top/best
1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
1a) head (of man, animals)
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
chef: The English word is in the King James Version of Old Testament the translation of some 17 different Hebrew words, most frequently of ro'sh, "head," sar, "prince," and re'shith, "beginning." The principal changes made by the Revised Version (British and American) are:
(1) Hebrew beth'abh, "house of a father," being recognized as a technical term denoting a subdivision of a tribe, ro'sh is rendered literally "head," when it occurs in connection with this phrase, so that "chief fathers" (Num 31:26) and "chief of the fathers" (Ezr 1:5) become "heads of fathers' houses";
(2) Hebrew naghidh and nasi' are more accurately translated "prince" in such passages as 1Ch 5:2; Nu 3:32;