1 Chronicles 23:18 — Word Study
WLCבְּנֵ֥י יִצְהָ֖ר שְׁלֹמִ֥ית הָרֹֽאשׁ׃ ס
BSAThe sonsbên [descendants, family members] of IzharYitshâr [a man from the tribe of Levi] ShelomithShᵉlômîyth [the chief, head, or firstborn] [was] the firstrôʼsh [most prominent, in a position of leadership]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּנֵ֥י | [the] sons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| יִצְהָ֖ר | Izhar | Noun proper masculine |
| שְׁלֹמִ֥ית | Shelomith | Noun proper masculine |
| הָרֹֽאשׁ׃ ס | 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 sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first. |
| KJV | Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief. |
| ASV | The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. |
| YLT | Sons of Izhar: Shelomith the head. |
| WEB | The son of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. |
| BBE | The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the first. |
Where they part company is in the emphasis on הָרֹֽאשׁ — see How Translations Differ.
A straightforward statement identifying Shelomith as the firstborn of Izhar.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & 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 23:18
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 Lineage of the Levitesgenerated
1 Chronicles 23:18 is part of a larger genealogical record that details the descendants of Levi. This section emphasizes the importance of lineage within the Israelite community, particularly among the Levites, who had specific roles in the worship and service of God. The mention of Shelomith as the firstborn highlights his prominence in the family line, which is significant for priestly duties and inheritance.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 24:22 | From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath. |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 26:26 | This Shelomith and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and by the army commanders. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שְׁלֹמִ֥ית, she.lo.Mitgenerated
The name שְׁלֹמִ֥ית (Shelomith) is derived from a root meaning 'peaceableness.' It is used to identify several individuals in the Old Testament, including both male and female bearers of the name. In this context, it refers to a Levite, indicating a connection to the priestly lineage.
The parsing as a proper masculine noun suggests that Shelomith is a specific individual, likely recognized for his role and status within the family of Izhar. His designation as the firstborn indicates a position of leadership and responsibility.
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 structure of the verse centers around a simple declarative sentence. The subject is בְּנֵ֥י יִצְהָ֖ר (the sons of Izhar), with שְׁלֹמִ֥ית (Shelomith) as the predicate, followed by the phrase הָרֹֽאשׁ׃ ס (was the first). This straightforward construction emphasizes the identity and status of Shelomith within the lineage.
The noun phrases are clearly defined, with the subject and predicate forming a cohesive statement about Shelomith's position. The simplicity of the structure reflects the genealogical nature of the text.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בְּנֵ֥י as υἱοὶ (sons), maintaining the familial context. The choice of this term aligns with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing lineage.
The name שְׁלֹמִ֥ית is rendered as σαλωμωθ, which retains the connection to peace. This choice shows continuity in the understanding of the name's significance across translations.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 23:18 lists the sons of Izhar, noting that Shelomith is the firstborn. This verse is part of a genealogy that highlights the importance of lineage among the Levites.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Shelomith was the firstborn son of Izhar, a Levite, indicating a significant role in the priestly lineage.
The name Shelomith means 'peaceableness,' reflecting a positive attribute.
Genealogy establishes lineage, inheritance, and roles within the community, particularly for the Levites who served in religious capacities.
Being the firstborn signifies a position of leadership and responsibility within the family and community.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What significance does the role of firstborn hold in your understanding of family and leadership?
- How can understanding genealogies in the Bible deepen your appreciation for the narratives of Scripture?
- In what ways do you see the importance of lineage and heritage in your own life?
- How does the meaning of names, like Shelomith, influence your understanding of the characters in the Bible?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 23:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleOf the sons of Izhar,.... Another son of Kohath, the son of Levi, 1 Chronicles 23:12. Shelomith the chief; the principal descendant of Izhar at this time.
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(18) The sons of Izhar.—Second son of Kohath. The sons of Izhar made one clan, that of Shelômith (or Shelômôth, 1 Chronicles 24:22). The same variation occurred in the Hebrew of 1 Chronicles 23:9, above.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. Shelomith] In 1 Chronicles 24:22, Shelomoth.
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 sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first.
The son of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.
The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first.
The son of Izhar: Shelomith the oldest.
Tyndale line
Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.
The sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
The sone of Izhar was Shelomith ye chiefe.
Strictly literal
— The sons of Jizhar: Shelomith the head.
Sons of Izhar: Shelomith the head.
Sons of Izhar: Shelomith the head.
Of the sons of Yizhar, was Shelomith the chief.
Izhar's son was Shelomith the leader.
From the Latin
The sons of Isaar: Salomith the first.
Simplified
The sons of Izhar: Shelomith (chief).
The sons of Izhar: Shelomith 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 in the Hebrew text. This consistency indicates a stable transmission of the genealogical record.
בְּנֵ֥י יִצְהָ֖ר שְׁלֹמִ֥ית הָרֹֽאשׁ׃ ס
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 23:18
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.
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…
יִצְהָר (yits-hawr) refers to Izhar, a Levite and son of Kohath. He is noted as a significant figure in the lineage of the Levites, being the father of Korah and uncle to Moses and Aaron. The name is associated with the meaning "shining oil." His family connections include brothers Amram, Hebron, and Uzziel.
יִצְהָר n.pr.m. Levite, son of Kohath
base
H3324 יִצְהָר Levite, son of Kohath
3324 Yitshar yits-hawr'
the same as 3323; Jitshar, an Israelite:--Izhar.
see HEBREW for 03323
יִצְהָר (yits.har) — Izhar.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.18;
son of: Kohath (H6955);
brother of: Amram (H6019), Hebron (H2275B) and Uzziel (H5816);
father of: Korah (H7141I), Nepheg (H5298), Zichri (H2147) and Shelomith (H8019A)
§ Izhar = "shining oil"
son of Kohath, grandson of Levi, uncle of Moses and Aaron, and father of Korah; progenitor of the Izharites
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
iz'-har (yitshar, "the shining one"):
(1) The father of Korah (Nu 16:1), descended from a Kohathite Levite of this name, whose descendants formed a family, in the tribe of Levi (Ex 6:18,21; Nu 3:19,27; 1Ch 6:18,38).
(2) A descendant of Judah, whose mother's name was Helah. the American Revised Version margin gives the name Zohar (1Ch 4:7).
(oil), son of Kohath grandson of Levi, uncle of Aaron and Moses and father of Korah. (Exodus 6:18,21; Numbers 3:19; 16:1; 1 Chronicles 6:2,18) (B.C. after 1490.) Izhar was the head of the family of the Izharites, (1 Chronicles 24:22; 26:23) or Izeharites. (Numbers 3:27; 1 Chronicles 26:23,29)
The Hebrew word שְׁלֹמִית (*Shlomiyth*) refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, primarily associated with the Levites and the tribe of Judah. It is derived from a root meaning 'peaceableness.' The entries note both male and female bearers of the name, including a Levite and a daughter of Rehoboam. There is a mention of a blasphemous son of a woman named Shelomith, which adds a narrative context.
שְׁלֹמוֹת, I. שְׁלֹמִית n.pr.m.
Levites
son (appar.) of Rehob.
head of post-ex. family
base
שְׁלֹמִית n.pr.f.
in Israel
daughter of Zerub.
base
H8019a שְׁלֹמוֹת, שְׁלֹמִית . Levites
. son (appar.) of Rehob.
. head of post-ex. family
H8019b שְׁלֹמִית . in Israel
. daughter of Zerub.
8019 Shlomiyth shel-o-meeth'
or Shlowmiyth (Ezra 8:10) {shel-o- meeth'}; from 7965;
peaceableness; Shelomith, the name of five Israelites and
three Israelitesses:--Shelomith.
see HEBREW for 07965
שְׁלֹמִית (she.lo.mit) — Shelomith.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at 1Ch.23.18;
son of: Izhar (H3324);
brother of: Korah (H7141I), Nepheg (H5298) and Zichri (H2147);
father of: Jahath (H3189J); also called Shelomoth at 1Ch.24.22;
Also named: she.lo.mot (שְׁלֹמוֹת "Shelomoth" H8013J)
§ Shelomith = "peaceful"
1) a Gershonite Levite, son of Zichri in the time of David
1a) also 'Shelomoth' (שְׁלֹמוֹת H8013H)
2) son of king Rehoboam of Judah by Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom
3) head of a family of exiles who returned with Ezra
שְׁלֹמִית (she.lo.mit) — Shelomith.
A woman living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Lev.24.11;
daughter of: Dibri (H1704)
§ Shelomith = "peaceful"
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
she-lo'-mith, shel'-o-mith (shelomith; in Ezr 8:10, shelomith):
(1) The mother of the man who was stoned for blasphemy (Le 24:11) (BAF, Salomeith, Lucian, Salmith).
(2) Daughter of Zerubbabel (1Ch 3:19) (Codex Vaticanus Salomethei; Codex Alexandrinus Salomethi, Lucian, Salomith).
(3) One of the "sons of Izhar" (1Ch 23:18) (Codex Vaticanus Salomoth; Codex Alexandrinus Saloumoth, Lucian, Salomith), called "Shelomoth" in 24:22.
(4) The name of a family whose representatives returned with Ezra (Ezr 8:10) (Codex Vaticanus Saleimouth; Lucian, Salimoth). The Massoretic Text here should read, "and the sons of Bani; Shelomith, son…
(peaceful). The daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. (Leviticus 24:11) The daughter of Zerubbabel. (1 Chronicles 3:19) (B.C. after 536.) Chief of the Izharites. (1 Chronicles 23:18) A descendant of Eliezer the son of Moses, in the reign of David. (1 Chronicles 26:25,26,28) (B.C. 1013.) A Gershonite. (1 Chronicles 23:9) One whose sons returned from Babylon with Ezra. (Ezra 8:10)
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;