1 Chronicles 7:27 — Word Study
WLCנ֥וֹן בְּנ֖וֹ יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ בְּנֽוֹ׃
BSANunNûwn [father of a great leader] his sonbên and JoshuaYᵉhôwshûwaʻ [Jehoshua, a leader who succeeded Moses] his sonbên
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| נ֥וֹן | Nun | Noun proper masculine |
| בְּנ֖וֹ | son his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ | Joshua | Noun proper masculine |
| בְּנֽוֹ׃ | son his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Nun his son, and Joshua his son. |
| KJV | Non his son, Jehoshua his son. |
| ASV | Nun his son, Joshua his son. |
| YLT | Non his son, Jehoshua his son. |
| WEB | Nun his son, and Joshua his son. |
| BBE | Nun his son, Joshua his son. |
Translations agree on the wording of the names in this verse.
The sentence is straightforward, consisting of two main clauses connected by a conjunction.


3 commentators on this verse
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 7:27
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 Ephraimgenerated
1 Chronicles 7:27 identifies Nun as the father of Joshua, a prominent leader who succeeded Moses. This passage is part of a larger genealogical account that traces the lineage of the tribe of Ephraim, illustrating the heritage and leadership within Israel. The mention of Joshua is significant as he played a crucial role in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, as noted in Joshua 1:1-2.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 13:8–16 | from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun; |
| 2 | Exodus 17:9–14 | So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” |
| 3 | Exodus 24:13 | So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant and went up on the mountain of God. |
| 4 | Exodus 32:17 | When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.” |
| 5 | Numbers 11:28 | Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ, ye.ho.Shu.a'generated
The name יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yhowshuwa`) signifies 'Jehovah is salvation'. Joshua is a pivotal figure in the Old Testament, first appearing in Exodus 17:9 as a military leader and later as the one who leads the Israelites into Canaan after Moses' death.
Joshua's role as a leader is underscored by his name, which reflects the salvation and guidance provided by God to His people. His connection to Nun emphasizes the importance of lineage in the leadership of Israel.
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 consists of two main noun phrases: נ֥וֹן and יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ, both functioning as subjects in the sentence. The simplicity of the structure reflects a straightforward genealogical listing, typical in ancient records.
The order emphasizes the relationship between father and son, highlighting Nun first, followed by his notable son Joshua, suggesting a lineage of leadership.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, Nun is rendered as νουμ, while Joshua is translated as ιησουε. This translation choice maintains the significance of these figures, particularly Joshua, whose role as a leader is emphasized.
The Greek terms reflect the same lineage and importance as in the Hebrew text, indicating a consistent understanding of these characters in both traditions.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 7:27 tells us that Nun is the father of Joshua. This verse is part of a genealogy that shows the lineage of leaders in Israel, emphasizing the connection between Nun and his son Joshua, who succeeded Moses as a leader of the Israelites.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Nun was the father of Joshua, a significant leader in Israel who succeeded Moses.
The name Joshua means 'Jehovah is salvation'.
Joshua is important because he led the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses.
This verse highlights the importance of family lineage in the leadership of Israel, showing how Nun is directly tied to Joshua.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the leadership of Joshua in our own lives?
- How does understanding the lineage of leaders in the Bible help us appreciate their roles?
- In what ways can we reflect the qualities of leadership seen in Joshua?
- Why is it important to know the backgrounds of biblical figures like Nun and Joshua?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 7:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLaadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 7 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(27) Non.—Everywhere else Nun, the father of Joshua the servant and successor of Moses. 1 Chronicles 7:25-27 trace his ancestry, as it would seem, through seven or eight generations to Rephah, son of Beriah or Ephraim. At 1 Chronicles 6:1-3 only two names are given between Levi, uncle of Ephraim, and Moses, Joshua’s elder contemporary. But abundant reason has already been shown for not interpreting these genealogies in a slavishly literal spirit, and without regard to their own contrary indications. It is obvious to common sense that when it is said that Moses was “son of Amram, son of Kohath, son of Levi,” the meaning cannot be that only two generations intervened between the tribal…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 7 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges27. Non … Jehoshua] R.V. gives the familiar form of these names, Nun … Joshua.
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
Nun his son, and Joshua his son.
Nun his son, and Joshua his son.
Nun his son, and Joshua his son.
his son Nun, and his son Joshua.
Tyndale line
Non his son, Jehoshua his son.
Nun his son, Joshua his son.
Nun his son, Joshua his son.
Non his son, Jehoshua his son.
Non his sonne, Iehoshua his sonne.
Strictly literal
Nun his son, Joshua his son.
Non his son, Jehoshua his son.
Nun his son, Joshua his son.
Non his son, Jehoshua' his son.
Elishama's son was Nun. Nun's son was Joshua.
From the Latin
Of whom was born Nun, who had Josue for his son.
Simplified
Nun his son and Joshua his son.
Nun his son, Joshua his son.
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
Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all four words matched. This consistency highlights the importance of Nun and Joshua in the genealogical record.
נ֥וֹן בְּנ֖וֹ יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ בְּנֽוֹ׃
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 7:27
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.
נוּן (Nuwn) refers to the father of Joshua, a significant figure from the tribe of Ephraim. The name is linked to the concept of perpetuity and is noted in Exodus 33:11. It is also associated with the meaning 'fish' or 'posterity.' The lexicons consistently identify Nun as the father of Joshua, with no significant disagreement among them.
נוּן and (1 Ch 7:27) נוֹן n.pr.m. father of Joshua
base
H5126 נוּן father of Joshua
5126 Nuwn noon
or Nown (1 Chron. 7:27) {nohn}; from 5125; perpetuity, Nun or
Non, the father of Joshua:--Non, Nun.
see HEBREW for 05125
נוּן (nun) — Nun.
A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.33.11;
son of: Elishama (H0476);
father of: Joshua (H3091)
§ Nun = "fish" or "posterity"
father of Joshua the successor of Moses
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Nun
Beyond the fact that he was the father of Joshua nothing more is known of him (Ex. 33:11).
(fish , or posterity), the father of the Jewish captain Joshua. (Exodus 33:11) etc. His genealogical descent from Ephraim is recorded in (1 Chronicles 7:1) ... (B.C. before 1530.)
same as Non
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-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (*Yhowshuwa`*) refers to Joshua, the successor of Moses and leader of the Israelites. It encompasses various figures, including a resident of Beth-shemesh, a high priest after the restoration, and a governor of Jerusalem under Josiah. The name means 'Jehovah is salvation' and appears in different contexts throughout the Old Testament.
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ, n.pr.m. (& loc., v. 9 infr.) (י׳ is salvation or י׳ is opulence)
Moses’ successor, son of Nun
a Bethshemite
h.p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak
governor of Jerusalem under Josiah
head of one of the classes of priests
a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence
father of a builder at the wall
a Judaite family-name
n.pr.loc. in south of Judah
base
H3091 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ . Moses’ successor, son of Nun
. a Bethshemite
. h. p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak
. governor of Jerusalem under Josiah
. head of one of the classes of priests
. a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence
. father of a builder at the wall
. a Judaite family-name
. n. pr. loc. in south of Judah
3091 Yhowshuwa` yeh-ho-shoo'-ah
or Yhowshua {yeh-ho-shoo'-ah}; from 3068 and 3467;
Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish
leader:--Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare 1954, 3442.
see HEBREW for 03068
see HEBREW for 03467
see HEBREW for 01954
see HEBREW for 03442
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (ye.ho.shu.a) — Joshua.
A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness and Israel before the Monarchy, first mentioned at Exo.17.9;
son of: Nun (H5126); also called Hoshea (KJV: Oshea) at Num.13.8; Jeshua at Neh.8.17;
§ Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation"
1) son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan
2) a resident of Beth-shemesh on whose land the Ark of the Covenant came to a stop after the Philistines returned it
3) son of Jehozadak and high priest after the restoration
4) governor of Jerusalem under king Josiah who gave his name to a gate of the city of Jerusalem
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (ye.ho.shu.a) — Joshua.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.6.14
§ Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation"
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Joshua
Jehovah is his help, or Jehovah the Saviour. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, the successor of Moses as the leader of Israel. He is called Jehoshua in Num. 13:16 (A.V.), and Jesus in Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8 (R.V., Joshua).
He was born in Egypt, and was probably of the age of Caleb, with whom he is generally associated. He shared in all the events of the Exodus, and held the place of commander of the host of the Israelites at their great battle against the Amalekites in Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-16). He became Moses’ minister or servant, and accompanied him part of the way when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the two tables (
(saviour, or whose help is Jehovah). His name appears in the various forms of HOSHEAHOSHEA, OSHEA, JEHOSHUA, JESHUA and JESUS. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Chronicles 7:27) (B.C. 1530-1420.) He was nearly forty years old when he shared in the hurried triumph of the exodus. He is mentioned first in connection with the fight against Amalek at Rephidim, when he was chosen by Moses to lead the Israelites. (Exodus 17:9) Soon afterward he was one of the twelve chiefs who were sent, (Numbers 13:17) to explore the land of Canaan, and one of the two, ch. (Numbers 14:6) who gave an encouraging report of their journey. Moses, shortly before his death, was directed, (
1. The son of Nun, a distinguished leader of the Hebrews, and the successor of Moses. His name at first was Oshea, Nu 13:8,16; and in the New Testament he is called Jesus, Ac 7:45 Heb 4:8. Both the names, Joshua and Jesus, signify savior, deliverer. See JESUS. Joshua led Israel over the Jordan, and took possession of the promised land; he conquered the Canaanites, and then distributed the country among the tribes. He is first mentioned as the leader of Israel against the Amalekites at Rephidim,
Ex 17:8-16. See also Nu 14:6. At the passage over Jordan he was eighty-four years of age; and after about twenty-six years employed…
a savior; a deliverer
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-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
