1 Chronicles 7:35 — Word Study
WLCוּבֶן־ הֵ֖לֶם אָחִ֑יו צוֹפַ֥ח וְיִמְנָ֖ע וְשֵׁ֥לֶשׁ וְעָמָֽל׃
BSAThe sonsbên [descendants, male offspring] of his brotherʼâch [close relative, male sibling] HelemHelem△ [smiter, one who strikes] ZophahTsôwphach [son of Hotham] ImnaYimnâʻ△ [leader of the tribe] SheleshShelesh△ [might, strength] and AmalʻÂmâl△ [faithful, trustworthy]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבֶן־ | and [the] son of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הֵ֖לֶם | Helem | Noun proper masculine |
| אָחִ֑יו | brother his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| צוֹפַ֥ח | Zophah | Noun proper masculine |
| וְיִמְנָ֖ע | and Imna | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְשֵׁ֥לֶשׁ | and Shelesh | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְעָמָֽל׃ | and Amal | 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 his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. |
| KJV | And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal. |
| ASV | And the sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal. |
| YLT | And son of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal. |
| WEB | The sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. |
| BBE | And the sons of Hotham, his brother: Zophah and Imna and Shelesh and Amal. |
Where they part company is in the transliteration of names — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by a list of names, emphasizing the relationships within the family.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & 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 7:35
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 Tribe of Ashergenerated
1 Chronicles 7:35 provides a genealogical record of the tribe of Asher, detailing the descendants of Helem, which highlights the importance of lineage in Israelite culture. This verse connects Helem to his sons, Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal, showing their place within the family structure and the broader narrative of the tribes of Israel.
Cross References
The Key Word — בֵּן, u.ven-generated
The word בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and signifies a descendant or offspring. It encompasses a wide range of meanings, including grandson or even a figurative sense of class membership. The parsing indicates it is a masculine singular noun in construct form, which shows its relationship to another noun, in this case, Helem.
This word plays a crucial role in establishing familial ties and inheritance, as seen in its frequent use throughout the Old Testament. It is derived from a root meaning 'to build', suggesting a connection to family and lineage.
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 main clause is introduced with וּבֶן־ (u.ven-), and the son of, establishing the subject, which is Helem's lineage. The structure lists the sons in a straightforward manner, indicating a series of noun phrases following the subject.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the familial relationships, with the names of the sons following immediately after the mention of Helem, creating a clear connection between them.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בֵּן as καὶ (kai), meaning 'and', which maintains the conjunction in the Greek text. This choice reflects a direct translation of the Hebrew structure.
The names are rendered similarly, showing a consistent approach to the genealogical record, although the Greek may not preserve the exact order of the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 7:35 lists the sons of Helem, who is a descendant of the tribe of Asher. The verse names Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal, highlighting their familial connections and roles within the tribe.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sons of Helem are Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:35.
The name Helem means 'smiter' and refers to an Israelite from the tribe of Asher.
Genealogy is important in the Bible as it establishes family lineage, inheritance rights, and the fulfillment of God's promises through specific lineages.
Helem belongs to the tribe of Asher, as noted in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 7.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What significance do you see in the names listed in this genealogy?
- How does understanding family lineage enhance your reading of the Old Testament?
- In what ways do genealogies in the Bible reflect God's promises?
- How can you relate the concept of lineage to your own family history?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 7:35 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the sons of his brother Helem,.... Or Helem his brother, that is, the brother of Shomer, who, according to Hillerus (n), is Hotham, 1 Chronicles 7:32. Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Aram; nowhere else mentioned.
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 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHis brother; brother either of Shamer the eldest, namely, Hotham; or of Aram last mentioned.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Chronicles 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Chronicles 7:35 And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.Ver. 35. Helem.] Thought to be the same with Hotham.
Read John Trapp 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 his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
The sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
Tyndale line
And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
And the sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
And the sons of Helem his brother; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
And the sonnes of his brother Helem were Zophah, and Iimna, and Shelesh and Amal.
Strictly literal
And the sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, and Jimna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
And son of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
And [each] son of his brother Helem: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
And the sons of his brother Helem: Zophach, and Yimna', and Shelesh, and 'Amal
Shemer's brother, Helem, had these sons: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
From the Latin
And the sons of Helem his brother: Supha, and Jemna, and Selles, and Amal.
Simplified
The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
And the sons of Hotham, his brother: Zophah and Imna and Shelesh and Amal.
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 lists the sons of Helem as Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text, matching all seven words, although it presents them in its own word order and style. There are no significant differences in the names or their order between these two witnesses, indicating a strong consistency in this verse.
וּבֶן־ הֵ֖לֶם אָחִ֑יו צוֹפַ֥ח וְיִמְנָ֖ע וְשֵׁ֥לֶשׁ וְעָמָֽל׃
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 7:35
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-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
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…
הֶ֫לֶם (Helem) refers to a man from the tribe of Asher, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:32 and 7:35. He is noted as a descendant of Heber and has several siblings and children. The name is derived from the root meaning 'smiter.' There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding this entry.
הֶ֫לֶם n.pr.m. a man of Asher 1 Ch 7:35.
done
H1987 הֶ֫לֶם
1987 Helem hay'-lem
from 1986; smiter; Helem, the name of two Israelites:--Helem.
see HEBREW for 01986
הֶ֫לֶם (he.lem) — Helem.
A man of the tribe of Asher living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.7.32;
son of: Heber (H2268);
brother of: Japhlet (H3310), Shomer (H7763H) and Shua (H7774);
father of: Zophah (H6690), Imna (H3234), Shelesh (H8028) and Amal (H6000); also called Helem at 1Ch.7.35;
Another name of cho.tam (חוֹתָם "Hotham" H2369G)
§ Helem = "smiter"
a descendant of Asher
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
he'-lem:
(1) helem; Septuagint Codex Vaticanus, Balaam, omitting "son," Codex Alexandrinus, huios Elam, "son of Elam" (1Ch 7:35). A great-grandson of Asher, called Hotham in 1Ch 7:32. The form "Elam" appears as the name of a Levite in 1 Esdras 8:33.
(2) chelem, "strength," regarded by Septuagint as a common noun (Zec 6:14). One of the ambassadors from the Jews of the exile to Jerusalem; probably the person called Heldai in Zec 6:10 is meant.
Helem
A stroke, great-grandson of Asher (1 Chr. 7:35).
(strength). A descendant of Asher. (1 Chronicles 7:35) A man mentioned only in (Zechariah 6:14) Apparently the same as Heldai.
dreaming; healing
אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.
אָח 630 n.m. brother
brother, born of same mother (& father)
indef. = relative
fig. of resemblance
in phr. one … another
base
H251 אָח brother
251 'ach awkh
a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of
literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance
(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.
Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".
see HEBREW for 01
אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.
: male-sibling
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.
: male-relative
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.
: compatriot
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
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
יִמְנָע (yimna) refers to a man named Imna, a descendant of the tribe of Asher, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:35. The name is derived from a root meaning 'he will restrain.' Imna is noted as the son of Helem and has brothers named Zophah, Shelesh, and Amal.
יִמְנָע n.pr.m. son of Helem (of Asher) 1 Ch 7:35.
ref
H3234 יִמְנָע
3234 Yimna` yim-naw'
from 4513; he will restrain; Jimna, an Israelite: -Imna.
see HEBREW for 04513
יִמְנָע (yim.na) — Imna.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.35;
son of: Hotham (H2369);
brother of: Zophah (H6690), Shelesh (H8028) and Amal (H6000)
§ Imna = "He will restrain"
son of Helem, descendant of Asher, and leader of the tribe of Asher
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
im'-na (yimna`): A descendant of Asher (1Ch 7:35).
(holding back), a descendant of Asher, son of Helem. (1 Chronicles 7:35) comp. 1Chr 7:40 (B.C. about 1461.)
→ Son of Helem 1Ch 7:35
שֶׁ֫לֶשׁ (Shelesh) refers to an individual from the tribe of Asher, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:35. The name is derived from a root meaning 'triplet' and is associated with a man named Shelesh, who is noted as the son of Hotham and brother to several others. The entries consistently identify him as an Asherite.
שֶׁ֫לֶשׁ n.pr.m. in Asher, 1 Ch 7:35
ref
H8028 שֶׁ֫לֶשׁ
8028 Shelesh sheh'-lesh
from 8027; triplet; Shelesh, an Israelite:--Shelesh.
see HEBREW for 08027
שֶׁ֫לֶשׁ (she.lesh) — Shelesh.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.35;
son of: Hotham (H2369);
brother of: Zophah (H6690), Imna (H3234) and Amal (H6000)
§ Shelesh = "might"
an Asherite, son of Helem
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
she'-lesh (shelesh; Codex Vaticanus Seme; Codex Alexandrinus Selles, Lucian, Selem): An Asherite, son of Helem (1Ch 7:35).
(might), son of Helem. (1 Chronicles 7:35)
captain; prince
→ Son of Helem 1Ch 7:35
עָמָל (Amal) is a proper name referring to an Israelite from the tribe of Asher, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:35. The name is also linked to the concept of 'labour.' It is derived from a similar term, עָמָל (H5999), but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this context.
עָמָל n.pr.m. name in Asher 1 Ch 7:35
ref
H6000 עָמָל
6000 `Amal aw-mawl'
the same as 5999; Amal, an Israelite:--Amal.
see HEBREW for 05999
עָמָל (a.mal) — Amal.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.35;
son of: Hotham (H2369);
brother of: Zophah (H6690), Imna (H3234) and Shelesh (H8028)
§ Amal = "labour"
an Asherite, son of Helem
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
a'-mal (`amal, "toiler"): A son of Helem of the tribe of Asher (1Ch 7:35).
(labor), an Asherite, son of Helem. (1 Chronicles 7:35)
labor; iniquity
→ Son of Helem 1Ch 7:35