1 Chronicles 7:38 — Word Study
WLCוּבְנֵ֖י יֶ֑תֶר יְפֻנֶּ֥ה וּפִסְפָּ֖ה וַאְרָֽא׃
BSAThe sonsbên [descendants, offspring] of JetherYether [abundance, Jethro] JephunnehYᵉphunneh [a leader in Israel] PispaPiçpâh△ [disappointment, Pispah] and Araʼărâʼ△ [a gatherer, watcher]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבְנֵ֖י | and [the] sons of | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct |
| יֶ֑תֶר | Jether | Noun proper masculine |
| יְפֻנֶּ֥ה | Jephunneh | Noun proper masculine |
| וּפִסְפָּ֖ה | and Pispah | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וַאְרָֽא׃ | and Ara | 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 Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara. |
| KJV | And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara. |
| ASV | And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispa, and Ara. |
| YLT | And sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara. |
| WEB | The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara. |
| BBE | And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh and Pispah and Ara. |
Where they part company is in the names listed, but all versions agree on the essential meaning.
The sentence presents a straightforward list of names, with the main clause introducing the subject and the subsequent clauses detailing each son.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
2 of 5 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 7:38
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 7:38 records the sons of Jether, who are part of the genealogical lineage of Asher. This verse is part of a larger section that details the descendants of Asher, emphasizing their roles as heads of families and mighty men of valor. The context highlights the importance of lineage in Israel's history and the significance of each name listed.
Cross References
The Key Word — יֶ֑תֶר, Ye.tergenerated
The name יֶ֑תֶר (Ye.ter) means 'abundance' and refers to individuals in the Old Testament, notably Jether, the father-in-law of Moses. The parsing indicates it is a proper masculine noun, suggesting a specific individual rather than a common term.
In this verse, Jether serves as a genealogical marker, connecting the lineage of the tribe of Asher to its historical context. The name's meaning of abundance may imply a fruitful 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 finite verb is implied in the subject, which is a noun phrase: וּבְנֵ֖י u.ve.Nei, meaning 'and the sons of.' The structure is straightforward, listing the descendants in a simple manner.
The sentence follows a clear genealogical format, with the subject followed by the names of the sons, emphasizing their lineage without additional clauses.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יֶ֑תֶר as ιεθερ, maintaining the proper name while adapting it to Greek phonetics. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew name.
The use of υἱοὶ for 'sons' in the Septuagint aligns with the Hebrew term, indicating a consistent understanding of lineage and family structure across both texts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 7:38 lists the sons of Jether, who are Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara. This verse is part of a genealogy that shows the descendants of Asher and their significance in Israel's history.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sons of Jether are Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara, who are noted in the genealogical records of the tribe of Asher.
The name Jether means 'abundance' and is associated with important figures in the Old Testament.
Genealogy is important in the Bible as it establishes lineage, inheritance, and the fulfillment of God's promises through specific families.
Jether is part of the tribe of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What significance do the names in this genealogy hold for understanding Israel's history?
- How do genealogies in the Bible help us understand God's promises and plans?
- In what ways can we see the importance of family and lineage in our own lives?
- How does the meaning of Jether's name, 'abundance', relate to the blessings of the tribe of Asher?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 7:38 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the sons of Jether,.... The same with Ithran, the last of Zophah's sons but one, 1 Chronicles 7:37, Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara; not Jephunneh the father of Caleb; he was not of the tribe of Asher, but of Judah.
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 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Chronicles 7:38 And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.Ver. 38. Jether.] Called Ithran.
Read John Trapp on 1 Chronicles 7 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(38) The sons of Jether.—Jether and Ithran (1 Chronicles 7:37) are virtually the same name, and perhaps to be identified here. This will connect 1 Chronicles 7:38 with the preceding line of the sons of Zophah. Jephunneh.—The name of the father of Caleb the Kenizzite.
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 Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.
The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.
The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.
The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.
Tyndale line
And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispa, and Ara.
And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
And the sonnes of Iether, Iephunneh, and Pispa and Ara.
Strictly literal
And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
And sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
And sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pisspah, and Ara.
Jether's sons were Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.
From the Latin
The sons of Jether: Jephone, and Phaspha, and Ara.
Simplified
The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.
And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh and Pispah and Ara.
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 five words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts, indicating a strong consistency in the genealogical record.
וּבְנֵ֖י יֶ֑תֶר יְפֻנֶּ֥ה וּפִסְפָּ֖ה וַאְרָֽא׃
5 of the 5 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 7:38
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-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural constructHC/Ncmpc
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…
יֶ֫תֶר (yether) means 'abundance' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament. Notably, it includes Jether, the father-in-law of Moses, and the oldest son of Gideon. The entries highlight multiple figures named Jether from different tribes, including Judah and Asher, with varying roles in Israel's history. The lexicons do not provide significant disagreement.
יֶ֫תֶר n.pr.m. (abundance)
father of Moses’ wife
eldest son of Gideon
father of Amasa
men of Judah
a man of Asher
base
H3500 יֶ֫תֶר
3500 Yether yeh'-ther
the same as 3499; Jether, the name of five or six Israelites
and of one Midianite:--Jether, Jethro. Compare 3503.
see HEBREW for 03499
see HEBREW for 03503
יֶ֫תֶר (ye.ter) — Jether.
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, only mentioned at Jdg.8.20;
son of: Gideon (H1439);
brother of: Abimelech (H0040H) and Jotham (H3147)
§ Jether = "abundance"
1) father-in-law of Moses
2) oldest son of Gideon
3) father of Jephunneh and the chief of a line of warriors of the line of Asher
4) father of Amasa, the commander of Absalom's army
5) son of Jada, a descendant of Hezron, of the tribe of Judah
6) a son of Ezra, a Judaite
יֶ֫תֶר (ye.ter) — Jether.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.17.25; married to Abigail (H0026H);
father of: Amasa (H6021); also called Ithra at 2Sa.17.25;
Also named: yit.ra (יִתְרָא "Ithra" H3501)
§ Jether = "abundance"
1) father-in-law of Moses
2) oldest son of Gideon
3) father of Jephunneh and the chief of a line of warriors of the line of Asher
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
je'-ther (yether, "abundance"):
(1) Ex 4:18 the Revised Version margin, King James Version, margin.
See JETHRO.
(2) Gideon's eldest son (Jud 8:20), who was called upon by his father to slay Zebah and Zalmunnah, but "feared, because he was yet a youth." The narrative there (Jud 8:4) should be connected with that of Jud 6:34, where Gideon is followed by his clan, and not with that of Jud 7, where he has 300 picked men. The captives would be taken to Orpah, Gideon's home, and slain there.
Jether
Surplus; excellence. (1.) Father-in-law of Moses (Ex. 4:18 marg.), called elsewhere Jethro (q.v.).
(2.) The oldest of Gideon’s seventy sons (Judg. 8:20).
(3.) The father of Amasa, David’s general (1 Kings 2:5, 32); called Ithra (2 Sam. 17:25).
(his excellence). Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. (Exodus 4:18) (B.C. 1530.) The first-born of Gideon’s seventy sons. (Judges 8:20) (B.C. 1256.) The father of Amasa, captain-general of Absalom’s army. (B.C. 1023.) Jether is another form of ITHRA. (2 Samuel 17:25) He is described in (1 Chronicles 2:17) as an Ishmaelite, which again is more likely to be correct than the "Israelite" of the Hebrew in (2 Samuel 17:1) ... The son of Jada, a descendant of Hezron, of the tribe of Judah. (1 Chronicles 2:32) The son of Ezra. (
he that excels
יְפֻנֶּה (Yphunneh) refers to two individuals in the Old Testament. One is a Kenezite, father of Caleb, mentioned in Numbers 13:6, and the other is an Asherite, noted in 1 Chronicles 7:38. The name means 'he will be facing' and is derived from a root meaning 'to prepare.'
יְפֻנֶּה 16 n.pr.m.
father of Caleb
Asherite
base
H3312 יְפֻנֶּה . father of Caleb
. Asherite
3312 Yphunneh yef-oon-neh'
from 6437; he will be prepared; Jephunneh, the name of two
Israelites:--Jephunneh.
see HEBREW for 06437
יְפֻנֶּה (ye.phun.neh) — Jephunneh.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.13.6;
father of: Caleb (H3612), Kenaz (H7073I)
§ Jephunneh = "He will be facing"
1) a Kenezite and father of Caleb the spy from the tribe of Judah
2) son of Jether and descendant of Asher
יְפֻנֶּה (ye.phun.neh) — Jephunneh.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.38;
son of: Ithran (H3506H);
brother of: Pispa (H6462) and Ara (H0690)
§ Jephunneh = "He will be facing"
1) a Kenezite and father of Caleb the spy from the tribe of Judah
2) son of Jether and descendant of Asher
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
je-fun'-e (yephunneh, meaning uncertain):
(1) Father of Caleb (Nu 13:6; 14:6,30, etc.).
According to Nu 13:6, he was of the tribe of Judah; according to 32:12; Jos 14:6, a Kenizzite; the Kenizzites were incorporated in Judah (compare 1Ch 4:13-15).
(2) A son of Jether, an Asherite (1Ch 7:38).
Jephunneh
Nimble, or a beholder. (1.) The father of Caleb, who was Joshua’s companion in exploring Canaan (Num. 13:6), a Kenezite (Josh. 14:14). (2.) One of the descendants of Asher (1 Chr. 7:38).
(for whom a way is prepared). Father of Caleb the spy, appears to have belonged to an Edomitish tribe called Kenezites, from Kenaz their founder. See (Numbers 13:6) etc.; Numb 32:12 etc.; Josh 14:14 etc.; 1Chr 4:15 (B.C. 1530.) A descendant of Asher, eldest of the three sons of Jether. (1 Chronicles 7:38) (B.C. 1017.)
he that beholds
פִּסְפָּה (pis-paw') refers to Pispah, an Israelite from the tribe of Asher mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:38. The name may mean 'disappearance' and is linked to the root word for dispersion. The entries identify Pispah as a descendant of Ithran and a brother of Jephunneh and Ara.
פִּסְפָּה n.pr.m. Asherite 1 Ch 7:38
ref
H6462 פִּסְפָּה
6462 Picpah pis-paw'
perhaps from 6461; dispersion; Pispah, an
Israelite:--Pispah.
see HEBREW for 06461
פִּסְפָּה (pis.pah) — Pispa.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.38;
son of: Ithran (H3506H);
brother of: Jephunneh (H3312H) and Ara (H0690)
§ Pispah = "disappearance"
a son of Jether from the tribe of Asher
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
→ An Asherite 1Ch 7:38
אֲרָא (ara) refers to a man from the tribe of Asher, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:38. The name is associated with the meaning 'lion.' The entries indicate that he is a descendant of Ithran and has brothers named Jephunneh and Pispa.
אֲרָא n.pr.m. a descendant of Asher 1 Ch 7:38.
ref
H690 אֲרָא
690 'ara' ar-aw'
probably for 738; lion; Ara, an Israelite:--Ara.
see HEBREW for 0738
אֲרָא (a.ra) — Ara.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.38;
son of: Ithran (H3506H);
brother of: Jephunneh (H3312H) and Pispa (H6462)
§ Ara = "lion"
a descendant of Asher
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
a'-ra ('ara', meaning unknown): A son of Jether of the tribe of Asher (1Ch 7:38).
(lion), one of the sons of Jether, the head of a family of Asherites. (1 Chronicles 7:88)
cursing; seeing
→ Son of Jether 1Ch 7:38