1 Chronicles 8:16 — Word Study
WLCוּמִיכָאֵ֧ל וְיִשְׁפָּ֛ה וְיוֹחָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י בְרִיעָֽה׃
BSAMichaelMîykâʼêl [who is like God] IshpahYishpâh△ [an Israelite from Benjamin] and JohaYôwchâʼ [Jehovah gives life] [were] the sonsbên [descendants, offspring] of BeriahBᵉrîyʻâh [with a friend, companion]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּמִיכָאֵ֧ל | and Michael | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְיִשְׁפָּ֛ה | and Ishpah | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְיוֹחָ֖א | and Joha | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| בְּנֵ֥י | [were] [the] sons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| בְרִיעָֽה׃ | Beriah | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah. |
| KJV | And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah; |
| ASV | and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah, |
| YLT | and Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, sons of Beriah, |
| WEB | Michael, Ishpah, Joha, the sons of Beriah, |
| BBE | And Michael and Ishpah and Joha, the sons of Beriah; |
Where they part company is in the amplification of names — see How Translations Differ.
A straightforward sentence structure with a main clause listing the names of the sons.
2 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 5 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word 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 8:16
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 Benjamingenerated
1 Chronicles 8:16 lists the sons of Beriah, highlighting the importance of family lineage within the tribe of Benjamin. This verse is part of a larger genealogical section that records the descendants of various families, emphasizing their roles in Israel's history and heritage.
Cross References
The Key Word — מִיכָאֵל, u.mi.kha.'Elgenerated
The name מִיכָאֵל (Michael) means 'who is like God?' and refers to an archangel known for defending Israel. It is also the name of several Israelites, including those from different tribes. The parsing indicates that it is a proper masculine noun, showing its significance as a name.
The name appears frequently in the Old Testament, particularly in contexts of conflict and protection for Israel. This highlights Michael's role not just as an individual but as a representative figure in Israel's spiritual battles.
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 phrase בְּנֵי, [were] the sons of, which governs the entire clause. The structure lists three noun phrases as subjects: מִיכָאֵל, וְיִשְׁפָּה, and וְיוֹחָא, indicating the sons of Beriah.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the names of the sons first, followed by their relationship to Beriah, highlighting their importance in the genealogical record.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מִיכָאֵל as μιξαηλ, maintaining the name's significance. This choice reflects a direct correspondence, indicating that the translators recognized Michael's importance as a name.
Other names like יִשְׁפָּה and יוֹחָא are also rendered directly, showing consistency in the translation of proper names across the Hebrew and Greek texts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 8:16 tells us that Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah. This verse is part of a genealogy that shows the lineage of the tribe of Benjamin, highlighting the importance of family connections in Israel's history.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sons of Beriah mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:16 are Michael, Ishpah, and Joha.
The name Michael means 'who is like God?' and is associated with an archangel in biblical texts.
Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were from the tribe of Benjamin, as indicated in the genealogical context.
Genealogies in the Bible serve to establish lineage, inheritance rights, and the fulfillment of God's promises through specific families.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the names listed in genealogies about the importance of family in our own lives?
- How does understanding the meanings of these names enhance our reading of the biblical text?
- In what ways can we honor our own family heritage as part of our spiritual journey?
- How do genealogies reflect God's faithfulness in preserving His people throughout history?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 8:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 8 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(14-16) Apparently nine sons of Beriah. But (1) in 1 Chronicles 8:14, the LXX. reads ὁἀδελφὸςαὐτοῦ instead of Ahio. With different vowels the Hebrew term would mean this. (2) All the other names in this list are connected by the conjunctive particle. It is therefore likely that this was once the case with Shashak. (3) 1 Chronicles 8:14-27 give five groups of Benjamite clans—viz., the sons of Beriah, the sons of Elpaal, the sons of Shimhi, the sons of Shashak, and the sons of Jeroham, all dwelling in Jerusalem. Apparently, their eponymous heads are named in 1 Chronicles 8:13-14—viz., Beriah (Elpaal? omitted by accident), Shema (the same as Shimhi; there is no h in the Heb.), Shashak, and…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 8 →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
Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
Michael, Ishpah, Joha, the sons of Beriah,
Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
Tyndale line
And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,
and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
And Michael, and Ispah, and Ioha, the sonnes of Beriah,
Strictly literal
and Michael, and Jishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
and Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, sons of Beriah,
and Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, sons of Beriah,
And Michael, and Yishpah, and Jocha, the sons of Beri'ah;
Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
From the Latin
And Michael, and Jespha, and Joha, the sons of Baria.
Simplified
Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
And Michael and Ishpah and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
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 names listed in this verse, confirming the consistency of the genealogical record. The Septuagint's word order differs, but it matches the Hebrew text in terms of the names presented.
וּמִיכָאֵ֧ל וְיִשְׁפָּ֛ה וְיוֹחָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י בְרִיעָֽה׃
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 8:16
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.
מִיכָאֵל (Miyka'el) means "who is like God?" It refers primarily to Michael, an archangel known for defending Israel. The name also appears in reference to various individuals, including several Israelites from different tribes, such as an Asherite and Gadites, mentioned in Numbers and Chronicles. The entries do not show significant disagreement.
מִיכָאֵל n.pr.m. Michael (Who is like God?)
base
H4317 מִיכָאֵל
4317 Miyka'el me-kaw-ale'
from 4310 and (the prefix derivative from) 3588 and 410; who
(is) like God?; Mikael, the name of an archangel and of nine
Israelites:--Michael.
see HEBREW for 04310
see HEBREW for 03588
see HEBREW for 0410
מִיכָאֵל (mi.kha.el) — Michael.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.13.13;
father of: Sethur (H5639)
§ Michael = "who is like God"
1) one of, the chief, or the first archangel who is described as the one who stands in time of conflict for the children of Israel
2) an Asherite, father of Sethur, one of the 12 spies of Israel
3) one of the Gadites who settled in the land of Bashan
4) another Gadite, ancestor of Abihail
5) a Gershonite Levite, ancestor of Asaph
6) one of the 5 sons of Izrahiah of the tribe of Issachar
7) a Benjamite of the sons of Beriah
8) one of the captains from Manasseh who joined David at Ziklag
9) father or ancestor of Omri, chief of the tribe of Issachar in the reign of David
10) one of the sons of Jehoshaphat who were murdered by their elder brother, Jehoram
11) father or ancestor of Zebadiah, of the sons of Shephatiah
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
Michael
Who is like God? (1.) The title given to one of the chief angels (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1). He had special charge of Israel as a nation. He disputed with Satan (Jude 1:9) about the body of Moses. He is also represented as warning against “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world” (Rev. 12:7-9).
(2.) The father of Sethur, the spy selected to represent Asher (Num. 13:13).
(3.) 1 Chr. 7:3, a chief of the tribe of Issachar.
(4.) 1 Chr. 8:16, a Benjamite.
(who is like God?). An Asherite, father of Sethur, one of the twelve spies. (Numbers 13:13) One of the Gadites who settled in the land of Bashan. (1 Chronicles 5:13) Another Gadite, ancestor of Abihail. (1 Chronicles 5:14) A Gershionite Levite, ancestor of Asaph. (1 Chronicles 6:40) One of the five sons of Izrahiah, of the tribe of Issachar. (1 Chronicles 7:3) A Benjamite of the sons of Beriah. (1 Chronicles 8:16) One of the captains of the "thousands" of Manasseh who joined David at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:20)…
See ARCHANGEL.
יִשְׁפָּה (Yishpah) is a personal name, likely meaning 'he will scratch' or 'he is bare.' It refers to a man from the tribe of Benjamin, specifically mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:16 as a descendant of Beriah and a head of his family. The name appears to be derived from another Hebrew root, though the exact connection is not detailed.
יִשְׁפָּה n.pr.m. in Benjamin 1 Ch 8:16
ref
H3472 יִשְׁפָּה
3472 Yishpah yish-paw'
perhaps from 8192; he will scratch; Jishpah, an
Israelite:--Ispah.
see HEBREW for 08192
יִשְׁפָּה (yish.pah) — Ishpah.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.8.16;
son of: Beriah (H1283I);
brother of: Arad (H6166B), Ahio (H0283H), Shashak (H8349), Jeremoth (H3406I), Zebadiah (H2069), Eder (H5738), Michael (H4317L) and Joha (H3109)
§ Ispah = "He is bare"
a Benjamite of the family of Beriah and one of the heads of his tribe
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
ish'-pa (yishpah, "firm," "strong"): A man of the tribe of Benjamin, of the house of Beriah (1Ch 8:16).
יוֹחָא (Yowcha') likely means 'Jehovah gives life.' It refers to two individuals: one is a Benjamite mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:16, and the other is a Tizite who served as one of David's mighty warriors, noted in 1 Chronicles 11:45. The name is built from elements related to Jehovah and life.
יוֹחָא n.pr.m.
a Benjamite
one of David’s heroes
base
H3109 יוֹחָא
3109 Yowcha' yo-khaw'
probably from 3068 and a variation of 2421; Jehovah-revived;
Jocha, the name of two Israelites:--Joha.
see HEBREW for 03068
see HEBREW for 02421
יוֹחָא (yo.ach) — Joha.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.8.16;
son of: Beriah (H1283I);
brother of: Arad (H6166B), Ahio (H0283H), Shashak (H8349), Jeremoth (H3406I), Zebadiah (H2069), Eder (H5738), Michael (H4317L) and Ishpah (H3472)
§ Joha = "Jehovah gives life"
1) one of the sons of Beriah the Benjamite
2) the Tizite, one of David's mighty warriors
יוֹחָא (yo.ach) — Joha.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.11.45;
son of: Shimri (H8113H);
brother of: Jediael (H3043H)
§ Joha = "Jehovah gives life"
1) one of the sons of Beriah the Benjamite
2) the Tizite, one of David's mighty warriors
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
(Jehovah gives life). One of the sons of Beriah the Benjamite. (1 Chronicles 8:16) (B.C. 588 or 536.) The Tizite, one of David’s guard. (1 Chronicles 11:45) (B.C. 1046.)
who enlivens or gives life
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…
בְּרִיעָה (Bri'ah) refers to a name associated with four different Israelites: a son of Asher, a son of Ephraim, a Benjamite, and a Levite. The name is linked to the meaning 'with a friend.' The entries indicate that Beriah appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, highlighting its connection to multiple tribes.
בְּרִיעָה n.pr.m.
a son of Asher
son of Ephraim
a Benjamite
a Levite
base
H1283 בְּרִיעָה . a son of Asher
. son of Ephraim
. a Benjamite
. a Levite
1283 Briy`ah ber-ee'-aw
apparently from the feminine of 7451 with a prepositional
prefix; in trouble; Beriah, the name of four Israelites:--
Beriah.
see HEBREW for 07451
בְּרִיעָה (be.ri.ah) — Beriah.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.17;
son of: Asher (H0836);
brother of: Imnah (H3232), Ishvah (H3438), Ishvi (H3440) and Serah (H8294);
father of: Heber (H2268) and Malchiel (H4439); also called Beriite at Num.26.44;
Also named: be.ri.i (בְּרִיעִי "Beriite" H1284)
§ Beriah = "with a friend"
1) a son of Asher
2) a son of Ephraim
3) a Benjamite
4) a Levite
בְּרִיעָה (be.ri.ah) — Beriah.
A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.23;
son of: Ephraim (H0669);
brother of: Shuthelah (H7803), Becher (H1071H), Tahan (H8465), Ezer (H5827) and Elead (H0496);
father of: Sheerah (H7609), Rephah (H7506) and Resheph (H7566)
§ Beriah = "with a friend"
1) a son of Asher
2) a son of Ephraim
3) a Benjamite
4) a Levite
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Beriah
A gift, or in evil. (1.) One of Asher’s four sons, and father of Heber (Gen. 46:17).
(2.) A son of Ephraim (1 Chr. 7:20-23), born after the slaughter of his brothers, and so called by his father “because it went evil with his house” at that time.
(3.) A Benjamite who with his brother Shema founded Ajalon and expelled the Gittites (1 Chr. 8:13).
(in evil, or a gift). A son of Asher. (Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:44,45) A son of Ephraim. (1 Chronicles 7:20-23) A Benjamite. (1 Chronicles 8:13,16) A Levite. (1 Chronicles 23:10,11)
in fellowship; in envy