1 Chronicles 8:21 — Word Study
WLCוַעֲדָיָ֧ה וּבְרָאיָ֛ה וְשִׁמְרָ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י שִׁמְעִֽי׃
BSAAdaiahʻĂdâyâh [Jehovah has adorned Himself] BeraiahBᵉrâʼyâh△ [son of God] and ShimrathShimrâth△ [guard, protector] [were] the sonsbên [descendants, offspring] of ShimeiShimʻîy [one who hears, listener]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַעֲדָיָ֧ה | and Adaiah | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וּבְרָאיָ֛ה | and Beraiah | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְשִׁמְרָ֖ת | and Shimrath | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| בְּנֵ֥י | [were] [the] sons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| שִׁמְעִֽי׃ | Shimei | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. |
| KJV | And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi; |
| ASV | and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei, |
| YLT | and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, sons of Shimei; |
| WEB | Adaiah, Beraiah, Shimrath, the sons of Shimei, |
| BBE | And Adaiah and Beraiah and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei; |
Where they part company is in the specific details of the names, but the overall meaning remains consistent across translations.
The structure presents a straightforward declaration of lineage, with a main clause followed by a predicate and a subject.
2 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, 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 8:21
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 8:21 lists the descendants of Shimei, emphasizing the continuity of family lines within the tribe of Benjamin. This verse is part of a broader genealogical account that serves to establish heritage and identity among the Israelites, particularly during the post-exilic period when such records were significant for restoring the community's history and rights.
Cross References
The Key Word — עֲדָיָה, va.'a.da.Yahgenerated
The name עֲדָיָה (*Adaiah*) is a proper masculine noun meaning 'Jehovah has adorned Himself.' It is derived from the root that conveys the idea of adornment or beautification by God. The parsing indicates it is a noun, specifically a name, appearing multiple times in genealogical contexts throughout the Old Testament.
Adaiah is linked to several individuals in the biblical narrative, including a grandfather of King Josiah and various Levites. The name signifies a connection to divine favor and identity, reflecting the importance of names in Hebrew culture.
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, with the structure indicating a simple listing of names: בְּנֵי (*the sons of*) serves as the connecting phrase, linking the names of Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath to Shimei. The Hebrew syntax emphasizes the familial connection through the use of conjunctions.
The order of names reflects Hebrew stylistic choices, where the conjunctions וְ (*and*) are used to connect each name, creating a fluid list that underscores the unity of these descendants.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עֲדָיָה as αδαια, indicating a direct correspondence in meaning. This choice shows a consistent understanding of the name's significance within the context of the genealogical record.
The Greek rendering maintains the focus on the lineage, aligning closely with the Hebrew text, which preserves the meaning of the names as indicative of their relationship to God.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 8:21 tells us that Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. This verse is part of a list that traces the family line of Benjamin, showing the importance of ancestry in the Israelite community.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
They were sons of Shimei, part of the genealogical record of the tribe of Benjamin.
Adaiah means 'Jehovah has adorned Himself,' reflecting a divine connection.
Genealogy establishes heritage, identity, and rights within the Israelite community, especially after the exile.
There are at least 20 individuals named Shimei, indicating its commonality among Israelites.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What significance do family names hold in your own life or culture?
- How does understanding genealogies help us grasp the history of a community?
- In what ways can we honor our heritage while also embracing our identity in faith?
- What can we learn from the names and meanings in our own family histories?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 8:21 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(19-21) Nine sons of Shimhi (Shimei being the same as Shema). This is the same Hebrew name as that which at 2 Samuel 16:5 seq. the Authorised Version renders by Shimei.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 8 →The verse in English, compared — 16 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
Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
Adaiah, Beraiah, Shimrath, the sons of Shimei,
Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
Tyndale line
And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei,
and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei;
And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrah the sonnes of Shimei,
Strictly literal
and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, sons of Shimei;
and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, sons of Shimei;
And 'Adayah, and Berayah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shim'i:
From the Latin
And Adaia, and Baraia, and Samareth, the sons of Semei.
Simplified
Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
And Adaiah and Beraiah and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei;
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 in their wording for this verse, with all five words matched. This consistency reflects the preservation of the genealogical account across these ancient witnesses.
וַעֲדָיָ֧ה וּבְרָאיָ֛ה וְשִׁמְרָ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י שִׁמְעִֽי׃
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 8:21
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.
The Hebrew word עֲדָיָ֫הוּ (*Adayah*) means 'Jehovah has adorned Himself.' It refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including a maternal grandfather of King Josiah and various Levites and priests. The name appears in contexts related to the Divided Monarchy and the Exile and Return, with multiple figures bearing this name across different genealogies.
עֲדָיָ֫ה(וּ) n.pr.m. (י׳ has decked himself)
father of a Judaean captain
grandfather of Josiah
a Levite
a Benjamite
a priest
two with foreign wives
a Judahite
base
H5718 עֲדָיָ֫ה(וּ), עֲדָיָה, עֲדָיָהוּ
5718 `Adayah ad-aw-yaw'
or mAdayahuw {ad-aw-yaw'-hoo}; from 5710 and 3050; Jah has
adorned; Adajah, the name of eight Israelites:--Adaiah.
see HEBREW for 05710
see HEBREW for 03050
עֲדָיָ֫הוּ (a.da.yah) — Adaiah.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 2Ki.22.1;
father of: Jedidah (H3040)
§ Adaiah = "Jehovah has adorned Himself"
1) maternal grandfather of king Josiah of Judah and native of Boscath in the lowlands of Judah
2) a Gershonite Levite and ancestor of Asaph
3) a Benjamite, son of Shimhi
4) a priest, son of Jehoram
5) ancestor of Maaseiah, one of the captains who supported Jehoiada
6) a descendant of Bani who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra
7) a descendant of another Bani who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra
8) a descendant of Pharez of the tribe of Judah
עֲדָיָ֫הוּ (a.da.yah) — Adaiah.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.8.21;
son of: Shimei (H8096N);
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
a-da'-ya, a-di'-a (`adhayah, "Yahweh hath adorned"):
(1) Apparently the seventh of the nine sons of Shimei, who is apparently the same with Shema, who is the fifth of the sons of Elpaal, who is the second of the two sons of Shaharaim and Hushim (1Ch 8:21). Shaharaim and his descendants are listed with the descendants of Benjamin, though his relations to Benjamin are not stated.
(adorned by Jehovah). Maternal grandfather of King Josiah, and native of Boscath in the lowlands of Judah. (2 Kings 22:1) (B.C. 648.) A Levite of the Gershonite branch, and ancestor of Asaph. (1 Chronicles 6:41) In v. (1 Chronicles 6:21) Heb Isa called IDDO. A Benjamite, son of Shimhi, (1 Chronicles 8:21) who is apparently the same as Shema in v. (1 Chronicles 8:13) A priest, son of Jehoram. (1 Chronicles 9:12; Nehemiah 11:12) Ancestor of Maaseiah, one of the captains who supported Jehoiada. (
the witness of the Lord
בְּרָאיָה (Beraiah) is a Hebrew name meaning 'Jehovah has created.' It is derived from the roots for 'create' and 'Jah.' Beraiah is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:21 as a man from the tribe of Benjamin, specifically the son of Shimei and a brother to several others.
בְּרָאיָה n.pr.m. (י׳ hath created) a Benjamite 1 Ch 8:21.
done
H1256 בְּרָאיָה
1256 Bra'yah ber-aw-yaw'
from 1254 and 8050; Jah has created; Berajah, an
Israelite:--Beraiah.
see HEBREW for 01254
see HEBREW for 08050
בְּרָאיָה (be.ra.yah) — Beraiah.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.8.21;
son of: Shimei (H8096N);
brother of: Jakim (H3356), Zichri (H2147H), Zabdi (H2067H), Elienai (H0462), Zillethai (H6769), Eliel (H0447H), Adaiah (H5718H) and Shimrath (H8119)
§ Beraiah = "Jehovah has created"
son of Shimhi, a chief man of Benjamin
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
be-ri'-a (bera'yah, "Yah hath created"): A son of Shimei of the house of Benjamin (1Ch 8:21).
(created by Jehovah), son of Shimhi, a chief man of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 8:21)
the choosing of the Lord
→ Son of Shimhi 1Ch 8:21
שִׁמְרָת (Shimrath) refers to a man from the tribe of Benjamin, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:21. The name is derived from the root meaning 'guardship.' He is identified as the son of Shimei and has several brothers listed in the genealogical context.
שִׁמְרָת n.pr.m. in Benj. 1 Ch 8:21
ref
H8119 שִׁמְרָת
8119 Shimrath shim-rawth'
from 8104; guardship; Shimrath, an Israelite:--Shimrath.
see HEBREW for 08104
שִׁמְרָת (shim.rat) — Shimrath.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.8.21;
son of: Shimei (H8096N);
brother of: Jakim (H3356), Zichri (H2147H), Zabdi (H2067H), Elienai (H0462), Zillethai (H6769), Eliel (H0447H), Adaiah (H5718H) and Beraiah (H1256)
§ Shimrath = "guard"
a Benjamite, son of Shimei
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
shim'-rath (shimrath; Samarath): The last of nine sons of Shimei of the tribe of Benjamin (1Ch 8:21).
Shimrath
Guardian, a Benjamite, one of Shimhi’s sons (id.).
(guard), a Benjamite, of the sons of Shimhi. (1 Chronicles 8:21)
hearing; obedient
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…
The Hebrew word שִׁמְעִי (*Shim'i*) means 'renowned' and refers to various individuals in the Old Testament, primarily from the tribes of Benjamin and Levi. It is associated with several notable figures, including a Levite and a Benjamite, and appears in contexts ranging from the time of David to the post-exilic period. The entries highlight multiple bearers of the name, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
שִׁמְעִי 43 n.pr.m.
in Benj.
a Ramathite
Levites
brother of Zerub.
in Simeon
in Reuben
1
post-ex. names
grandfather of Mordecai
2
base
H8096 שִׁמְעִי . in Benj.
. a Ramathite
. Levites
. brother of Zerub.
. in Simeon
. in Reuben
. 1
. post-ex. names
. grandfather of Mordecai
. 2
8096 Shim`iy shim-ee'
from 8088; famous; Shimi, the name of twenty
Israelites:--Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi,
Shimi.
see HEBREW for 08088
שִׁמְעִי (shim.i) — Shimei.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.17;
son of: Gershon (H1648);
brother of: Libni (H3845G);
father of: Jahath (H3189I), Zizah (H2126), Jeush (H3266J) and Beriah (H1283J)
Also named: shim.i (שִׁמְעִי "Shimeite" H8097)
§ Shimei or Shimhi or Shimi or Shimea = "renowned"
1) a Benjamite, son of Gera of the house of Saul in the time of David
2) a Benjamite, son of Elah and commissariat officer in the time of Solomon
3) the Ramathite in charge of the vineyards of David
4) son of Gershon and grandson of Levi
5) a Levite, son of Jeduthun and chief of the 10th division of singers in the time of David
6) a Levite of the sons of Heman who took part in the purification of the temple in the time of king Hezekiah of Judah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
shim'-e-i (shim`i, possibly "hear me (El)" or "(Jah)"; Semeei, Semei): A name of frequent occurrence throughout the Old Testament records, sometimes varying slightly in form in English Versions of the Bible. The King James Version has "Shimi" in Ex 6:17; "Shimhi" in 1Ch 8:21; "Shimeah" in 2Sa 21:21. the Revised Version (British and American) has "Shimeites" in Zec 12:13, where the King James Version has "Shimei," and Nu 3:21 for the King James Version "Shimites." English Versions of the Bible has "Shema" in 1Ch 8:13,21 margin for the "Shimei" of 8:21. In all others…
Shimei
Famous. (1.) A son of Gershon, and grandson of Levi (Num. 3:18; 1 Chr. 6:17, 29); called Shimi in Ex. 6:17.
(2.) A Benjamite of the house of Saul, who stoned and cursed David when he reached Bahurim in his flight from Jerusalem on the occasion of the rebellion of Absalom (2 Sam. 16:5-13). After the defeat of Absalom he “came cringing to the king, humbly suing for pardon, bringing with him a thousand of his Benjamite tribesmen, and representing that he was heartily sorry for his crime, and had hurried the first of all the house of Israel to offer homage to the king” (19:16-23). David forgave him; but on his death-bed he gave Solomon special instructions regarding Shimei…
(renowned). Son of Gershon the son of Levi, (Numbers 3:18; 1 Chronicles 6:17,29; 23:7,9,10; Zechariah 12:13) called SHIMI in (Exodus 6:17) (B.C. after 1706.) Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of the house of Saul, who lived at Bahurim. (B.C. 1023.) When David and his suite were seen descending the long defile, on his flight from Absolom, (2 Samuel 16:5-13) the whole feeling of the clan of Benjamin burst forth without restraint in the person of Shimei. He ran along the ridge, cursing and throwing stones at the king and is companions. The next meeting was very different. The king was now returning from his successful…
Shimi, that hears or obeys; my reputation; my fame