1 Kings 4:16 — Word Study
WLCבַּֽעֲנָא֙ בֶּן־ חוּשָׁ֔י בְּאָשֵׁ֖ר וּבְעָלֽוֹת׃ ס
BSABaanaBaʻănâʼ [son of sorrow, in affliction] sonbên [descendant, offspring] of HushaiChûwshay [the Archite, friend of King David] in AsherʼÂshêr [the eighth tribe of Israel] and in AlothBᵉʻâlôwth [Bealoth, mistresses, a town in south Judah]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בַּֽעֲנָא֙ | Baana | Noun proper masculine |
| בֶּן־ | [the] son of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| חוּשָׁ֔י | Hushai | Noun proper masculine |
| בְּאָשֵׁ֖ר | in Asher | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| וּבְעָלֽוֹת׃ ס | and Bealoth | Conjunction, noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth; |
| KJV | Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth: |
| ASV | Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; |
| YLT | Baanah Ben-Hushai [is] in Asher, and in Aloth. |
| WEB | Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; |
| BBE | Baana, the son of Hushai, in Asher and Aloth; |
There are no notable differences among the translations.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by additional phrases that provide context about lineage and location.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & 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 Kings 4:16
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 Officials Under Solomongenerated
1 Kings 4:16 introduces Baana, who is noted as the son of Hushai, serving in the tribe of Asher and in a location called Aloth. This verse is part of a larger passage listing the officials appointed by King Solomon, showcasing the structure of his administration and the diverse regions represented. The mention of Baana highlights the importance of tribal leadership in the governance of Israel during this period.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 19:24–31 | The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher: |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בַּעֲנָא, ba.'a.Na'generated
The name בַּעֲנָא (Baana) means 'in affliction' and is associated with several individuals in the Old Testament. It is a proper masculine noun, indicating a specific person, here identified as a descendant of Hushai.
Baana is significant as he serves under King Solomon, reflecting the administrative organization of the kingdom. His name suggests a background of hardship, which may resonate with the historical context of Israel's leadership.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the rendering of Baana's name and his lineage.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause centers around the subject בַּֽעֲנָא, Baana, with a noun phrase indicating his lineage and a prepositional phrase specifying his location. The structure is straightforward, presenting Baana's name and his association with Hushai and the regions of Asher and Aloth.
The sentence is concise, listing Baana's identity and role without additional modifiers, reflecting the clarity of the genealogical and administrative records.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, בַּעֲנָא is rendered as βαανα, which maintains the name's form but does not provide additional context or interpretation.
This choice indicates a direct transliteration rather than an interpretive translation, suggesting that the Greek translators aimed to preserve the original Hebrew names.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Kings 4:16 tells us about Baana, who is the son of Hushai and is associated with the tribe of Asher and a place called Aloth. This verse is part of a list of officials serving under King Solomon, showing how the kingdom was organized.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Baana's name means 'in affliction', which may reflect his personal or family history.
Hushai was a friend of King David and the father of Baana, indicating a connection to the royal family.
Asher was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, known for its prosperity and happiness.
Aloth, also known as Bealoth, refers to a location in southern Judah, highlighting the geographical context of Baana's role.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does Baana's lineage reflect the importance of family in leadership roles within Israel?
- What can we learn about the organization of Solomon's kingdom from this verse?
- In what ways does the meaning of Baana's name resonate with the experiences of the Israelites during this time?
- How does the mention of specific tribes and locations enhance our understanding of Israel's history?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 4:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBaanah the son of Hushai [was] in Asher,.... In the tribe of Asher; a very plentiful tribe, particularly for oil; this officer was perhaps the son of Hushai, the Archite, David's friend, and, it may
Read John Gill on 1 Kings 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBaanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth: No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Kings 4:16 Baanah the son of Hushai [was] in Asher and in Aloth:Ver. 16. And in Aloth.] Called also Elath.
Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 4 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) The ninth division, “in Asher and Aloth,” bordered on the Tyrian territory, stretching north from Mount Carmel, first along the coast, and then behind the ranges of Lebanon. In Judges 1:31-32, we read that the tribe of Asher did not occupy the territory assigned them (Joshua 19:24-30), but mingled with the native inhabitants. Aloth (or in the Greek Version Baloth) is unknown, and Josephus places this province on the coast, near Achzib.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 4 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. Baanah] The Hebrew orthography is the same as in 1 Kings 4:12. So read Baana. Here another son of his father’s friend is cared for by Solomon. Hushai, father of Baana, was devoted to David’s cause in the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:32) and it speaks well for Solomon that this devotion is not forgotten. and in Aloth] We meet nowhere else with the name Aloth. The LXX. read Βααλώθ, which the Vulg. follows in Baloth. Hence the R.V. has given and Bealoth taking the initial α not as a preposition = in, but as part of the proper name. The name does occur (Joshua 15:24) but there it is of a place in the south of Judah. There may however have been another town or district so named…
Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 4 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible16. Hushai — Perhaps the friend of David mentioned in 2 Samuel 15:32. Asher — See at Joshua 19:24-31. Aloth — or Baaloth, as Septuagint and Vulgate read the word. It is now unknown.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 4 →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
Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth;
Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;
Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth;
Baana son of Hushai was in charge of Asher and Aloth.
Tyndale line
Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:
Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;
Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth:
Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:
Baanah the sonne of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth:
Strictly literal
Baanah the son of Hushai, in Asher and in Aloth.
Baanah Ben-Hushai [is] in Asher, and in Aloth.
Baanah Ben-Hushai [is] in Asher, and in Aloth;
Ba'anah the son of Chushai in Asher and in Be'aloth;
Baana son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;
From the Latin
Baana the son of Husi, in Aser and in Baloth.
Simplified
Baana, son of Hushai, in Asher and in Aloth;
Baana, the son of Hushai, in Asher and Aloth;
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 show agreement on the name Baana and his lineage, though the Septuagint's word order differs. The majority of the words correspond directly, indicating a close relationship between the two texts.
בַּֽעֲנָא֙ בֶּן־ חוּשָׁ֔י בְּאָשֵׁ֖ר וּבְעָלֽוֹת׃ ס
3 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 Kings 4:16
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.
בַּעֲנָא (Ba`ana') refers to a name associated with several individuals in the Old Testament, particularly during the United Monarchy and the Exile and Return periods. The name means 'in the affliction' and is linked to at least three figures: one being Solomon's officer in Jezreel, another officer of Solomon, and the father of Zadok, who helped rebuild Jerusalem's wall under Nehemiah.
בַּעֲנָא n.pr.m. (son of distress)
name of two officers of Solomon
father (ancestor) of an Israelite of Nehemiah’s time
base
H1195 בַּעֲנָא
1195 Ba`ana' bah-an-aw'
the same as 1196; Banana, the name of four Israelite:--Baana,
Baanah.
see HEBREW for 01196
בַּעֲנָא (ba.a.na) — Baana.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.12;
son of: Ahilud (H0286);
brother of: Jehoshaphat (H3092)
§ Baana or Baanah = "in the affliction"
1) the son of Ahilud, Solomon's commissariat officer in Jezreel and the north of the Jordan valley
2) another of Solomon's officers
3) father of Zadok who assisted in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah
בַּעֲנָא (ba.a.na) — Baana.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.16;
son of: Hushai (H2365)
§ Baana or Baanah = "in the affliction"
1) the son of Ahilud, Solomon's commissariat officer in Jezreel and the north of the Jordan valley
2) another of Solomon's officers
3) father of Zadok who assisted in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah
בַּעֲנָא (ba.a.na) — Baana.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Baana
Son of affliction. (1.) One of Solomon’s purveyors (1 Kings 4:12).
(2.) Son of Hushai, another of Solomon’s purveyors (1 Kings 4:16).
(3.) Father of Zadok (Neh. 3:4).
The son of Ahilud, Solmon’s commissariat officer in Jezreel and the north of the Jordan valley. (1 Kings 4:12) (B.C.1000.) Father of Zadok, who assisted in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 3:4) (B.C. 446.)
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 — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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…
חוּשַׁי (Chuwshay) refers to Hushai, an Israelite known as a friend of David and the father of Baana, an officer under Solomon. The name is derived from a root meaning 'hasty.' Hushai is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 15:32.
חוּשַׁי n.pr.m.
called friend of David
father of one of Solomon’s officers.
base
H2365 חוּשַׁי
2365 Chuwshay khoo-shah'-ee
from 2363; hasty; Chushai, an Israelite:--Hushai.
see HEBREW for 02363
חוּשַׁי (chu.shay) — Hushai.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.15.32;
father of: Baana (H1195H)
§ Hushai = "hasting"
1) an Archite, a friend of David
2) the father of Baana, an officer of Solomon; probably the same as 1
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
hut'-shi, hus'-sha-i (chushay, Chousei; Josephus, Chousi): An Archite, native of Archi or Erech(?), West of Bethel on the northern border of Benjamin and southern border of Joseph (Jos 16:2). Hushai was one of David's most faithful and wise counselors. When David was fleeing from Jerusalem and Absalom, Hushai met him, having his coat rent and earth on his head. The king persuaded him to return to Jerusalem, feign submission to Absalom, and try to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel (2Sa 15:32 f). Whatever Absalom decided on, Hushai was to send word to David through two young men, sons of the priests Zadok and Abiathar (2Sa 15:34-36). Hushai obeyed, and succeeded in persuading Absalom to adopt his counsel rather than that of…
Hushai
Quick, “the Archite,” “the king’s friend” (1 Chr. 27:33). When David fled from Jerusalem, on account of the rebellion of Absalom, and had reached the summit of Olivet, he there met Hushai, whom he sent back to Jerusalem for the purpose of counteracting the influence of Ahithophel, who had joined the ranks of Absalom (2 Sam. 15:32, 37; 16:16-18). It was by his advice that Absalom refrained from immediately pursuing after David. By this delay the cause of Absalom was ruined, for it gave David time to muster his forces.
The Archite, David’s friend. Being informed of Absalom’s rebellion and that David was obliged to fly from Jerusalem, he met him on an eminence without the city, with his clothes rent and his head covered with earth. David suggested that if he went with him he would be a burden to him; but that he might do him important service if he should remain in Absalom’s suite as an adviser. Hushai therefore returned to Jerusalem, and by defeating the counsel of Ahithophel. And gaining time for David, to whom he sent advices, was the cause of Ahithophel’s suicide and of Absalom’s miscarriage, 2Sa 15:32-37; 16:16-19; 17:1-29.
their haste; their sensuality; their silence
אָשֵׁר (Asher) refers to a son of Jacob and Zilpah, as well as the tribe descended from him. The name means 'happy' and is also associated with a city east of Shechem. The entries note that Asher is linked to the Hebrew root for happiness, but there is a mention of potential translations related to wood in Ezekiel.
אָשֵׁר n.pr.m. Asher (happy one, Felix)
son of Jacob and Zilpah
the tribe
n.pr.loc. city E. of Shechem
base
H836 אָשֵׁר Asher
836 'Asher aw-share'
from 833, happy; Asher, a son of Jacob, and the tribe
descended from him, with its territory; also a place in
Palestine:--Asher
see HEBREW for 0833
אָשֵׁר (a.sher) — Asher.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.13;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Zilpah (H2153);
brother of: Gad (H1410);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Imnah (H3232), Ishvah (H3438), Ishvi (H3440), Beriah (H1283) and Serah (H8294); also translated "pine" or "cypress wood" at Ezk.27.6(?); Ashurite at 2Sa.2.9(?);
§ Asher = "happy"
1) son of Jacob and Zilpah
2) the tribe descended from Asher
3) a city east of Shechem in Manasseh
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
Asher
Happy, Jacob’s eigth son; his mother was Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid (Gen. 30:13). Of the tribe founded by him nothing is recorded beyond its holding a place in the list of the tribes (35:26; 46:17; Ex. 1:4, etc.) It increased in numbers twenty-nine percent, during the thirty-eight years’ wanderings. The place of this tribe during the march through the desert was between Dan and Naphtali (Num. 2:27). The boundaries of the inheritance given to it, which contained some of the richest soil in Palestine, and the names of its towns, are recorded in Josh. 19:24-31; Judg. 1:31, 32. Asher and Simeon were the only tribes west of…
a place which formed one boundary of the tribe of Manasseh on the south. (Joshua 17:7) Mr. Porter suggests that Teyasir may be the Asher of Manasseh. Handbook , p.348.
The eighth son of Jacob and second of Zilpah, Ge 30:13 35:26. On entering Canaan his tribe was the fifth in order, numbering fifty-three thousand four hundred. The portion of Asher lay along the seaboard, having Levanon and Zidon on the north, Carmel and the tribe of Issachar on the south, and Zebulun and Naphtali on the east. It was fruitful in grain, wine, oil, and minerals, Ge 49:20 De 33:24,25. How much of the Phoenician coast was included is uncertain, Jos 19:25,28; but the Asherites were unable to expel the Canaanites, and dwelt in part among them, Jud 1:31,32. They are honorably mentioned in the history of…
happiness
בְּעָלוֹת (be'alot) is a plural form meaning 'mistresses' and refers to a location called Bealoth, a town in southern Judah. It is associated with another name, Baalat-beer. The entries indicate that the term primarily denotes a place rather than a concept.
בְּעָלוֹת n.pr.loc. a city in the south of Judah
base
H1175 בְּעָלוֹת
1175 B`alowth beh-aw-loth'
plural of 1172; mistresses; Bealoth, a place in
Palestine:--Bealoth, in Aloth (by mistake for a plural from
5927 with prepositional prefix).
see HEBREW for 01172
see HEBREW for 05927
בְּעָלוֹת (be.a.lot) — Bealoth.
Baalath or Bealoth = "mistresses"
a town in south Judah
Another name of ba.a.lat be.er (בַּעֲלַת בְּאֵר "Baalath-beer" H1192)
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
be'-a-loth (be`aloth; Baloth): An unidentified city of Judah in the Negeb (Jos 15:24).
Bealoth
Citizens, a town in the extreme south of Judah (Josh. 15:24); probably the same as Baalath-beer (19:8). In 1 Kings 4:16, the Authorized Version has “in Aloth,” the Revised Version “Bealoth.”
(ladies) a town in the extreme south of Judah. (Joshua 15:24)
cast under