Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered,

1 CHRONICLES 1:2KJV
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1 Chronicles 1:2 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 1:2 mean?

1 Chronicles 1:2 lists three names—Kenan, Mahalaleel, and Jered—as part of a genealogy. This verse is simply naming individuals in a family line, tracing the descendants from earlier generations.

The book of 1 Chronicles opens with genealogies, and this verse is part of a long list that traces the line from Adam onward. The writer is recording the ancestors of the people of Israel, and these names connect the story of Israel back to the earliest humans mentioned in the Bible.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 1:2

  • קֵינָן (Qēnān, "Kenan"): This name refers to a descendant of Adam and is sometimes spelled "Cainan" in other translations. Including Kenan highlights the continuity of the family line from Adam.
  • מַהֲלַלְאֵל (Mahalalʾēl, "Mahalaleel"): This name means "praise of God" or "the blessed God." Its inclusion shows the importance of certain individuals in the ancestral line.
  • יָרֶד (Yāred, "Jered"): This name is often understood as "descent" or "to descend." Jered is another key figure in the genealogical record, linking generations together.

Why 1 Chronicles 1:2 matters

  • This verse shows the careful preservation of family history, which was important for the identity of Israel.
  • By listing these names, the Chronicler connects the people of Israel to the earliest figures in the Bible, emphasizing continuity and heritage.
  • Understanding these genealogies helps readers see how the biblical story is rooted in real people and generations, not just abstract ideas.

Where else these words appear

“Kenan” Hebrew H7018 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 5:9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
  • Genesis 5:10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
  • Genesis 5:13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:

“Mahalaleel” Hebrew H4111 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 5:12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:
  • Genesis 5:15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
  • Genesis 5:17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

“Jered” Hebrew H3382 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 5:15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
  • Genesis 5:18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:
  • Genesis 5:20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.