And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

1 CHRONICLES 23:17KJV
Know the Bible

1 Chronicles 23:17 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 23:17 mean?

1 Chronicles 23:17 traces one branch of Moses’ family through his son Eliezer. Eliezer had one son, Rehabiah, but Rehabiah’s family grew into a large group. The verse shows how a family line could become numerous even when an earlier generation was small.

The writer calls Rehabiah “the chief,” a word that identifies his place in the family record. The contrast between “none other sons” and “very many” follows the line from Eliezer to the next generation.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 23:17

  • “chief” — רֹאשׁ (rosh): This word can mean “head” or “first.” Here it marks Rehabiah as the leading person named in Eliezer’s family line.

Why 1 Chronicles 23:17 matters

  • Rehabiah’s large family belongs to the line being counted among the Levites. The surrounding passage lists members of Levi’s tribe for their work connected with worship (1 Chronicles 23:2–6).
  • The family record continues through Moses’ descendants without treating them as a separate tribe. Verse 14 places Moses’ sons among the tribe of Levi.

Where else these words appear

“Rehabiah” Hebrew H7345 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 24:21 Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
  • 1 Chronicles 26:25 And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.

“Eliezer” Hebrew H461 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
  • 1 Chronicles 23:15 The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.
  • Ezra 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

“very” Hebrew H4605 · used in 134 verses

  • Genesis 6:16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
  • Numbers 4:30 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.