1 Chronicles 25:16 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 25:16 mean?

1 Chronicles 25:16 records that the ninth group of musicians appointed for service in the temple was led by Mattaniah, and this group included him, his sons, and his brothers, making a total of twelve members. This verse is part of a list detailing the organization of the temple musicians into groups for their duties.

This verse comes from a section where King David is assigning specific families and groups to serve as musicians in the worship at the temple. Each group, led by a named leader like Mattaniah, was made up of twelve people, showing a structured and intentional approach to worship. The listing highlights the importance of music and order in Israel’s temple service.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 25:16

• "ninth" (תְּשִׁיעִי, t'shi'i): This word simply means "ninth" in order, indicating Mattaniah’s group was the ninth in the sequence of appointed musicians.
• "Mattaniah" (מַתַּנְיָה, Mattanyah): This is a personal name meaning "gift of Yahweh," identifying the leader of this particular group.
• "sons" (בֵּן, ben): This word refers to Mattaniah’s male descendants who served with him, emphasizing the family nature of the service.
• "brethren" (אָח, ach): This term means "brothers" or close relatives, showing that the group included extended family members, not just immediate sons.
• "twelve" (שְׁנֵים, sh'nayim; עֶשֶׂר, eser): These two words together make up the number twelve, which was the standard size for each group, suggesting organization and completeness.

Why 1 Chronicles 25:16 matters

• This verse clarifies that temple music was not a casual activity but was carefully organized, with specific families and numbers assigned to the task.
• The mention of both "sons" and "brethren" shows that temple service was a family affair, involving extended kin, not just direct descendants.
• Seeing Mattaniah’s group as the ninth of many highlights the scale and importance of music in Israel’s worship, and how every group had a defined role.