1 Chronicles 25:27 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 25:27 mean?

1 Chronicles 25:27 records that the twentieth group of musicians for temple service was led by Eliathah, and that he, his sons, and his relatives together made up twelve members. This verse is part of a list assigning specific families to serve in musical worship at the temple.

The book of 1 Chronicles is describing how King David organized the Levites into divisions for music in the temple. Here, the chronicler is listing the leaders and their groups, each with twelve participants. Eliathah is named as the leader of the twentieth group, showing the careful structure and shared responsibility in temple worship.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 25:27

• "twentieth" (עֶשְׂרִים, esrim): This word marks the order of the group, showing that Eliathah’s group was the twentieth in a sequence, highlighting the detailed organization.
• "Eliathah" (אֶלְיָתָה, 'Elyatah): This is the personal name of the leader, identifying him specifically among the Levites.
• "sons" (בֵּן, ben): This word refers to Eliathah’s male descendants, showing that musical service was often a family responsibility.
• "brethren" (אָח, 'ach): This word means brothers or close relatives, indicating that the group included extended family.
• "twelve" (שְׁנַיִם, shenayim; עָשָׂר, `asar): Together these words mean "twelve," specifying the number in each group, which was a set pattern for all the divisions.

Why 1 Chronicles 25:27 matters

• This verse shows the careful planning and structure King David put into the temple worship, with each group having a set leader and number of members.
• It highlights that temple music was a family and community effort, involving both sons and relatives, not just individuals.
• The verse fits into a larger passage that emphasizes order and shared participation in worship, helping the reader see the importance of every group and leader in the temple’s daily life.