Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.

1 CHRONICLES 25:3KJV
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1 Chronicles 25:3 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 25:3 mean?

1 Chronicles 25:3 lists the sons of Jeduthun, who served under their father by playing music and prophesying with harps as part of the temple worship, giving thanks and praise to the LORD. The verse highlights both their musical role and their spiritual service in leading worship.

This verse is part of a larger section where King David organizes the musicians for temple service. Jeduthun and his sons are named among those set apart for this work, showing that music and prophecy were closely linked in Israel’s worship. The verse emphasizes that their music was not just performance, but a way to express gratitude and honor to God.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 25:3

  • "Prophesied" (נָבָא, nava): In this context, the word often means to speak or sing under divine inspiration, not just foretelling the future. Here, it suggests that their music was guided by God’s Spirit.
  • "Harp" (כִּנּוֹר, kinnor): This was a stringed instrument, central to temple music. The mention of the harp shows that worship involved skilled, intentional music.
  • "Thanks" (יָדָה, yadah) and "praise" (הָלַל, halal): These words show that the purpose of their music was to express gratitude and admiration toward the LORD, not just to entertain.

Why 1 Chronicles 25:3 matters

  • This verse shows that music in worship was considered a spiritual act, not just a background activity, with musicians seen as serving God directly.
  • The connection between prophecy and music in this verse helps explain why musicians were sometimes called prophets in the Old Testament context.
  • By naming the sons and their roles, the verse highlights the importance of family and tradition in the service of the temple, showing how worship was a shared, generational responsibility.

Where else these words appear

“Mattithiah” Hebrew H4993 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 9:31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.
  • 1 Chronicles 15:21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
  • 1 Chronicles 25:21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

“Jeduthun” Hebrew H3038 · used in 14 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 9:16 And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
  • 1 Chronicles 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
  • 2 Chronicles 35:15 And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.

“Hashabiah” Hebrew H2811 · used in 15 verses

“Gedaliah” Hebrew H1436 · used in 31 verses

  • 2 Kings 25:22 And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.
  • Jeremiah 40:7 Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;
  • Jeremiah 41:2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.