All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

1 CHRONICLES 25:5KJV
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1 Chronicles 25:5 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 25:5 mean?

1 Chronicles 25:5 identifies Heman as a man who received words from God and served the king as a seer. The verse also presents his large family as a gift from God: Heman had fourteen sons and three daughters.

The phrase “to lift up the horn” uses an image of strength and honor. A horn was associated with a strong animal, so lifting it up could picture someone being given strength or prominence. In the surrounding list of musicians, Heman’s family also has a place in the organized music of worship.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 25:5

  • “seer” — חֹזֶה (ḥozeh): A seer was someone who received messages or visions from God. The title helps explain Heman’s connection to “the words of God” as well as his service to the king.
  • “horn” — קֶרֶן (qeren): This word can mean an animal’s horn and can also picture strength or honor. Here, “to lift up the horn” is often understood as a figurative expression rather than a command to raise an instrument.

Why 1 Chronicles 25:5 matters

  • Heman’s role joins music and messages from God. Verse 5 calls him the king’s seer, while the surrounding passage places his family among the musicians appointed for service.
  • The count includes daughters as well as sons. The next verse says that Heman’s sons and daughters were under their father’s direction for singing in the house of the Lord.

Where else these words appear

“Heman” Hebrew H1968 · used in 15 verses

  • 1 Kings 4:31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
  • 1 Chronicles 15:19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
  • 1 Chronicles 25:6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

“seer” Hebrew H2374 · used in 22 verses

  • 2 Samuel 24:11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
  • 2 Chronicles 29:25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
  • Isaiah 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

“horn” Hebrew H7161 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
  • 1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
  • Jeremiah 48:25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD.