1 Chronicles 5:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 5:14 mean?

1 Chronicles 5:14 lists the descendants of Abihail, tracing his family line back through several generations. This verse is part of a genealogy, showing the ancestry of a particular group within the tribe of Gad.

The writer of 1 Chronicles is recording the family history for the tribe of Gad, one of the tribes of Israel. The verse names Abihail and his ancestors—Huri, Jaroah, Gilead, Michael, Jeshishai, Jahdo, and Buz—to establish their lineage. This kind of detailed genealogy was important for the Israelites to confirm tribal identity, inheritance rights, and historical continuity.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 5:14

• The word "children" (בְּנֵי, bənê) is often used in Hebrew genealogies to mean "descendants" or "sons," not just immediate offspring. This helps the reader understand that the list may skip generations and is focused on key family links.
• The repeated word "son" (בֵּן, ben) marks each step in the lineage, emphasizing the direct line from Buz down to Abihail. This structure is typical in Hebrew genealogies to show unbroken descent.
• The names listed—Abihail (אֲבִיחַיִל, Avichayil), Huri (חוּרִי, Churi), Jaroah (יָרוֹחַ, Yaroach), Gilead (גִּלְעָד, Gil'ad), Michael (מִיכָאֵל, Mikha'el), Jeshishai (יְשִׁישַׁי, Yeshishai), Jahdo (יַחְדוֹ, Yachdo), and Buz (בּוּז, Buz)—are preserved in the Hebrew text, showing the importance of each ancestor in the family’s history.

Why 1 Chronicles 5:14 matters

• This verse helps clarify the specific family lines within the tribe of Gad, which is important for understanding the organization of the Israelite tribes.
• The genealogy connects the people mentioned here to earlier generations, showing continuity and belonging within Israel’s story.
• By tracing the line back to Buz, the verse links this family to a wider biblical context, as Buz is a name found elsewhere in the Old Testament, possibly connecting these Gadites to other significant figures or regions.