All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

1 CHRONICLES 5:17KJV
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1 Chronicles 5:17 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 5:17 mean?

1 Chronicles 5:17 states that the people listed earlier in the chapter were officially registered by their family records during the reigns of Jotham, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of Israel. This verse marks the historical period when these genealogies were recorded.

The writer of 1 Chronicles is summarizing a section of tribal records, noting that the genealogies for the tribes east of the Jordan were organized and written down during the time when Jotham ruled in the southern kingdom (Judah) and Jeroboam ruled in the northern kingdom (Israel). This helps anchor the family lists in a real historical setting, showing that these records were kept carefully during a specific era.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 5:17

  • "genealogies" (הִתְיַחֵשׂ, hityachēs): This word means to be enrolled or registered by family lineage. It highlights the importance placed on tracking family connections and tribal identity in Israelite society.
  • "days" (יֹום, yom): Used twice in this verse, this word refers to the specific period or reign of each king. It helps pinpoint the exact historical timeframe for when these records were made.
  • "Jotham" (יוֹתָם, Yotam) and "Jeroboam" (יָרָבְעָם, Yarav‘am): Naming both kings shows that the genealogies were kept during the reigns of rulers from both the southern and northern kingdoms, emphasizing the unity of record-keeping across divided Israel.

Why 1 Chronicles 5:17 matters

  • 1 Chronicles 5:17 clarifies that the genealogical records were not random or legendary, but were officially kept during known historical reigns, lending credibility and context to the lists.
  • By mentioning both Jotham and Jeroboam, the verse connects the family records of the tribes east of the Jordan to the broader story of Israel and Judah, showing that both kingdoms valued these records.
  • This verse helps readers understand that the chronicler is working with real historical sources, not just oral tradition, which is important for the trustworthiness of the book’s account.

Where else these words appear

“genealogies” Hebrew H3187 · used in 20 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 4:33 And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.
  • 1 Chronicles 7:40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men.
  • 2 Chronicles 31:18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

“Jotham” Hebrew H3147 · used in 24 verses

  • Judges 9:5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
  • 2 Kings 15:32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
  • 2 Chronicles 27:1 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.

“Jeroboam” Hebrew H3379 · used in 95 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
  • 1 Kings 14:30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
  • 2 Kings 15:1 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.