And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.

1 CHRONICLES 5:24KJV
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1 Chronicles 5:24 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 5:24 mean?

1 Chronicles 5:24 lists the leaders of certain family groups among the people of Israel, naming Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel as prominent men. These individuals are described as "mighty men of valour," well-known and respected as heads of their ancestral houses.

This verse is part of a genealogy in 1 Chronicles, where the writer is recording the heads of families from the tribe of Manasseh. The focus is on honoring these men for their strength, reputation, and leadership within their clans, highlighting their importance in the community’s history.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 5:24

  • "Heads" (רֹאשׁ, rosh): This word means "chief" or "leader," emphasizing that these men were the recognized authorities over their family groups.
  • "Mighty" (גִּבּוֹר, gibbor) and "valour" (חַיִל, chayil): Together, these words describe not just physical strength but also bravery, capability, and honor—qualities that made these men stand out.
  • "Famous" (שֵׁם, shem): This word literally means "name," but here it points to their reputation and renown among the people.

Why 1 Chronicles 5:24 matters

  • This verse clarifies that leadership in ancient Israel was often recognized through both family lineage and personal qualities like courage and reputation.
  • The mention of specific names and their attributes connects the genealogy to real individuals, grounding Israel’s history in actual people and their deeds.
  • By listing these men as both "mighty" and "famous," the verse shows that leadership was valued for both strength and character, not just birthright.

Where else these words appear

“Azriel” Hebrew H5837 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 27:19 Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:
  • Jeremiah 36:26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.

“Hodaviah” Hebrew H1938 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 9:7 And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,
  • Ezra 2:40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.

“Epher” Hebrew H6081 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 25:4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
  • 1 Chronicles 1:33 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.
  • 1 Chronicles 4:17 And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.

“Ishi” Hebrew H3469 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 2:31 And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai.
  • 1 Chronicles 4:20 And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Benzoheth.
  • 1 Chronicles 4:42 And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.