And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.

1 CHRONICLES 6:28KJV
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1 Chronicles 6:28 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 6:28 mean?

1 Chronicles 6:28 lists the sons of Samuel, naming Vashni as the firstborn and Abiah as the second. This verse is part of a genealogy, simply recording the descendants of Samuel for the historical record.

The book of 1 Chronicles was written to document the lineage of important figures in Israel’s history, especially those connected to the priesthood and worship. Here, the chronicler is listing Samuel’s family as part of the broader genealogy of the tribe of Levi, since Samuel was a significant prophet and leader in Israel’s history.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 6:28

  • בְּנֵי (benê; H1121) means "sons." The use of this word shows the focus on family lines and descent, which is central to the genealogies in Chronicles.
  • שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemu'el; H8050) means "Samuel." Naming Samuel here connects this genealogy to a well-known prophet, emphasizing his place in Israel’s history.
  • בְּכוֹר (bekhor; H1060) means "firstborn." This word highlights the order of birth, which often carried legal and social significance in ancient Israel.
  • וַשְׁנִי (Vashni; H2059) is the name given as Samuel’s firstborn. The name itself is rare and only appears in this context.
  • אֲבִיָּה (Abiah; H29) is the name of Samuel’s other son, meaning "Yahweh is my father." This name reflects a common practice of embedding God’s name in personal names.

Why 1 Chronicles 6:28 matters

  • This verse helps clarify the family line of Samuel, which is important for understanding the roles his descendants played in Israel’s worship and leadership.
  • The listing of Samuel’s sons connects the prophetic tradition to the Levitical genealogies, showing the overlap between different kinds of leadership in Israel.
  • The verse highlights the importance of accurate record-keeping in ancient Israel, especially regarding priestly and prophetic families.

Where else these words appear

“Abiah” Hebrew H29 · used in 25 verses

  • 1 Samuel 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
  • 2 Chronicles 12:16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Chronicles 13:20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.

“firstborn” Hebrew H1060 · used in 96 verses

  • Genesis 10:15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
  • Numbers 3:40 And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:25 And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah.

“Samuel” Hebrew H8050 · used in 120 verses

  • Numbers 34:20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
  • 1 Samuel 9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
  • 1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.