1 Chronicles 8:29 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 8:29 mean?

1 Chronicles 8:29 states that in the town of Gibeon lived a man known as the “father of Gibeon,” and his wife’s name was Maachah. This verse introduces a family line by naming the head of the household and his wife.

The book of 1 Chronicles was written to record the genealogies and history of Israel, especially focusing on the tribes and families. Here, the writer is listing the descendants of Benjamin, and this verse marks out the family that lived in Gibeon, a significant town in Benjamin’s territory. Naming both the man and his wife sets up the genealogy that follows in the next verses.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 8:29

• גִּבְעוֹן (Gibeon, transliteration: Giv'on): This is the name of the town where this family lived. Gibeon was an important city in ancient Israel, known from earlier biblical stories.
• יָשַׁב (dwelt, transliteration: yashav): This word means “lived” or “settled.” Its use here emphasizes the family’s established presence in Gibeon.
• אָב (father, transliteration: av): In this context, “father” often means the founder or leading ancestor of a family or clan, not just a biological parent.
• מַעֲכָה (Maachah, transliteration: Ma‘akah): This is the wife’s name, and including her in the genealogy is notable, as women’s names are not always mentioned in such lists.

Why 1 Chronicles 8:29 matters

• This verse helps clarify the ancestry and location of a key family in the tribe of Benjamin, which is important for understanding later references to Gibeonites in the Bible.
• By naming Maachah, the verse highlights her importance in the family line, which is not always the case in ancient genealogies.
• The verse sets the stage for the following verses, which list the descendants, showing the chronicler’s careful attention to family origins and settlements.