And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

1 CHRONICLES 8:33KJV
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1 Chronicles 8:33 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 8:33 mean?

1 Chronicles 8:33 lists part of Saul’s family line, stating that Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. This verse is part of a genealogy that traces the ancestry and descendants of Saul, Israel’s first king.

This verse appears in a section where the writer of 1 Chronicles is recording the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin. The focus here is on Saul’s immediate family, showing his place in the line and naming his sons. The list helps establish Saul’s background and connects his story to the broader history of Israel.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 8:33

  • The word "begat" (יָלַד, yalad) is used repeatedly, meaning "to father" or "to become the ancestor of." This word marks the generational links and is a key term in biblical genealogies, emphasizing direct descent.
  • The name "Eshbaal" (אֶשְׁבַּעַל, Eshba‘al) stands out because "Baal" was a Canaanite deity. In some later texts, this name is changed to "Ishbosheth" to avoid the association with Baal, showing how names could be adapted over time for religious reasons.

Why 1 Chronicles 8:33 matters

  • This verse clarifies the family relationships of Saul, which is important for understanding later events in Israel’s history, especially the transition from Saul to David as king.
  • By listing all four sons, including Eshbaal, the verse preserves details that help explain later narratives, such as the struggle for the throne after Saul’s death.
  • The genealogy roots Saul firmly in the tribe of Benjamin, which is significant for understanding tribal dynamics and loyalties in Israel’s early monarchy.

Where else these words appear

“Eshbaal” Hebrew H792 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 9:39 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

“Malchishua” Hebrew H4444 · used in 5 verses

  • 1 Samuel 14:49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
  • 1 Samuel 31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.
  • 1 Chronicles 9:39 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

“Abinadab” Hebrew H41 · used in 11 verses

  • 1 Samuel 7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
  • 1 Samuel 31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:13 And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,

“Ner” Hebrew H5369 · used in 16 verses

  • 1 Samuel 14:50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
  • 2 Samuel 2:12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
  • 1 Kings 2:5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.