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

1 CHRONICLES 9:39KJV
Know the Bible

1 Chronicles 9:39 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 9:39 mean?

1 Chronicles 9:39 lists the family line of Saul, Israel’s first king, showing 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 gives a straightforward genealogy, tracing Saul’s ancestry and his sons.

This verse appears in a section where the writer is recording genealogies for the returned exiles, helping them remember their heritage. The focus is on Saul’s family, which was significant because Saul was the first king of Israel, and his descendants played key roles in Israel’s early monarchy.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 9:39

  • נֵר (Ner, transliterated "Ner") means "lamp" or "light," and is the name of Saul’s grandfather. Including Ner in the genealogy highlights the family’s lineage and status.
  • יָלַד (yalad, transliterated "begat") is the Hebrew verb for "to father" or "to give birth to." Its repeated use in this verse emphasizes the direct father-son relationships in Saul’s line.
  • אֵשְׁבַּעַל (Eshbaal, transliterated "Eshbaal") means "man of Baal." This name is notable because later texts sometimes call him "Ishbosheth," possibly to avoid the association with the name "Baal," a Canaanite deity.

Why 1 Chronicles 9:39 matters

  • This verse clarifies the immediate family of Saul, which is important for understanding the transition from Saul’s dynasty to David’s in Israel’s history.
  • The mention of Eshbaal by this name, rather than "Ishbosheth," shows how names and their associations could change over time, reflecting shifts in religious or cultural attitudes.
  • By recording Saul’s genealogy here, the Chronicler connects the returned exiles to their national story, reminding them of their roots and the significance of their leaders.

Where else these words appear

“Eshbaal” Hebrew H792 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 8:33 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 8:33 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.