1 Chronicles 9:4 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 9:4 mean?

1 Chronicles 9:4 lists the genealogy of a man named Uthai, tracing his lineage through several ancestors back to Pharez, who was a son of Judah. This verse is part of a larger record showing the family lines of those who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

The chronicler is recording the names of people from the tribe of Judah who resettled in Jerusalem. By naming Uthai and his ancestors—Ammihud, Omri, Imri, and Bani—the verse highlights their descent from Pharez, an important family line within Judah. This helps establish the legitimacy and heritage of those living in Jerusalem after the exile.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 9:4

• פֶּרֶץ (Peretz, transliterated "Pharez"): This name means "breach" or "bursting forth" and refers to one of Judah’s sons. Mentioning Pharez connects Uthai’s family to a prominent branch of Judah’s descendants.
• בֵּן (ben): This word means "son" and is used repeatedly to show the direct father-son relationships in the genealogy. The repeated use emphasizes the unbroken line from Judah to Uthai.
• יְהוּדָה (Yehudah, transliterated "Judah"): This is the name of the tribe from which these families come. It signals the importance of tribal identity in the restoration of Jerusalem’s community.

Why 1 Chronicles 9:4 matters

• This verse clarifies that the returning inhabitants of Jerusalem were not random people, but those with a traceable heritage back to Judah, reinforcing their rightful place in the community.
• By listing these specific ancestors, the chronicler shows attention to accurate record-keeping and the value placed on family lineage in Israel’s history.
• Connecting Uthai’s line to Pharez underlines the continuity of God’s promises to the tribe of Judah, which is significant for understanding later references to Judah’s role in Israel’s story.