Misinterpretations often treat this verse as an exhaustive or standalone family tree endorsing polygamy without consequence, ignoring its continuation in subsequent verses and the broader narrative in 2 Samuel that reveals family strife and tragedy stemming from David's multiple wives. Others might fabricate discrepancies by not recognizing Daniel as another name for Chileab or overlook the chapter's theological aim to affirm David's line amid Judah's restoration, reducing it to mere historical trivia rather than covenantal significance.
I Chronicles 3
King James Version (1769)
1 Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:
Truth and untruth
This passage begins the record of King David's sons born to him in Hebron during his early reign over Judah, naming the firstborn Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and the second Daniel by Abigail the Carmelitess, emphasizing the establishment of his royal lineage from which the promised Messiah would descend. It serves a key purpose in 1 Chronicles' genealogies, linking the post-exilic Israelites to their covenant heritage through David's house.
2 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often arise from treating this dry genealogical list as a prescriptive model for family life or polygamy endorsement ignoring its descriptive historical purpose within Israel's royal lineage or assuming it lists all of David's children overlooking those born later in Jerusalem as noted in chapter 14 furthermore some confuse Absalom's Geshurite maternal heritage mistaking it for disloyalty rather than explaining his later refuge there or speculate unfounded moral judgments on the mothers without scriptural basis distorting the passage's intent to chronicle David's heirs amid God's unfolding covenant promises.
This verse continues the genealogy of King David's sons born to him in Hebron during his early reign there, specifically naming the third son Absalom whose mother Maachah was daughter of Talmai king of Geshur and the fourth son Adonijah son of Haggith, providing essential familial context that connects to later biblical narratives about their roles ambitions and conflicts within the Davidic line underscoring God's sovereign choice of Solomon despite these prominent brothers.
3 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often treat this straightforward genealogy as a moral critique of David's polygamy, imposing contemporary ethics to condemn him without regard for ancient royal customs where multiple wives symbolized power and alliances. Some speculate Eglah was Michal in disguise based on rabbinic traditions unsupported by Scripture, or use the list for numerological prophecies, diverting from the Chronicler's purpose of providing a precise post-exilic record of legitimate heirs to bolster Jewish identity and messianic hope.
This verse records two more sons born to King David during his reign in Hebron, identifying Shephatiah as the fifth son of Abital and Ithream as the sixth son of Eglah, contributing to the meticulous genealogical catalog in 1 Chronicles that traces David's royal lineage. Such lists underscore the historical and theological importance of David's house in Israelite history, affirming God's covenant promise of an enduring throne through his descendants, ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah.
4 These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years.
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often arise from viewing this as a complete list of David's sons, ignoring the additional children born in Jerusalem detailed later in the chapter and in 2 Samuel 5; assuming the reign lengths represent his entire rule without noting the total of forty years mentioned elsewhere; or treating it as mere trivia disconnected from its role in chronicling the Davidic line's continuity, which is central to Israel's messianic hopes, thus missing its genealogical and historical significance in affirming God's covenant with David.
This verse summarizes the six sons born to King David during his initial reign in Hebron as king over Judah, lasting seven years and six months, before he conquered Jerusalem and ruled there for thirty-three years over all Israel, providing a key chronological marker in the genealogy that underscores the division between his regional and national kingship while affirming the stability and fruitfulness of his early rule.
5 And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath–shua the daughter of Ammiel:
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often arise from confusing Bathshua with a distinct wife separate from Bathsheba, overlooking that it is an alternate designation for the same woman; presuming these represent David's complete progeny rather than only those born in Jerusalem post-Hebron; or speculatively elevating the roles of lesser sons like Nathan or Shobab to support contrived doctrines on succession or end-times prophecy, diverting from the passage's straightforward genealogical purpose in chronicling the Davidic line culminating in Solomon.
This verse details four sons born to King David in Jerusalem with Bathshua, also known as Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, serving as a key link in the genealogy of David's royal house. It underscores the continuation of David's lineage in the capital city after his consolidation of power there, with Solomon's inclusion highlighting God's faithfulness to the promise of an enduring throne through David's descendants, foundational to Israel's monarchy and messianic expectations.
6 Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often treat this verse as an isolated trivia list of names, overlooking its role in the structured genealogy of 1 Chronicles that traces Messiah's ancestry; others might misuse it for numerology or divination based on name meanings, ignoring the text's historical and theological purpose, or view it as endorsing polygamy without context, whereas it simply documents David's family as a sign of God's blessing on his dynasty rather than a moral blueprint.
This verse continues the record of King David's sons born in Jerusalem, specifically naming Ibhar, Elishama, and Eliphelet, as part of the Chronicler's genealogical emphasis on the Davidic line to affirm God's covenant promise of an everlasting throne (2 Samuel 7:16), linking Israel's post-exilic community to their messianic heritage and illustrating divine faithfulness in preserving royal descendants amid historical upheavals.
7 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations of this verse often involve ascribing spiritual symbolism or moral lessons to the named individuals Nogah, Nephus, and Japhia, such as deriving virtues from etymologies like 'Nogah' meaning brightness to imply enlightenment, despite their absence from any narratives or teachings elsewhere in Scripture. Others might engage in numerology by fixating on their position in the list or total count of sons, seeking hidden prophecies irrelevant to the Chronicler's genealogical intent, or confuse them with similarly named figures, thus distorting the passage's straightforward purpose of cataloging David's descendants to affirm Judah's lineage and covenant continuity post-exile.
This verse continues the genealogy of King David's sons born in Jerusalem, listing Nogah, Nephus, and Japhia among his progeny, which altogether numbered eleven according to the Chronicler. It serves to document the expansion of David's household, fulfilling God's covenant promise of numerous descendants and descendants like the stars, while establishing the historical and royal lineage central to Israel's monarchy and ultimately pointing forward to the Messiah from David's line, emphasizing divine faithfulness in preserving this heritage amid the post-exilic community's need for identity.
8 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often arise from viewing this list as the complete record of David's sons, ignoring others like those in 2 Samuel 5 or Absalom; applying unsubstantiated numerology to the tally of nine or the names themselves; or treating the passage as promoting unchecked polygamy without recognizing its historical and covenantal context in tracing Israel's monarchy and messianic heritage.
This verse completes the enumeration of nine sons born to King David in Jerusalem—specifically naming Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet—highlighting the expansion of David's royal family and reinforcing the genealogical continuity of his lineage, which is central to the biblical theme of God's covenant with David promising an everlasting throne fulfilled ultimately in the Messiah.
9 These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.
Truth and untruth
A common misinterpretation views this passage as endorsing polygamy or concubinage as ideal family structures, ignoring the broader biblical narrative that portrays David's multiple marriages as stemming from his failures and leading to familial strife, such as Absalom's rebellion; others mistakenly identify Tamar solely as a concubine's daughter rather than David's daughter by a wife, or use it to justify modern extramarital relationships, overlooking the historical-genealogical purpose of Chronicles in affirming monotheistic Israel's covenant heritage amid cultural norms.
This verse summarizes the sons born to David in Jerusalem, explicitly excluding those from his concubines and mentioning Tamar as their sister, underscoring the focused lineage of David's primary heirs which forms the basis for the Davidic covenant and the royal succession in Judah, highlighting God's faithfulness in preserving the messianic line through David's legitimate family despite his complex household.
10 And Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often treat this genealogy as a mere list of names without purpose, overlooking its role in validating the Davidic kings' succession and reinforcing God's unbreakable covenant with David; others might extract numerological or allegorical meanings, such as symbolic succession lessons, ignoring its straightforward historical function to connect pre-exilic monarchy with the restored community, or assume it lists all descendants rather than just the reigning kings.
This verse traces the royal lineage of Judah from Solomon through Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat, serving as a historical record that affirms the continuity of David's dynasty as promised in God's covenant, emphasizing divine faithfulness in preserving the messianic line despite political upheavals and underscoring the legitimacy of Judah's kings in the post-exilic context.
11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
Truth and untruth
A common misinterpretation treats this genealogy as a mere list of names without purpose, overlooking its role in validating the legitimacy of Judah's monarchy and linking it to messianic prophecies; others erroneously assume flawless chronological precision without accounting for co-regencies or textual variants, such as overlapping reigns of Joash and Amaziah, or confuse these figures with similarly named Israelite kings like Jehoash, leading to historical inaccuracies when not cross-referenced with 2 Kings.
This verse lists successive kings in the Davidic line of Judah: Jehoshaphat, Joram, Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, continuing the genealogy from Solomon and underscoring the unbroken royal succession in Judah after the kingdom's division from Israel around 931 BC, serving as a historical record to affirm God's faithfulness to His covenant with David by preserving his descendants on the throne.
12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often arise from treating this straightforward genealogical list as a source for hidden codes, numerology, or symbolic prophecies, such as assigning spiritual meanings to the names or durations implied between generations, rather than recognizing it as a historical record affirming the legitimacy of Judah's monarchy amid exile and restoration; others confuse Azariah here with other biblical figures sharing the name, like high priests, or overlook its role in Chronicles' theological framework of covenant continuity.
This verse continues the genealogy of the kings of Judah in the line of David, listing Amaziah, his son Azariah (also known as Uzziah), and Jotham, emphasizing the unbroken succession of David's royal descendants as fulfillment of God's covenant promise to establish David's throne forever, which underscores themes of divine faithfulness and messianic hope in the post-exilic community.
13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often arise when readers impose allegorical or prophetic meanings onto this straightforward genealogy, such as seeking hidden numerological codes in the names or viewing the succession as symbolic of spiritual rebirth rather than historical lineage, or confusing these kings' identities with unrelated biblical figures, which undermines the passage's purpose as a factual chronicle authenticating Judah's rulers.
This verse is part of the genealogical record tracing the Davidic royal line through the kings of Judah, specifically noting the succession from Ahaz to his son Hezekiah and then to Manasseh, emphasizing the historical continuity and legitimacy of the monarchy descended from David as foundational to Israel's covenant promises and messianic expectations.
14 Amon his son, Josiah his son.
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often treat this bare genealogical entry as a moral endorsement of Amon and Manasseh, ignoring their notorious idolatry and evil reigns detailed in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, or attempt to derive numerological prophecies or personal ancestry claims from it; instead, it functions solely as a historical record preserving the lineage for covenantal continuity without implicit approval of the individuals listed.
This verse continues the genealogy of Judah's kings from David's line, identifying Amon as Manasseh's son and Josiah as Amon's son, emphasizing the unbroken chain of succession in the Davidic dynasty despite periods of apostasy, which underscores God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with David promising an eternal throne fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ.
15 And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
Truth and untruth
A frequent misinterpretation treats this list as a rigid birth-order blueprint for royal succession, implying Johanan should have ruled as firstborn, yet historical records in 2 Kings show Johanan apparently predeceased his father without reigning, Shallum alias Jehoahaz succeeded briefly before being deposed, Jehoiakim followed under Egyptian influence, and Zedekiah was installed last by Babylon; this overlooks Chronicles' theological focus on lineage continuity rather than political chronology, fostering unnecessary skepticism about biblical harmony when not cross-referenced.
This verse records the four sons of King Josiah of Judah—Johanan the firstborn, Jehoiakim the second, Zedekiah the third, and Shallum the fourth—as part of 1 Chronicles' detailed genealogy tracing David's royal descendants through Judah's kings to the Babylonian exile, emphasizing the enduring Davidic line central to Israel's messianic hope and providing a framework for understanding the historical transitions among Judah's final rulers before captivity.
16 And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
Truth and untruth
Common misinterpretations of I Chronicles 3:16 include treating the genealogy as an exhaustive biological record without recognizing ancient practices like levirate marriage or legal inheritance, such as Zerubbabel being reckoned as Shealtiel's son in Matthew 1 despite being Pedaiah's here, leading to unfounded accusations of biblical contradictions; others erroneously conclude the Davidic monarchy ended irretrievably with the exile, ignoring prophetic assurances of restoration and the text's purpose to affirm continuity.
I Chronicles 3:16 traces the Davidic royal lineage through Jehoiachin, the exiled king of Judah, to his son Shealtiel and Shealtiel's sons, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to preserve the messianic line despite national captivity and judgment, affirming the enduring promise of an eternal throne for David's house as prophesied in 2 Samuel 7, which ultimately finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
17 And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son,
Truth and untruth
A frequent misinterpretation views this terse genealogy as signaling the abrupt termination of Jeconiah's line due to God's curse in Jeremiah 22:30 that no descendant of his would rule on David's throne, erroneously suggesting the messianic hope shifted entirely to Nathan's line and invalidating Solomon's lineage in Christ's ancestry; in reality, the genealogy persists, affirming Jesus' legal right through Joseph's paternal line while his physical descent avoids the curse via Mary's Nathanite ancestry, highlighting interpretive nuance between throne rights and covenant preservation.
This verse records the beginning of the descendants of Jeconiah, also known as Jehoiachin or Coniah, the penultimate king of Judah who was exiled to Babylon, listing Assir as his son and Shealtiel as Assir's son, thereby continuing the Davidic royal genealogy amid national captivity and demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to preserve the messianic line through Solomon's descendants despite judgment and exile.
18 Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often treat this list as a complete or unaltered biological record for tracing modern lineages, overlooking ancient genealogies' selective and theological purposes focused on covenant continuity rather than exhaustive detail. Another error assumes the curse on Jeconiah in Jeremiah nullifies the entire Davidic line here, ignoring how the New Testament presents Jesus' legal descent through Joseph and biological through Mary, demonstrating God's circumvention of human curses to fulfill messianic prophecy.
This passage records the sons of Jeconiah, a king of Judah exiled to Babylon, continuing the Davidic genealogy amid national judgment. It emphasizes God's preservation of the royal line despite captivity, maintaining the covenant promise of an eternal throne through David's descendants, which foreshadows the Messiah's ancestry and underscores divine faithfulness in upholding His redemptive plan across generations.
19 And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often stem from perceiving a contradiction with passages like Ezra 3:2 and Haggai 1:1, which call Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel instead of Pedaiah, leading skeptics to allege biblical error rather than recognizing the probable levirate marriage practice where Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel through Pedaiah's widow, making him legally Shealtiel's heir. Others erroneously dismiss the verse as mere tedious lists without purpose, ignoring its vital role in authenticating the Davidic lineage's survival, bolstering messianic expectations, and affirming God's covenant reliability to the returned exiles.
This verse details a segment of the Davidic genealogy in the post-exilic period, listing the sons of Pedaiah as Zerubbabel and Shimei, and Zerubbabel's children, including a daughter Shelomith, thereby tracing the royal lineage from Solomon through to key figures in Judah's restoration after the Babylonian captivity. Zerubbabel, a pivotal leader and governor, symbolizes God's faithfulness in preserving David's house amid exile, reinforcing the promises of an enduring throne and providing the Jewish community with a sense of historical and covenantal continuity essential for their identity and hope.
20 And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushab–hesed, five.
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations of I Chronicles 3:20 often spiritualize its plain genealogical list as containing hidden prophecies or numerological codes, such as the five sons symbolizing divine graces or the names encoding messianic promises, rather than recognizing it as a historical record for post-exilic identity; others misuse it to fabricate modern Davidic bloodlines or royal conspiracies, ignoring the text's focus on ancient Judean ancestry without evidentiary links to contemporary claims.
I Chronicles 3:20 records five sons—Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed—in the Davidic lineage descending through Zerubbabel, a leader of the post-exilic returnees, underscoring the chronicler's emphasis on the continuity and preservation of Judah's royal heritage amid restoration efforts, which affirmed communal identity, legitimate priestly and leadership lines, and eschatological hope for a future anointed king from David's house.
21 And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often arise from the verse's elliptical Hebrew structure, leading some to mistakenly view all named individuals as siblings or parallel sons of Hananiah rather than a linear descent chain, or to treat the list as exhaustive and complete when ancient genealogies frequently omit generations for brevity; others misuse it for speculative numerology, racial exclusivity claims, or to deny its historical reliability by comparing inconsistent ancient records, ignoring its purpose as a selective priestly record affirming covenant continuity.
This verse records a segment of the post-exilic genealogy of the Davidic line through Hananiah, listing successive generations: Pelatiah and Jesaiah as sons of Hananiah, followed by Rephaiah son of Jesaiah, Arnan son of Rephaiah, Obadiah son of Arnan, and Shechaniah son of Obadiah, demonstrating God's faithfulness in preserving the royal lineage of Judah despite the Babylonian captivity, underscoring the continuity essential for messianic hopes.
22 And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often arise from treating this genealogy as an exhaustive, gapless chronology for calculating biblical timelines or modern claims of descent, overlooking the selective and telescoped nature of ancient genealogies that prioritize theological emphasis over completeness; others erroneously spiritualize the sons' names, such as deriving moral lessons from 'Bariah' (meaning 'fugitive') unrelated to the context, or dismiss the passage as irrelevant trivia, ignoring its role in affirming post-exilic Israel's legitimacy and God's faithfulness to His promises.
This verse documents the six sons of Shemaiah, a descendant of Shechaniah in the Davidic line—Hattush, Igeal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat—serving as part of the Chronicler's meticulous genealogical records that emphasize God's preservation of Judah's royal heritage amid exile and restoration, underscoring themes of covenant continuity, tribal identity, and preparation for the messianic hope through David's unbroken lineage.
23 And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.
Truth and untruth
Misinterpretations often arise from confusing this post-exilic Hezekiah with the earlier King Hezekiah of Judah, who ruled centuries before, or assuming these names signify prophetic figures or kings rather than ordinary descendants; others might view the verse as mere trivia or historical invention, ignoring its purpose in validating authentic Jewish pedigrees essential for priestly roles, land inheritance, and messianic lineage claims.
This verse records the three sons of Neariah—Elioenai, Hezekiah, and Azrikam—as part of the post-exilic genealogy tracing back to Zerubbabel, a leader in the return from Babylonian captivity, emphasizing the preservation of King David's royal lineage across generations and demonstrating God's faithfulness in upholding His covenant promises despite exile and dispersion.
24 And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.
Truth and untruth
Common misinterpretations include treating this list as an exhaustive, unbroken chain for modern claims of Davidic descent without historical verification, allegorizing the sons' names or the number seven for mystical prophecies rather than recognizing it as a straightforward historical record, or overlooking its context within Judah's tribal registers to force spiritual symbolism disconnected from its genealogical purpose of affirming post-exilic identity and legitimacy.
This verse records the seven sons of Elioenai—Hodaiah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Dalaiah, and Anani—as part of the post-exilic genealogy tracing the descendants of King David through Zerubbabel, emphasizing the continuity and preservation of Judah's royal lineage amid restoration from Babylonian captivity, which underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant promises for an enduring Davidic house central to messianic hope.