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Historical Books · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

1 Chronicles 1

Israel's story retold through genealogy, David, worship, and preparation for the temple.

Old Testament

1 Chronicles 1

1Adam, Seth, Enosh,

2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,

4Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

5The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

6The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah.

7The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.

8The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

9The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.

10Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one on the earth.

11Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,

12Pathrusim, Casluhim (where the Philistines came from), and Caphtorim.

13Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, Heth,

14the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite,

15the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite,

16the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.

17The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.

18Arpachshad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.

19To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.

20Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

21Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

22Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,

23Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

24Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah,

25Eber, Peleg, Reu,

26Serug, Nahor, Terah,

27Abram (also called Abraham).

28The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.

29These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

30Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,

31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.

32The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.

33The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.

34Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.

35The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

36The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.

37The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

38The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.

39The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister.

40The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.

41The son of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

42The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

43Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

44Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.

45Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

46Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith.

47Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.

48Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place.

49Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.

50Baal Hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pai. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

51Then Hadad died. The chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth,

52chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,

53chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,

54chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Israel's story retold through genealogy, David, worship, and preparation for the temple. Read 1 Chronicles 1 within the complete 1 Chronicles overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in 1 Chronicles 1

1 Chronicles 1 contains 54 verses and about 603 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Adam, Seth, Enosh,” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 54 closes: “chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include sons, chief, reigned, died, became, father. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About 1 Chronicles 1

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, 1 Chronicles 1:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

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