King James Version

What Does 1 Chronicles 7:8 Mean?

1 Chronicles 7:8 in the King James Version says “And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, a...” — study this verse from 1 Chronicles chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.”

1 Chronicles 7:8 · KJV

Context

6

The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.

7

And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.

8

And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.

9

And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour, was twenty thousand and two hundred.

10

The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The sons of Becher—this genealogy catalogs Benjamin's clan through Becher (בֶּכֶר 'young camel' or 'firstborn'). The eight sons listed—Zemira (זְמִירָה 'song'), Joash (יוֹעָשׁ 'Yahweh has given'), Eliezer (אֱלִיעֶזֶר 'God is help'), Elioenai (אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי 'to Yahweh are my eyes'), Omri (עָמְרִי 'sheaf' or 'pupil'), Jerimoth (יְרִימוֹת 'heights'), Abiah (אֲבִיָּה 'Yahweh is father'), and Anathoth (עֲנָתוֹת 'answers')—form a theological catechism in names, emphasizing Yahweh's provision, help, fatherhood, and attentive hearing.

The name Anathoth gains special significance as Jeremiah's hometown (Jeremiah 1:1), a Levitical city in Benjamin's territory. That Becher's descendant bore this name before the city's prominence shows God's providential preparation—centuries before Jeremiah, a Benjamite bore the name 'answers,' anticipating the prophet who would answer God's call in Israel's darkest hour. This genealogical 'easter egg' rewards careful readers with Christological connections (Jeremiah prefigured Christ's rejection by his hometown, Luke 4:24).

All these are the sons of Becher—the summarizing formula emphasizes completeness. Benjamin's prominence (Paul's tribe, Romans 11:1; the temple sat in Benjamin's land) roots in extensive, blessed genealogy. Despite being Jacob's youngest and Rachel's last son, Benjamin became numerically and strategically significant through covenant multiplication (Genesis 49:27).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Benjamin's tribe occupied the strategic hill country between Ephraim and Judah, including Jerusalem's northern suburbs. Though the smallest tribe (Judges 20-21 nearly destroyed them), Benjamin produced Israel's first king (Saul), joined Judah after the schism (930 BC), and maintained identity through exile. The Chronicler, emphasizing Judah-Benjamin continuity, shows post-exilic Jerusalem's population as legitimate heirs of pre-exilic Israel. Anathoth, mentioned in this genealogy, became a priestly city hosting Abiathar's descendants after Solomon's purge (1 Kings 2:26).

Reflection Questions

  1. How do the theophoric names in Becher's genealogy ('Yahweh has given,' 'God is help') testify to faith formation through naming practices?
  2. What encouragement does Benjamin's recovery from near-extinction (Judges 21) to prominence offer regarding God's redemptive purposes for broken communities?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
בְּנֵי1 of 15

“All these are the sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

בָֽכֶר׃2 of 15

“of Becher”

H1071

beker, the name of two israelites

זְמִירָ֡ה3 of 15

“Zemira”

H2160

zemirah, an israelite

וְיוֹעָ֡שׁ4 of 15

“and Joash”

H3135

joash, the name of two israelites

וֶֽ֠אֱלִיעֶזֶר5 of 15

“and Eliezer”

H461

eliezer, the name of a damascene and of ten israelites

וְאֶלְיֽוֹעֵינַ֤י6 of 15

“and Elioenai”

H454

eljehoenai or eljoenai, the name of seven israelites

וְעָמְרִי֙7 of 15

“and Omri”

H6018

omri, an israelite

וִֽירֵמ֣וֹת8 of 15

“and Jerimoth”

H3406

jerimoth or jeremoth, the name of twelve israelites

וַֽאֲבִיָּ֔ה9 of 15

“and Abiah”

H29

abijah, the name of several israelite men and two israelitesses

וַֽעֲנָת֖וֹת10 of 15

“and Anathoth”

H6068

anathoth, the name of two israelites, also of a place in pal

וְעָלָ֑מֶת11 of 15

“and Alameth”

H5964

alemeth, the name of a place in palestine and of two israelites

כָּל12 of 15
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֵ֖לֶּה13 of 15
H428

these or those

בְּנֵי14 of 15

“All these are the sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

בָֽכֶר׃15 of 15

“of Becher”

H1071

beker, the name of two israelites

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Chronicles 7:8 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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