What Does 1 Chronicles 11:28 Mean?

Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

1 Chronicles 11:28 · SDV

Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.

Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.

This verse in the King James

King James wording

King James Version

Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi-ezer the Antothite,

THE KEY

The roster keeps its people particular: Abi-ezer carries “my father is help” in his name, while each man remains tied to a father or place.

THE MEANING

The verse keeps each person particular within a shared company: Ira is named with his father and place, and Abi-ezer with his own name and place. Belonging here holds kinship and origin in view instead of reducing people to a count.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A roster of warriors can look like an anonymous tally; this line retains each person’s name and ties.

THE ROOT

אֲבִיעֶזֶר

Abi-ezer

GROWS FROM

עזר

ʿ-z-r

To help, support.

Abi-ezer joins ⁨אָב⁩ (ʾāv, father) with ⁨עֵזֶר⁩ (ʿēzer, help), commonly read “my father is help.” The underlying root ⁨עזר⁩ (ʿ-z-r, to help or support) also appears as the verb ⁨עָזַר⁩ (ʿāzar, to help), so the name holds assistance as both a named quality and an active deed.

ALSO GROWS

ʿēzer: Help, aid.

עֵזֶר

This noun is built from the same root carried in Abi-ezer’s name, placing help inside the person’s identity.

ʿāzar: To help, support.

עָזַר

The verb shows the same root as an action, so help is not only named but enacted.

THE PATTERN

A shared work can be recorded without flattening the people in it: names, kinship, and place remain attached.

See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the staff of Judah.

Exodus 31:2 · SDVBezaleel is named together with his father, lineage, and tribe, making his place in the work particular.

And the women who were her neighbors called out a name for him, saying, A son is born to Naomi, and they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth 4:17 · SDVObed’s name is held within a chain of relationships that connects one life to others.

Embrace Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in the anointed one, Jesus.

Romans 16:3 · SDVThe assembly is remembered through named people and the work they share.

THE THREAD

My help comes from the LORD, who makes heavens and earth.

Psalm 121:2 · SDV

Abi-ezer contains ⁨עֵזֶר⁩ (ʿēzer, help), the same word that opens “My help.” Psalm 121:2 expands the name’s meaning by naming the LORD, maker of heaven and earth, as the source of help.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us