What Does 1 Chronicles 2:30 Mean in the King James?

And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children.

1 Chronicles 2:30 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

A family line can end while the record still carries the name of the one who leaves no children.

THE MEANING

Seled is named among Nadab’s sons, and the record also says he dies without children. His place in the family record remains even where descendants do not continue his line.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse undoes the belief that a person leaves no trace when they have no children: Seled remains named here.

THE ROOT

בָּנִים

banim

GROWS FROM

בנה

banah

Build, build up.

“children” in this verse is banim. The Hebrew word for sons is linked with ⁨בנה⁩, “build.” The genealogy holds both images together: Seled belongs to a named family, while no descendants continue to build his branch.

ALSO GROWS

ben: Son.

בֵּן

This singular form shows the family relationship that appears here in the plural as sons.

banah: Build, build up.

בָּנָה

This verb brings the image of a family line being built through descendants into the verse.

mivneh: Structure, building.

מִבְנֶה

This noun extends the same building image, making a lineage feel like a structure whose branches continue or stop.

THE PATTERN

Scripture can preserve a person’s place in a story while plainly naming the absence of descendants.

But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

Genesis 11:30 · KJVSarai remains named in the story as the verse states that she has no child.

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Luke 1:7 · KJVThe verse keeps Elisabeth and Zacharias present while stating directly that they have no child.

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 56:5 · KJVA name is given enduring place even where sons and daughters do not define a person’s remembrance.

THE THREAD

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16:2 · KJV

The phrase rendered “obtain children” carries the image “be built up,” from ⁨בנה⁩, the same root linked with ⁨בָּנִים⁩, sons, here. That shared root makes Seled’s childlessness a stopping of the building within his line.

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