What Does 1 Chronicles 23:21 Mean in the King James?

The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.

1 Chronicles 23:21 · 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

The family line carries a name meaning “God has helped,” embedding help in the names that preserve it.

THE MEANING

You encounter this verse now as a record of belonging: a line remains visible through particular names and relationships. Within that line, Eleazar means “God has helped,” so help is woven into the identity the verse preserves.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

That only famous leaders belong in the record; this verse preserves a family branch by naming its members.

THE ROOT

אֶלְעָזָר

ʾElʿāzār

GROWS FROM

עזר

ʿ-z-r

Help, support, aid.

“Eleazar” in this verse is ʾElʿāzār. ⁨אֶלְעָזָר⁩ (ʾElʿāzār) joins ⁨אֵל⁩ (ʾEl, God) with ⁨עזר⁩ (ʿ-z-r, help), giving the name the sense “God has helped.” That meaning sits inside a plain genealogy, so help is part of the family identity being remembered.

ALSO GROWS

ʿāzar: To help, aid, or support.

עָזַר

The verb makes the help in Eleazar’s name active: someone comes to another’s aid.

ʿēzer: Help, aid, or support.

עֵזֶר

This noun names help itself, carrying the same root into a word for assistance.

THE PATTERN

Scripture makes continuity visible by naming the people through whom a family line passes.

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Genesis 5:1 · KJVA family line is made visible as a named record of generations.

Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,

Ruth 4:18 · KJVThe verse begins tracing continuity through named relationships.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:1 · KJVA person’s place in the story is expressed through the names and relationships that lead to him.

THE THREAD

And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

Exodus 18:4 · KJV

Eleazar (⁨אֶלְעָזָר⁩, ʾElʿāzār, “God has helped”) and Eliezer (⁨אֱלִיעֶזֶר⁩, ʾĔlīʿezer, “my God is help”) share ⁨עזר⁩ (ʿ-z-r, help). Exodus makes the name’s meaning explicit by naming God as help, letting the same root in this genealogy resonate as remembered aid.

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