What Does 1 Chronicles 25:7 Mean in the King James?
So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
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 counted singers are not merely performers: “cunning” names discernment, so their song carries understanding as well as sound.
THE MEANING
This verse presents song as a practice carried through instruction and discernment. Each singer belongs to a community that learns and understands what it sings; the count gives that shared work a visible shape.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse dissolves the assumption that meaningful sacred song is only spontaneous feeling or natural talent; it is also learned and understood.
THE ROOT
מֵבִין
mevin
GROWS FROM
בין
To discern, understand, or distinguish.
The word translated “cunning” here is mevin, one who discerns or understands. A related form, bein, means “between”: discernment perceives distinctions, so these singers bring understanding to what they sing.
ALSO GROWS
binah: Understanding or discernment.
בִּינָה
The same root makes understanding part of the singers’ defining qualification.
tevunah: Insight or discernment.
תְּבוּנָה
This branch reinforces that the verse describes perceptive skill, not merely technical cleverness.
bein: Between or among.
בֵּין
The sound-shape connects understanding with perceiving distinctions between things.
מְלֻמְּדֵי
melummedei
GROWS FROM
למד
To learn or be taught; in derived forms, to teach or instruct.
The word for “instructed” comes from למד, a root whose forms include both learning and teaching. Song is transmitted as a learned practice, so the understanding in this verse is shared and cultivated.
ALSO GROWS
lamad: To learn or be taught.
לָמַד
The root verb places learning at the heart of the singers’ preparation.
limmed: To teach or instruct.
לִמֵּד
This form shows how what is learned can be passed on to others.
talmid: Learner or student.
תַּלְמִיד
The learner’s word-family connection makes the singers’ skill part of an ongoing practice of instruction.
THE PATTERN
Song carries understanding through a community when it is taught, discerned, and voiced together.
And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.THE THREAD
And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.“Because he was skilful” translates mevin, from the same root בין (bin) as “cunning” in this verse. The shared root links discernment in song with the ability to instruct others in it.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us