What Does 1 Chronicles 4:36 Mean in the King James?
And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
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
This genealogy gives no deeds, only names, and Elioenai makes a gaze toward YHWH part of the inheritance.
THE MEANING
Seven names stand here without biographies, so identity arrives before any recorded accomplishment. Elioenai carries the image of eyes turned toward YHWH, while Benaiah carries the image of a life built by YHWH.
THE ROOT
אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי
ʾElyoʿenai
GROWS FROM
ע־י־ן
ʿ-y-n
Eye; seeing or looking.
“Elioenai” in this verse is ʾElyoʿenai. The name’s final element is עֵינַי (ʿeinai, “my eyes”), within a name commonly understood as “my eyes are toward YHWH.” The list places that orientation inside a person’s name, where English gives only a label.
ALSO GROWS
ʿayin: Eye.
עַיִן
This is the singular form carried in Elioenai’s “my eyes,” making the name’s image one of seeing and attention.
maʿyan: Spring or fountain.
מַעְיָן
The related word names an opening from which water flows, extending the eye’s image from seeing to a source that opens outward.
בְּנָיָה
Bĕnāyāh
GROWS FROM
ב־נ־ה
b-n-h
Build or establish.
Benaiah combines the build-root with Yah, commonly understood as “YHWH has built.” The name holds building and belonging together: the person is named through what YHWH establishes.
ALSO GROWS
bānāh: To build.
בָּנָה
This is the verb at the heart of Benaiah’s name, so the list ends with a name carrying the image of building.
bōneh: Builder; one who builds.
בֹּנֶה
This participle keeps the root’s action present, making the name’s building image active rather than merely finished.
THE PATTERN
Scripture lets names carry a person’s story or orientation within the name itself.
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.THE THREAD
A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.Elioenai’s “my eyes” shares the eye-word עַיִן (ʿayin, “eye”) with the psalm’s image of lifted eyes. The name compresses into one word the posture this verse speaks aloud.
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