What Does 1 Chronicles 5:24 Mean in the King James?
And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.
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
“Famous men” is literally “men of names”: their strength is carried by people known by name.
THE MEANING
The verse makes a community visible through named people, each situated as a head within a father’s house. Their strength and standing take shape in particular lives and relationships.
THE ROOT
אַנְשֵׁי שֵׁמוֹת
anshei shemot
GROWS FROM
שֵׁם
Name; a person’s recognized identity or reputation.
“famous” in this verse is anshei shemot. The Hebrew phrase is literally “men of names.” The roster names each man and then describes the group through that same idea: their standing belongs to particular people whose names are recognized.
ALSO GROWS
shem: Name; recognized identity or reputation.
שֵׁם
The singular form shows the word beneath the phrase “men of names.”
shemot: Names; the plural of shem.
שֵׁמוֹת
This is the form in the verse, making renown something held in the names of these men.
חָיִל
chayil
GROWS FROM
חיל
ḥ-y-l
Strength, force, or capacity.
Chayil can describe strength, an organized host, or wealth and resources. The verse’s valour therefore carries the sense of capacity held by a people, alongside the fame attached to their names.
ALSO GROWS
cheil: An army, host, or organized force.
חֵיל
This branch shows strength gathered into a collective body.
chayil: Wealth, resources, or capability.
חַיִל
This sense widens valour to include the means and capacity a household or people holds.
רָאשֵׁי
rashei
GROWS FROM
ראש
rosh
Head, top, or chief.
The verse opens and closes with rashei, “heads,” framing the list of names with leadership. The same word family can point to a beginning, so the head stands at the front of the household it represents.
ALSO GROWS
rosh: Head, top, or chief.
רֹאשׁ
This is the singular form behind the verse’s description of these men as heads.
reshit: Beginning or first portion.
רֵאשִׁית
This related form echoes the position of a head at the front of a household.
THE PATTERN
A name makes a person particular and known within a web of relationship.
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.THE THREAD
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.Isaiah’s “thy name” and Chronicles’ “men of names” share the Hebrew word shem, name. In both, a name carries a person into recognition and relationship.
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