What Does 1 Chronicles 8:30 Mean in the King James?

And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,

1 Chronicles 8:30 · 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

The firstborn is named Abdon, a name carrying the root of service, so this lineage begins with service as identity.

THE MEANING

The verse places Abdon first as the firstborn, then names Zur, Kish, Baal, and Nadab; each stands within the same family line. Abdon’s name carries the language of service, so it arrives with a nature as well as a sound.

THE ROOT

עַבְדּוֹן

ʿAvdon

GROWS FROM

עבד

ʿ-b-d

Serve, work

Abdon is formed from ⁨עבד⁩ (ʿ-b-d), the root of serving and working, shared with the words for servant and service. English leaves the name opaque, while Hebrew lets the firstborn’s name open onto service as a way of being.

ALSO GROWS

ʿeved: A servant

עֶבֶד

This branch shares Abdon’s root, placing the idea of serving inside the firstborn’s name.

ʿavodah: Service or work

עֲבֹדָה

This branch shows the root as an activity, letting Abdon’s name carry service as something enacted.

THE PATTERN

A lineage keeps identity visible by naming people within a chain of generations.

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 · KJVThe verse opens a genealogy by naming the generations through which a family line is seen.

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

Ruth 4:18 · KJVThe verse traces a line through named generations, making continuity visible one person at a time.

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

Matthew 1:1 · KJVThe verse locates a person within a chain of named family relations.

THE THREAD

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15 · KJV

The Hebrew verb translated “serve” is ⁨עבד⁩ (ʿābad), the same root that shapes Abdon’s name. Joshua 24:15 makes that root active: service becomes a chosen allegiance, extending the name’s meaning beyond the genealogy.

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