What Does 1 Chronicles 9:20 Mean in the King James?
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.
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 Hebrew title for ruler, nāgîd, is linked to a root meaning “make known,” and the verse places the LORD’s presence beside that visible role.
THE MEANING
The verse holds leadership and presence together: Phinehas is over the people, and the LORD is with him. Authority here is not a solitary title; it is a role accompanied by the LORD’s nearness.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A title by itself is the whole of authority. This verse names Phinehas’s role, then points beyond it: the LORD is with him.
THE ROOT
נָגִיד
nāgîd
GROWS FROM
נגד
To declare, report, or make known; the related title nāgîd means a leader or ruler.
“ruler” in this verse is nāgîd. The title nāgîd is linked to nāgad, “to make known,” bringing leadership close to what is visible and publicly recognized. Here the visible role is immediately joined to the LORD’s presence with him.
ALSO GROWS
nāgad: Declare, report, or make known.
נָגַד
The shared root connects the ruler’s title with something brought into view or made known.
higgîd: He declared or reported.
הִגִּיד
This related form shows the root’s movement from what is recognized to what is spoken openly.
אֶלְעָזָר
ʾElʿāzār
GROWS FROM
עזר
Help, aid, or support; the name means “God has helped.”
The name Eleazar carries “God has helped” into the same line that says the LORD is with Phinehas. Help is present both in the name behind his lineage and in the verse’s closing claim of companionship.
ALSO GROWS
ʿāzar: To help or support.
עָזַר
This is the verb within Eleazar’s name, keeping divine help close to the verse’s statement of the LORD’s presence.
ʿēzer: Help or aid.
עֵזֶר
This noun from the same root makes the name’s idea of help tangible: support is part of the family line named here.
THE PATTERN
Scripture pairs a role among or over others with the LORD’s presence, locating authority in accompaniment.
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.THE THREAD
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.The word rendered “ruler” here is nāgîd (נָגִיד, leader), the same Hebrew title rendered “leader” in Isaiah. Isaiah places that leader alongside a witness to the people, while this verse adds that the LORD is with him.
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