The big picture
1 Chronicles 1 opens in verse 1 with “Adam, Sheth, Enosh,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 27 with “Abram; the same is Abraham.”, and closes in verse 54 with “Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.” Repeated or prominent terms include sons, duke, reigned, begat, dead. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Chronicles · King James Version · 541 Chronicles 1:1-8
1–8: Adam, Sheth, Enosh,
1 Chronicles 1:1–8 opens with “Adam, Sheth, Enosh,” and reaches “The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 1 develops its own movement around sons, duke, reigned, begat, dead, with particular weight carried by sons, Gomer, Japheth.
1 Chronicles 1:1-8
King James Version1Adam, Sheth, Enosh,
2Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered,
3Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
4Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
5The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
6And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
7And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
8The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
1 Chronicles 1:9-16
9–16: The sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and…
1 Chronicles 1:9–16 opens with “And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of…” and reaches “And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 1 develops its own movement around sons, duke, reigned, begat, dead, with particular weight carried by begat, Cush, Raamah.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and…” Naming Raamah and Cush keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 1:9-16
King James Version9And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
10And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.
11And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
12And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.
13And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,
14The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,
15And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
16And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
1 Chronicles 1:17-24
17–24: The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and…
1 Chronicles 1:17–24 opens with “The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and…” and reaches “Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 1 develops its own movement around sons, duke, reigned, begat, dead, with particular weight carried by Arphaxad, begat, Joktan.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.” Naming Aram and Arphaxad keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 1:17-24
King James Version17The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.
18And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.
19And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother’s name was Joktan.
20And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
21Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,
22And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
23And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
24Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
1 Chronicles 1:25-32
25–32: Eber, Peleg, Reu,
1 Chronicles 1:25–32 opens with “Eber, Peleg, Reu,” and reaches “Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 1 develops its own movement around sons, duke, reigned, begat, dead, with particular weight carried by sons, Ishmael, Abraham.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Eber, Peleg, Reu,” Naming Eber and Peleg keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 1:25-32
King James Version25Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26Serug, Nahor, Terah,
27Abram; the same is Abraham.
28The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.
29These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
30Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,
31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.
32Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.
1 Chronicles 1:33-40
33–40: The sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah…
1 Chronicles 1:33–40 opens with “And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the…” and reaches “The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 1 develops its own movement around sons, duke, reigned, begat, dead, with particular weight carried by sons, Anah, Eliphaz.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.” Naming Abida and All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 1:33-40
King James Version33And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.
34And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.
35The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
36The sons of Eliphaz; Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.
37The sons of Reuel; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
38And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.
39And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan’s sister.
40The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.
1 Chronicles 1:41-48
41–48: The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and…
1 Chronicles 1:41–48 opens with “The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.” and reaches “And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 1 develops its own movement around sons, duke, reigned, begat, dead, with particular weight carried by reigned, dead, stead.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.” Naming Dishon and Amram keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the…” Naming Bela and Beor keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 1:41-48
King James Version41The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
42The sons of Ezer; Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran.
43Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
44And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
45And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.
46And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.
47And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
48And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
1 Chronicles 1:49-54
49–54: When Shaul was dead, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
1 Chronicles 1:49–54 opens with “And when Shaul was dead, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.” and reaches “Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 1 develops its own movement around sons, duke, reigned, begat, dead, with particular weight carried by duke, Baal, daughter.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when Shaul was dead, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.” Naming Achbor and Baal keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 1:49-54
King James Version49And when Shaul was dead, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
50And when Baal-hanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
51Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth,
52Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
53Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
54Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Chronicles 1:1 begins with “Adam, Sheth, Enosh,”
Where the chapter turns
1 Chronicles 1:32 forms a natural hinge: “Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba…”
The final note
1 Chronicles 1:54 leaves the reader with “Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words sons, duke, reigned, begat, dead, stead help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who receives the image and the blessing?
Both male and female in verses 27-28. Human worth precedes achievement.
What limits human dominion?
The world belongs to its Creator and is already declared good. Compare the charge to tend and keep in 2:15.
KJV words made clear
- begat
- became the father of
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.