1 Chronicles 14:4
Explore the 1 Chronicles 14:4 meaning and summary with context and commentary explained. This study includes verse insights, deep explanation, word analysis, and cross-references.
1 Chronicles chapter 14 - David’s Establishment And The Sound Of Going
1 Chronicles 14 articulates David's growth in international stature through his alliance with Hiram of Tyre and the expansion of his family. It details two specific victories over the Philistines where David refused to rely on past successes, instead seeking fresh direction from God for each encounter. The chapter culminates in David's fame spreading throughout all lands as the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.
1 Chronicles 14:4
ESV: These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
KJV: Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,
NIV: These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
NKJV: And these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
NLT: These are the names of David's sons who were born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
Meaning
1 Chronicles 14:4 lists the first four sons born to King David in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. This verse serves to document the beginning of David's lineage in his consolidated kingdom, affirming God's blessing and provision of an heir for the future Davidic dynasty.
Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chr 3:5 | These were born to him in Jerusalem...Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon | Parallel list of sons |
| 2 Sam 5:14 | These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab... | Parallel list of sons, same four |
| 1 Chr 17:11-12 | I will raise up your offspring after you... and I will establish his throne | God's promise of a perpetual Davidic line |
| 2 Sam 7:12-13 | I will raise up your offspring after you... who shall build a house for My | God's covenant with David, highlighting succession |
| Gen 12:2 | I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name | God's promise of descendants, fulfilled in David |
| Psa 127:3 | Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. | Sons as a divine blessing |
| Matt 1:6-7 | Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon... | Genealogical link of Solomon in Christ's lineage |
| Luke 3:31 | ...the son of David, the son of Nathan... | Jesus's lineage traced through Nathan |
| Isa 9:6-7 | ...and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace... | Messianic King bringing peace (linking to Solomon) |
| 1 Kgs 2:12 | So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly | Solomon's succession as legitimate king |
| Psa 72:7 | In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon is no more! | Prophetic reign of peace through the king (Solomon/Messiah) |
| Isa 7:14 | Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. | God's promised son and divine provision |
| Heb 1:5 | For to which of the angels did He ever say, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You"? Or again, "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son"? | Application of Davidic promise to Christ |
| Rom 1:3 | concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh | Emphasizes Christ's Davidic lineage |
| Jer 33:15 | In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring | Prophecy of a righteous descendant from David |
| Num 24:17 | ...a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel | Prophetic blessing on future Israelite king |
| Deut 17:15 | ...you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses... | God's role in appointing a king's line |
| Neh 11:4 | And in Jerusalem lived some of the people of Judah and some of the people | Emphasis on Jerusalem as a place of inhabitation |
| 2 Sam 12:24-25 | ...the Lord loved him, and sent a message by Nathan the prophet, and he called | Solomon named Jedidiah by God, showing divine favor |
| Gen 17:7 | And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your offspring after you | God's covenant includes descendants |
| Exod 1:7 | But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied | God's blessing of fruitfulness |
Context
1 Chronicles 14:4 occurs early in David's reign as King over all Israel. Chapters 11-13 recount David being anointed king, capturing Jerusalem (establishing it as the political and religious capital), and bringing the ark of the covenant there. Chapter 14 opens with Hiram, king of Tyre, sending building materials and craftsmen to construct David's palace, signifying divine recognition of David's kingship. Immediately before this verse (1 Chr 14:2-3), David recognizes that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for His people's sake. The listing of his sons in Jerusalem directly follows this understanding of divine affirmation. The Chronicler emphasizes God's active hand in blessing David, consolidating his rule, and providing for the legitimate continuation of his royal line through offspring born in the sacred city, thereby underscoring stability and God's faithfulness to His covenant with David.
Word analysis
- Now these are the names: The Hebrew phrase (וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת, ve’elleh shmôt) literally means "and these are names." This is a common formula in biblical texts to introduce a list, especially genealogies or rolls of important persons. It serves to emphasize the significance and official nature of the ensuing list, setting a formal record.
- of the children: The Hebrew word for "children" here is בָּנִים (bānim), which specifically refers to sons or male offspring. In the context of ancient Israelite succession and covenant promises, male heirs were crucial for carrying on the family line and securing the kingdom.
- whom he had: This phrasing denotes parenthood and birth. It directly attributes the children to David, reinforcing their legitimacy as his direct descendants.
- in Jerusalem: This geographical detail is significant. It differentiates these sons from those born to David in Hebron (as mentioned in 1 Chr 3:1-4). Jerusalem was the newly established capital, the city where God would establish His dwelling place. Bearing children there symbolizes the flourishing and permanence of David's kingdom, now centered in God's chosen city. It marks a new, more divinely favored phase of David's reign.
- Shammua: (שַׁמּוּעַ, Shammûaʻ) means "heard" or "famous/renowned." The naming of children often reflected parental experiences, hopes, or God's acts. This name could perhaps reflect David's recognition that God had "heard" his prayers or that David's name was becoming "renowned" in the kingdom, signifying divine blessing.
- Shobab: (שׁוֹבָב, Shôbâḇ) meaning "backslider" or "rebellious." This name seems counterintuitive for a son of David. It is a rarer and somewhat enigmatic name, possibly reflecting a circumstance around his birth or a parental prayer against future waywardness, rather than a prophetic declaration of the child's character. In ancient Hebrew naming, there could be irony or a pre-emptive prayer embedded in the name. Little is known about this son's life.
- Nathan: (נָתָן, Nâṯân) meaning "given" or "giver." This is a common and auspicious name. This Nathan is distinct from the prophet Nathan, who was a close advisor to David. In the New Testament, one of Jesus's genealogies traces through Nathan, indicating the enduring importance of this particular lineage of David (Luke 3:31).
- Solomon: (שְׁלֹמֹה, Shəlōmōh) meaning "peaceful" or "peaceable." Solomon's name is highly significant as it prefigures the nature of his reign—a period of unparalleled peace and prosperity in Israel, especially in contrast to David's life of warfare. He was the son chosen by God to succeed David and build the Temple, embodying a new era. God Himself renamed him "Jedidiah" ("beloved of the LORD") through Nathan the prophet, further affirming His special favor (2 Sam 12:24-25).
Commentary
1 Chronicles 14:4 is not merely a list of names; it carries significant theological weight within the Chronicler's narrative. Following David's understanding that God had established his kingdom for His people's sake (1 Chr 14:2-3), the birth of these sons in Jerusalem signifies the tangible manifestation of God's covenant faithfulness. It directly precedes David's military victories against the Philistines, positioning God's blessing of David's progeny as foundational to his further success. The Chronicler is keen to emphasize the divine ordination of the Davidic dynasty and the importance of Jerusalem as its spiritual and political core. The presence of Solomon on this initial list, whose name means "peaceful" and who would eventually build the Temple, subtly foreshadows the future culmination of God's plan for Israel through a lineage that culminates in the Messianic promise of a king of peace.
Bonus section
The list in 1 Chronicles 14:4 matches exactly with the beginning of the list in 2 Samuel 5:14, but it is much shorter than the complete list given by the Chronicler himself in 1 Chronicles 3:5-8, which includes nine more sons and two daughters born in Jerusalem. This selective focus in Chapter 14 emphasizes the first major group of male heirs born in the newly established capital, immediately after the declaration of divine favor on David's consolidated reign. The inclusion of Nathan and especially Solomon here underscores their unique significance: Nathan as a branch through which Jesus's lineage is traced in one Gospel, and Solomon as David's designated successor, builder of the Temple, and a prominent type of the Christ, the Prince of Peace. This initial enumeration in 1 Chronicles 14 reinforces God's direct blessing and ensures the legitimacy and continuation of the Davidic line from the very beginning of its establishment in Jerusalem.
Read 1 chronicles 14 chapter and explore various translations, from word-for-word KJV and ESV to thought-for-thought NIV and NLT.
See David master the art of divine timing, waiting for the 'sound of a going' in the trees before launching a strike. Begin your study with 1 chronicles 14 summary.
Observe how God changes the tactic for the second battle, telling David to circle around and wait for a supernatural sound in the mulberry trees. The 'Word Secret' is Tsaad, meaning 'a step' or 'march,' indicating that God Himself was marching at the head of David’s army. Discover the riches with 1 chronicles 14 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Explore 1 chronicles 14 images, wallpapers, art, audio, video, maps, infographics and timelines