1 Chronicles 1 · WEB
Genealogy from Adam to Abraham
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Adam, Seth, Enosh,
2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
4Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
5The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
6The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah.
7The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
8The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
9The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
10Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth.
11Mizraim became the father of the Ludim, the Anamim, the Lehabim, the Naphtuhim,
12the Pathrusim, the Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorim.
13Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, then Heth,
14the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite,
15the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite,
16the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
17The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.
18Arpachshad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.
19To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
20Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
21Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
22Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,
23Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
24Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah,
25Eber, 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, Adbeel, Mibsam,
30Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,
31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.
32The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.
33The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
34Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.
35The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
36The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.
37The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
38The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
39The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan's sister.
40The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.
41The sons of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
42The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
43Now these are the kings who 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.
44Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
45Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
46Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith.
47Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
48Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place.
49Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
50Baal Hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place; 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. The chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth,
52chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
53chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
54chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.
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Summary
The Chronicler opens with a sweeping genealogy tracing the line of humanity from Adam through Noah's sons, then narrows to Abraham and his descendants — Ishmael, the sons of Keturah, and Isaac. The chapter ends with the descendants of Esau/Edom and their chiefs and kings. This genealogical preface establishes Israel's place in world history and God's progressive narrowing of the covenant line from all humanity down to Abraham and his family.
Themes
- God's covenant line narrowing from all humanity to Israel
- The place of all nations within God's creation purposes
- Israel's connection to the broader story of human history
Key verses
- 1 Chr 1:27 — “Abram (the same is Abraham).”
- 1 Chr 1:34 — “Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.”
Context & background
1 Chronicles was written after the Babylonian exile to encourage the returning Jewish community by reminding them of their identity and heritage. The genealogies of chapters 1–9 are not merely historical records but theological statements about Israel's place in God's plan. Edom (modern southern Jordan and the Negev/Arabah region) appears here as a neighboring nation descended from Esau, Israel's twin brother. The Chronicler draws on Genesis 5, 10, 11, 25, and 36 to construct this overview.
Cross-references
- Genesis 10:1-32 — Table of nations; the sons of Noah's three sons
- Genesis 25:12-18 — Ishmael's descendants
- Genesis 36:1-43 — Esau's descendants and the kings of Edom
- Genesis 5:1-32 — The genealogy from Adam to Noah paralleled here
- Romans 9:6-13 — Paul reflects on the narrowing of the covenant line through Isaac and Jacob