1 Chronicles 25:17
New International Version
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and relatives 12

New Living Translation
The tenth lot fell to Shimei and twelve of his sons and relatives.

English Standard Version
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve;

Berean Standard Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

Berean Literal Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers—twelve;

King James Bible
The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

New King James Version
the tenth for Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve;

New American Standard Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

NASB 1995
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

NASB 1977
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

Legacy Standard Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

Amplified Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

Berean Annotated Bible
the tenth to Shimei (renowned), his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

Christian Standard Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his relatives — 12

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers—12

American Standard Version
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

English Revised Version
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The tenth chose Shimei, his sons, and his relatives-12 men.

International Standard Version
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve;

NET Bible
the tenth to Shimei and his sons and relatives--twelve in all,

New Heart English Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve:

Webster's Bible Translation
The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

World English Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
the tenth, Shimei, his sons and his brothers—twelve:

Berean Literal Bible
the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers—twelve;

Young's Literal Translation
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

Smith's Literal Translation
The tenth, Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The tenth to Semeias, to his sons and his brethren twelve.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The tenth went to Shimei, to his sons and brothers, twelve.

New American Bible
The tenth was Shimei, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve.

New Revised Standard Version
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren were twelve;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The tenth, Shemali, and his sons and his brothers were twelve.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
the tenth Semeia, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

Additional Translations ...



Context
Twenty-Four Divisions of Musicians
16the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all; 17the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers— 12 in all; 18the eleventh to Azarel, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;…

Cross References
the tenth to Shimei,

1 Chronicles 24:13
the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

Acts 1:26
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.

Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
his sons, and his brothers—

1 Chronicles 24:31
As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

Numbers 3:9
Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been given exclusively to him from among the Israelites.

2 Chronicles 31:15
Under his authority, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully distributed portions to their fellow priests in their cities, according to their divisions, old and young alike.
12 in all;

Genesis 35:22
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

Numbers 1:44
These were the men numbered by Moses and Aaron, with the assistance of the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family.

Luke 6:13
When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:
1 Chronicles 6:31-32
These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there. / They ministered with song before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. And they performed their duties according to the regulations given them.

1 Chronicles 16:4-6
David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. / Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals / and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

1 Chronicles 23:5
4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”

2 Chronicles 29:25-30
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets. / The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. / And Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. …

Nehemiah 12:24-26
The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God. / Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. / They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.

Psalm 150:3-5
Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. / Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. / Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals.

1 Samuel 10:5
After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.


Treasury of Scripture

The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve:

Jump to Previous
Relatives Shimei Shim'e-I Tenth Twelve
Jump to Next
Relatives Shimei Shim'e-I Tenth Twelve
1 Chronicles 25
1. The number and offices of the singers
8. Their division by lot into twenty-four orders












the tenth to Shimei,

Shimei (“heard”) received the tenth lot among the twenty-four divisions appointed for the ministry of song before the Lord. The casting of lots placed each family in its assigned service under God’s ordering, ensuring that worship was conducted faithfully and without rivalry.

1Ch 24:13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
Act 1:26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias.…
Pro 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision…

his sons, and his brothers—

Shimei’s household served together as Levites trained in music and prophecy. Their shared ministry reflects the covenant responsibility of families to preserve devotion to the Lord and to prepare the next generation for faithful service.

1Ch 24:31 As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did,…
Num 3:9 Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons;…
2Ch 31:15 Under his authority, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, …

12 in all;

The twelve musicians formed a complete division within David’s carefully arranged temple choir. Their united service contributed to the continual praise of God, anticipating the ordered worship that would take place in Solomon’s temple.

Gen 35:22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in…
Num 1:44 These were the men numbered by Moses and Aaron,…
Luk 6:13 When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Shimei
A leader of one of the divisions of musicians appointed by King David for the service of the house of the Lord. Shimei's division was the tenth in the order of service.

2. Sons and Brothers of Shimei
These were the family members who served alongside Shimei in the musical ministry. The number twelve signifies completeness and order in their service.

3. King David
The king of Israel who organized the Levitical musicians into divisions for the worship in the temple, emphasizing the importance of music in worship.

4. The House of the Lord
Refers to the temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship for the Israelites, where these musicians performed their duties.

5. Musical Ministry
The organized service of music in the temple, which was an integral part of worship and was carefully structured by David.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Order in Worship
The structured division of musicians underlines the importance of order and organization in worship. Just as David appointed specific roles, we should approach worship with intentionality and reverence.

Family in Ministry
Shimei's involvement of his sons and brothers highlights the role of family in ministry. Encouraging family participation in church activities can strengthen both familial and spiritual bonds.

The Role of Music in Worship
Music is a powerful tool for worship and should be used to glorify God. We should strive to incorporate music that uplifts and honors God in our personal and corporate worship.

Completeness in Service
The number twelve symbolizes completeness. In our service to God, we should aim for completeness and dedication, offering our best in whatever role we serve.

Legacy of Worship
Just as Shimei's family was involved in worship, we should consider the legacy we leave in our spiritual communities, encouraging future generations to continue in faithful service.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 25:17?

2. How does 1 Chronicles 25:17 illustrate the importance of organized worship in church?

3. What role did "the tenth" play in the musical service of the temple?

4. How can we apply the principle of orderly worship from 1 Chronicles 25:17 today?

5. What connections exist between 1 Chronicles 25:17 and New Testament teachings on worship?

6. How does this verse encourage us to use our talents for God's glory?

7. What is the significance of 1 Chronicles 25:17 in the context of temple worship?

8. How does 1 Chronicles 25:17 reflect the organization of Levitical musicians?

9. Why is the order of lots important in 1 Chronicles 25:17?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Chronicles 25?


What Does 1 Chronicles 25:17 Mean
the tenth

- Verses 1 Chronicles 25:8–9 explain that lots were cast “for the small as well as for the great, for the teacher as well as for the pupil,” assigning each family of musicians a specific turn in the temple worship cycle.

- “The tenth” shows that Shimei’s family received the tenth lot in that divinely ordered sequence. The numerical order mattered; it guaranteed that every family, regardless of status, served at a set, fair time (cf. 1 Chronicles 24:31; 1 Corinthians 14:40).

- The Spirit-led lot underscores God’s sovereignty over worship schedules, assuring us that even routine rotations come under His loving direction (Proverbs 16:33).


to Shimei

- Shimei is listed among Heman’s sons (1 Chronicles 25:4), linking him to a prophetic, musical lineage appointed by King David (1 Chronicles 25:1).

- His name attached to the tenth lot signals personal responsibility; leadership in worship was entrusted to identifiable individuals, not anonymous groups (cf. Ezra 2:41).

- God honors and records specific servants, reminding us that He sees every act of worship, whether public or unnoticed (Matthew 6:4).


his sons

- Family participation is emphasized repeatedly in this chapter (1 Chronicles 25:5–6). Sons served alongside their fathers, learning skill and devotion by example (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).

- This pattern affirms the generational transmission of faith: fathers mentoring children in praise prepares the whole community for robust, continuous worship (Psalm 145:4).

- It encourages households today to cultivate shared worship experiences, safeguarding praise from becoming a “professional only” activity (Ephesians 5:19).


and his brothers—12 in all

- “Brothers” likely refers to extended male relatives within Shimei’s clan, indicating teamwork beyond the immediate household (1 Chronicles 25:7).

- “12 in all” echoes the standardized number assigned to every lot in the chapter (vv. 9–31). Twelve repeatedly symbolizes completeness in Scripture (Genesis 49:28; Revelation 21:12).

- The fixed group size ensured balanced musical coverage each week (cf. 1 Chronicles 23:30–31). It also teaches that worship involves coordinated bodies of believers, not isolated individuals (Hebrews 10:24–25).


summary

1 Chronicles 25:17 records that the tenth divinely chosen rotation of temple musicians fell to Shimei. He, his sons, and his extended family—twelve men in total—were slated to lead praise during their appointed time. The verse highlights God’s orderly governance of worship, personal accountability in service, the importance of family involvement, and the completeness of each worship team. Together these truths invite believers to honor God’s precise order, involve our households in praise, and serve joyfully in the roles He assigns.

(17) Shimei.—Omitted by accident from 1Chronicles 25:3.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
the tenth
הָעֲשִׂירִ֣י (hā·‘ă·śî·rî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 6224: Tenth, tenth month, part

to Shimei,
שִׁמְעִ֔י (šim·‘î)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8096: Shimei -- the name of a number of Israelites

his sons,
בָּנָ֥יו (bā·nāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

and his brothers—
וְאֶחָ֖יו (wə·’e·ḥāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

12 [in all];
שְׁנֵ֥ים (šə·nêm)
Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)


Additonal Resources
1 Chronicles 25:17 Blue Letter Bible
1 Chronicles 25:17 Bible Gateway
1 Chronicles 25:17 Bible.com

1 Chronicles 25:17 NIV
1 Chronicles 25:17 NLT
1 Chronicles 25:17 ESV
1 Chronicles 25:17 NASB
1 Chronicles 25:17 KJV

1 Chronicles 25:17 Study Bible
1 Chronicles 25:17 Biblia Paralela
1 Chronicles 25:17 Chinese Bible
1 Chronicles 25:17 French Bible
1 Chronicles 25:17 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Chronicles 25:17 The tenth to Shimei his sons (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)

1 Chronicles 25:16
Top of Page
Top of Page