1 Chronicles 26:7
New International Version
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men.

New Living Translation
Their names were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. Their relatives, Elihu and Semakiah, were also very capable men.

English Standard Version
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men, Elihu and Semachiah.

Berean Standard Bible
Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his brothers were Elihu and Semachiah, also capable men.

King James Bible
The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.

New King James Version
The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers Elihu and Semachiah were able men.

New American Standard Bible
The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers, Elihu and Semachiah, were valiant men.

NASB 1995
The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose brothers, Elihu and Semachiah, were valiant men.

NASB 1977
The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers, Elihu and Semachiah, were valiant men.

Legacy Standard Bible
The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers, Elihu and Semachiah, were men of valor.

Amplified Bible
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were courageous and able men, Elihu and Semachiah.

Christian Standard Bible
Shemaiah’s sons: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semachiah were also capable men.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Shemaiah’s sons: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his brothers Elihu and Semachiah were also capable men.

American Standard Version
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.

English Revised Version
The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Shemaiah's sons were Othni, and Othni's skilled brothers Rephael, Obed, Elzabad, as well as Elihu and Semachiah.

International Standard Version
These sons of Shemaiah included Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant, able men, Elihu and Semachiah.

Majority Standard Bible
Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his brothers were Elihu and Semachiah, also capable men.

NET Bible
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also respected.

New Heart English Bible
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, and Elzabad, and his brothers were valiant men, Elihu, and Semakiah.

Webster's Bible Translation
The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.

World English Bible
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose relatives were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, [and] Elzabad; his brothers Elihu and Semachiah [are] sons of valor.

Young's Literal Translation
Sons of Shemaiah are Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad; his brethren are sons of valour, Elihu and Semachiah,

Smith's Literal Translation
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, his brethren, sons of strength, Elihu and Semachiah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sons then of Semeias were Othni, and Raphael, and Obed, Elizabad, and his brethren most valiant men: and Eliu, and Samachias.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the sons of Shemaiah were Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad and his brothers, very strong men, as well as Elihu and Semachiah.

New American Bible
The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; also his kinsmen who were men of substance, Elihu and Semachiah.

New Revised Standard Version
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men, Elihu and Semachiah.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The sons of Shemaiah: Gathael, Cadhael, Obedael, and Zechariah, the mighty man, and Elijah and Semachiah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The sons of Shemaiah: Gathayel and Gadkhaiel and Ubdayel and Zechariah, a mighty man of power, Elia and Semakyah.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael and Obed and Elzabad his brethren, valiant men; Elihu also, and Semachiah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The sons of Samai; Othni, and Raphael, and Obed, and Elzabath, and Achiud, mighty men, Heliu, and Sabachia, and Isbacom.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Divisions of the Gatekeepers
6Also to his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled over their families because they were strong, capable men. 7Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his brothers were Elihu and Semachiah, also capable men. 8All these were descendants of Obed-edom; they and their sons and brothers were capable men with strength to do the work—62 in all from Obed-edom.…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 9:17-27
These were the gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was their chief; / he was previously stationed at the King’s Gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the Levites. / Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives from the Korahites were assigned to guard the thresholds of the Tent, just as their fathers had been assigned to guard the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD. ...

1 Chronicles 23:1-32
When David was old and full of years, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel. / Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. / The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000. ...

1 Chronicles 24:1-31
These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. / But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. / With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service. ...

1 Chronicles 25:1-31
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service: / From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. These sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. / From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all—under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD. ...

1 Chronicles 27:1-34
This is the list of the Israelites—the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division: / Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division. / He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month. ...

2 Chronicles 8:14
In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.

2 Chronicles 23:18-19
Moreover, Jehoiada put the oversight of the house of the LORD into the hands of the Levitical priests, whom David had appointed over the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and song, as ordained by David. / He stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that no one who was in any way unclean could enter.

2 Chronicles 31:14-19
Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions to the LORD and the consecrated gifts. / 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. / In addition, they distributed portions to the males registered by genealogy who were three years of age or older—to all who would enter the house of the LORD for their daily duties for service in the responsibilities of their divisions— ...

Nehemiah 11:19
And the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.

Nehemiah 12:25
Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.

Nehemiah 12:44-47
And on that same day men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. The portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving. / They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. / For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ...

Psalm 84:10
For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Psalm 134:1
A song of ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD!

Luke 1:8-9
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, / he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Luke 2:36-37
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, / and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.


Treasury of Scripture

The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brothers were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.

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Able Elihu Eli'hu Elzabad Elza'bad Great Obed Relatives Shemaiah Shemai'ah Strong Valiant Valour
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Able Elihu Eli'hu Elzabad Elza'bad Great Obed Relatives Shemaiah Shemai'ah Strong Valiant Valour
1 Chronicles 26
1. The divisions of the porters
13. The gates assigned by lot
20. The Levites that had charge of the treasures
29. Officers and judges














The sons of Shemaiah
This phrase introduces us to the lineage of Shemaiah, a descendant of Obed-edom, who was a gatekeeper in the temple. The genealogical records in Chronicles emphasize the importance of family heritage and the continuation of faithful service to God. The Hebrew root for "sons" (בָּנִים, banim) often signifies not just biological offspring but also spiritual and communal successors, highlighting the role of family in maintaining religious duties.

Othni
The name Othni is derived from the Hebrew root "עָתַן" (athan), meaning "to be strong" or "to be enduring." This suggests that Othni was recognized for his strength and resilience, qualities essential for the role of a gatekeeper. In a spiritual sense, strength is often associated with faithfulness and the ability to withstand challenges, reflecting the character expected of those serving in the temple.

Rephael
Rephael means "God has healed" in Hebrew, from the root "רָפָא" (rapha), which means "to heal" or "to restore." This name may indicate a testimony of God's healing power in the family or community. It serves as a reminder of God's ongoing work of restoration and wholeness, both physically and spiritually, in the lives of His people.

Obed
The name Obed comes from the Hebrew root "עָבַד" (avad), meaning "to serve" or "to worship." Obed's name reflects a life dedicated to service, particularly in the context of worship and temple duties. This highlights the biblical principle that true greatness in God's kingdom is found in servanthood and devotion.

Elzabad
Elzabad means "God has given" in Hebrew, from the root "זָבַד" (zabad), meaning "to give" or "to endow." This name underscores the belief that all gifts and abilities are bestowed by God. It serves as a reminder of the divine provision and generosity that equips individuals for their roles in God's service.

His brothers Elihu and Semachiah
The mention of Elihu and Semachiah as brothers emphasizes the communal and familial aspect of temple service. Elihu, meaning "He is my God" (from the root "אֵלִי" [Eli] and "הוּא" [hu]), and Semachiah, meaning "God has supported" (from the root "סָמַךְ" [samach]), both reflect a deep reliance on and relationship with God. Their names suggest a life of faith and dependence on divine support.

were also capable men
The phrase "capable men" (חַיִל, chayil) in Hebrew conveys the idea of valor, strength, and competence. It indicates that these men were not only physically able but also spiritually and morally fit for their responsibilities. This highlights the biblical principle that God values both character and capability in those who serve Him, and it serves as an encouragement for believers to cultivate both in their own lives.

(7) And Obed, Elzabad.--This is probably corrupt, as the conjunction, which is used with the preceding names, is wanting between Obed and Elzabad. Probably Obed-Elzabad is a corruption of some single name, perhaps Obed-el: (comp. the Syriac and Arabic, Ubdael and Ufidilu), or Abdiel (1Chronicles 5:15; Syriac, Abdael; Arabic, Afadilu); see Note on 1Chronicles 26:12. (Those two versions, however, give six names, while the LXX. gives eight.)

Whose brethren were strong men.--The Hebrew has "his brethren." The conjunction appears to be missing again. Read: And his brethren, sons of strength, Elihu and Semachiah.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Shemaiah’s
שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה (šə·ma‘·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8098: Shemaiah -- 'Yah hears', the name of a number of Israelites

sons [were]
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

Othni,
עָ֠תְנִי (‘ā·ṯə·nî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6273: Othni -- a Levite

Rephael,
וּרְפָאֵ֨ל (ū·rə·p̄ā·’êl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7501: Rephael -- 'God has cured', a Levite

Obed,
וְעוֹבֵ֧ד (wə·‘ō·w·ḇêḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5744: Obed -- 'worshiper', the name of several Israelites

and Elzabad;
אֶלְזָבָ֛ד (’el·zā·ḇāḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 443: Elzabad -- 'God has given', two Israelites

his brothers [were]
אֶחָ֖יו (’e·ḥāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

Elihu
אֱלִיה֖וּ (’ĕ·lî·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 453: Elihu -- 'He is (my) God', five Israelites

and Semachiah,
וּסְמַכְיָֽהוּ׃ (ū·sə·maḵ·yā·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5565: Semachiah -- 'Yah has sustained', a Korahite

also capable
חָ֑יִל (ḥā·yil)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

men.
בְּנֵי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 26:7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni and Rephael (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 26:6
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