Lexical Summary Seled: Seled Original Word: סֶלֶד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Seled From calad; exultation; Seled, an Israelite -- Seled. see HEBREW calad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom salad Definition a man in Judah NASB Translation Seled (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs סֶ֫לֶד proper name, masculine in Judah 1 Chronicles 2:30 (twice in verse), ᵐ5 Σαλαδ, ᵐ5L Σαλεδ. Topical Lexicon Name and Significance Seled is a personal name found only within the genealogies of Judah. Though Scripture gives no narrative about his life, the chronicler’s deliberate inclusion of his name underscores that every individual—whether prominent or obscure—exists under the gaze and providence of God. The very fact that Seled’s account is reduced to a single statement about his death and lack of descendants draws attention to themes of human mortality and the sovereignty of God over lineage. Biblical Occurrences 1 Chronicles 2:30 records both occurrences: “The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim; Seled died without children.” Genealogical Context Seled belongs to the Jerahmeelite line, a branch of Judah traced through Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:9–33). Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, produced several sons, among them Nadab, whose sons were Seled and Appaim. Because Seled left no offspring, the Jerahmeelite descent continued through his brother. This brief mention clarifies why later tribal listings omit Seled: his line ends with him, demonstrating how genealogies explain both continuity and cessation within Israel’s family records. Theological Themes 1. Human Frailty and Divine Purpose: Seled’s childlessness accentuates the contrast between human plans and God’s overarching purposes (compare Proverbs 19:21). In Scripture, infertility or the end of a family line often frames God’s power to preserve His covenant by unconventional means (e.g., Genesis 21; Ruth 4), yet in Seled’s case it simply marks an end—reminding readers that not every life fits a dramatic pattern, but each still serves the divine narrative. Historical and Cultural Insights Genealogies in ancient Israel secured tribal inheritance, land rights, and temple service qualifications after the exile (Ezra 2; Nehemiah 7). Listing Seled guards the integrity of these registers by noting gaps as well as continuities. His childlessness would have practical implications: property or duties originally expected to pass through him were redirected, probably to the descendants of Appaim, clarifying communal responsibilities. Chronicles, compiled after the Babylonian exile, reassured returning Judeans that their identity and covenant standing were intact—even when some family lines, like Seled’s, had vanished. Ministry Applications • God does not measure worth by fame or productivity. A believer who, like Seled, seems to leave no visible legacy is still counted and remembered by the Lord (Malachi 3:16). Seled’s life, summarized in a single verse, thus offers enduring lessons on God’s providence, the dignity of every person, and the unfolding redemptive plan that Scripture traces from Genesis to Revelation. Forms and Transliterations סֶ֖לֶד סֶ֣לֶד סלד se·leḏ Seled seleḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 2:30 HEB: וּבְנֵ֥י נָדָ֖ב סֶ֣לֶד וְאַפָּ֑יִם וַיָּ֥מָת NAS: of Nadab [were] Seled and Appaim, KJV: of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: INT: the sons of Nadab Seled and Appaim died 1 Chronicles 2:30 2 Occurrences |