📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 9:39
What does 1 Chronicles 9:39 mean?
"Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal."
— 1 Chronicles 9:39 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
his firstborn son Abdon, Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, near their brothers.
Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
The son of Jonathan was Merib Baal. Merib Baal became the father of Micah.
The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
Ahaz became the father of Jarah. Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.
Explanation
First Chronicles 9:39 records a short family line: Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul (Israel's first king), and Saul fathered four sons—Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. In plain terms, this is a straightforward genealogical note tracing the ancestry and immediate descendants of King Saul, placing him within a specific family tree that the Chronicler wants his readers to remember accurately.
The book of 1 Chronicles was written after the Babylonian exile, likely by a priestly or Levitical author (traditionally associated with Ezra), for the Jewish community that had returned to the land. Chapters 1–9 consist almost entirely of genealogies, tracing Israel's history from Adam down through the tribes, priesthood, and royal line. This particular list appears twice in Chronicles (here and in 8:33), and it echoes an earlier version of the same genealogy found in 1 Samuel 14:49–51. The repetition within Chronicles itself is intentional: the Chronicler is setting the stage for the transition from Saul's failed kingship to David's, which becomes the central focus of the following chapters. By
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.