1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 15:16–21

¹⁶David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments— harps, lyres, and cymbals. ¹⁷So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; ¹⁸and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah,^b Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.^c

¹⁹The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals. ²⁰Zechariah, Aziel,^d Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to Alamoth.^e ²¹And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith.^f

Footnotes

b 15:18 Several Hebrew manuscripts and most LXX manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 1 Chronicles 16:5|1CH 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son of or Zechariah, Ben,
c 15:18 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah or Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Ozias
d 15:20 Aziel is a variant of Jaaziel; see verse 18.
e 15:20 Alamothis probably a musical or liturgical term; here and in Psalm 46:1|PSA 46:1.
f 15:21 Sheminithis probably a musical term; here and in Psalm 6:1|PSA 6:1and Psalm 12:1.

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Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Chronicles 15:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
David also	דָּוִיד֮	dā·wîḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
told	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
the leaders	לְשָׂרֵ֣י	lə·śā·rê	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct	H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of the Levites	הַלְוִיִּם֒	hal·wî·yim	Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H3881 Levite
to appoint	לְהַֽעֲמִ֗יד	lə·ha·‘ă·mîḏ	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H5975 take one's stand, stand
their relatives	אֲחֵיהֶם֙	’ă·ḥê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H251 brother
as singers	הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים	ham·šō·rə·rîm	Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural	H7891 sing
to lift up	לְהָרִֽים־	lə·hā·rîm-	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H7311 be high, exalted, rise
their voices	בְּק֖וֹל	bə·qō·wl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H6963 sound, voice
with joy	לְשִׂמְחָֽה׃פ	lə·śim·ḥāh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H8057 joy, gladness, mirth
accompanied by musical	שִׁ֛יר	šîr	Noun - masculine singular	H7892 song
instruments	בִּכְלֵי־	biḵ·lê-	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct	H3627 article, utensil, vessel
harps	נְבָלִ֥ים	nə·ḇā·lîm	Noun - masculine plural	H5035 skin-bottle, skin
lyres	וְכִנֹּר֖וֹת	wə·ḵin·nō·rō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H3658 lyre
and cymbals	וּמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם	ū·mə·ṣil·tā·yim	Conjunctive waw; Noun - cd	H4700 double tinklers, cymbals

1 Chronicles 15:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So the Levites	הַלְוִיִּ֗ם	hal·wî·yim	Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H3881 Levite
appointed	וַיַּעֲמִ֣ידוּ	way·ya·‘ă·mî·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5975 take one's stand, stand
Heman	הֵימָ֣ן	hê·mān	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1968 Heman
son	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
of Joel	יוֹאֵ֔ל	yō·w·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3100 Joel
from	וּמִ֨ן־	ū·min-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
his brothers	אֶחָ֔יו	’e·ḥāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H251 brother
Asaph	אָסָ֖ף	’ā·sāp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H623 Asaph
son	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
of Berechiah	בֶּֽרֶכְיָ֑הוּס	bɛ·rɛḵ·yå̄·hūs	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1296 Berekjah
from	וּמִן־	ū·min-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
their brothers	אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם	’ă·ḥê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H251 brother
the Merarites	בְּנֵ֤י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
Ethan	אֵיתָ֖ן	’ê·ṯān	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H387 Ethan
son	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
of Kushaiah	קֽוּשָׁיָֽהוּ׃	qū·šā·yā·hū	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6984 Kushajah

1 Chronicles 15:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and with them	וְעִמָּהֶ֖ם	wə·‘im·mā·hem	Conjunctive waw; Preposition; third person masculine plural	H5973 with
their brothers	אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם	’ă·ḥê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H251 brother
next in rank	הַמִּשְׁנִ֑ים	ham·miš·nîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4932 double, copy, second
Zechariah	זְכַרְיָ֡הוּ	zə·ḵar·yā·hū	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H2148 Zecarjah
Jaaziel	וְיַֽעֲזִיאֵ֡ל	wə·ya·‘ă·zî·’êl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3268 Jaaziel
Shemiramoth	וּשְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹת	ū·šə·mî·rā·mō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8070 Shemiramoth
Jehiel	וִיחִיאֵ֣ל׀	wî·ḥî·’êl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3171 Jechiel
Unni	וְעֻנִּ֡י	wə·‘un·nî	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6042 Unni
Eliab	אֱלִיאָ֡ב	’ĕ·lî·’āḇ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H446 Eliab
Benaiah	וּבְנָיָ֡הוּ	ū·ḇə·nā·yā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1141 Benajah
Maaseiah	וּמַֽעֲשֵׂיָ֡הוּ	ū·ma·‘ă·śê·yā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4641 Maasejah
Mattithiah	וּמַתִּתְיָהוּ֩	ū·mat·tiṯ·yā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4993 Mattithjah
Eliphelehu	וֶאֱלִ֨יפְלֵ֜הוּ	we·’ĕ·lî·p̄ə·lê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H466 Eliphelehu
Mikneiah	וּמִקְנֵיָ֨הוּ	ū·miq·nê·yā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4737 Miknejah
and the gatekeepers	הַשֹּׁעֲרִֽים׃	haš·šō·‘ă·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H7778 porter
Obed-edom	אֱדֹ֛ם	’ĕ·ḏōm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5654 Obed-Edom
and Jeiel	וִֽיעִיאֵ֖ל	wî·‘î·’êl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3273 Jeiel

1 Chronicles 15:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The musicians	וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים	wə·ham·šō·rə·rîm	Conjunctive waw, Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural	H7891 sing
Heman	הֵימָ֥ן	hê·mān	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1968 Heman
Asaph	אָסָ֖ף	’ā·sāp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H623 Asaph
and Ethan	וְאֵיתָ֑ן	wə·’ê·ṯān	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H387 Ethan
were to sound	לְהַשְׁמִֽיעַ׃	lə·haš·mî·a‘	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H8085 hear
the bronze	נְחֹ֖שֶׁת	nə·ḥō·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H5178 copper, bronze
cymbals	בִּמְצִלְתַּ֥יִם	bim·ṣil·ta·yim	Preposition-b; Noun - cd	H4700 double tinklers, cymbals

1 Chronicles 15:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Zechariah	וּזְכַרְיָ֨ה	ū·zə·ḵar·yāh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H2148 Zecarjah
Aziel	וַעֲזִיאֵ֜ל	wa·‘ă·zî·’êl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5815 Aziel
Shemiramoth	וּשְׁמִֽירָמ֤וֹת	ū·šə·mî·rā·mō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8070 Shemiramoth
Jehiel	וִֽיחִיאֵל֙	wî·ḥî·’êl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3171 Jechiel
Unni	וְעֻנִּ֣י	wə·‘un·nî	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6042 Unni
Eliab	וֶֽאֱלִיאָ֔ב	we·’ĕ·lî·’āḇ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H446 Eliab
Maaseiah	וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖הוּ	ū·ma·‘ă·śê·yā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4641 Maasejah
and Benaiah	וּבְנָיָ֑הוּ	ū·ḇə·nā·yā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1141 Benajah
were to play the harps	בִּנְבָלִ֖ים	bin·ḇā·lîm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural	H5035 skin-bottle, skin
according to	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Alamoth	עֲלָמֽוֹת׃	‘ă·lā·mō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H5961 girls, soprano, falsetto

1 Chronicles 15:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And Mattithiah	וּמַתִּתְיָ֣הוּ	ū·mat·tiṯ·yā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4993 Mattithjah
Eliphelehu	וֶאֱלִֽיפְלֵ֗הוּ	we·’ĕ·lî·p̄ə·lê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H466 Eliphelehu
Mikneiah	וּמִקְנֵיָ֙הוּ֙	ū·miq·nê·yā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4737 Miknejah
Obed-edom	אֱדֹ֔ם	’ĕ·ḏōm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5654 Obed-Edom
Jeiel	וִֽיעִיאֵ֖ל	wî·‘î·’êl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3273 Jeiel
and Azaziah	וַעֲזַזְיָ֑הוּ	wa·‘ă·zaz·yā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5812 Azazjah
were to lead the music	לְנַצֵּֽחַ׃	lə·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H5329 be pre-eminent, enduring
with lyres	בְּכִנֹּר֥וֹת	bə·ḵin·nō·rō·wṯ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural	H3658 lyre
according to	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Sheminith	הַשְּׁמִינִ֖ית	haš·šə·mî·nîṯ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8067 eight-stringed lyre

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Chronicles 15:16 1 Chronicles 13:8 · 1 Chronicles 23:5 · 1 Chronicles 16:42 · Nehemiah 12:36 · 2 Chronicles 5:13

1 Chronicles 15:17 1 Chronicles 6:33 · 1 Chronicles 6:44 · 1 Chronicles 6:39

1 Chronicles 15:18 1 Chronicles 26:4

1 Chronicles 15:19 1 Chronicles 25:6

1 Chronicles 15:20 Psalm 46:1–11

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.