1 Chronicles 11:38

Study note

Setting — The chronicler narrates a military roster of David’s warriors, listing specific names in sequential order without commentary. The passage functions as an administrative record rather than a speech or dialogue.

The words — מִבְחָר (miv.Char) literally means “chosen one” or “select,” while יוֹאֵל (yo.'El) translates to “Yahweh is God.” These terms anchor the individuals by name and etymological identity within the list.

The thread — The roster appears in 1 Chronicles 11:37–39 and parallels the warrior lists in 2 Samuel 23:36. The text cross-references the same military genealogies found in the Samuelic record.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition of individual names as essential to covenant history. Readers must account for the specific identities recorded in the chronicler’s archival list without adding narrative embellishment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.