Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 9:11
Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple;
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text operates as a genealogical register entry within a catalog of temple personnel, identifying a priestly lineage without narrative action or direct address. It appears in a list that moves from Jedaiah and Jehoiarib in 1 Chronicles 9:10 to Adaiah and Maasai in 1 Chronicles 9:12.
The words — The Hebrew בֶּן (ben) repeats to mark patrilineal descent, structuring Azariah’s identity through Hilkiah, Meshullam, Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub. The opening וַ/עֲזַרְיָ֨ה (va./'a.zar.Yah) simply introduces the subject of this clerical record.
The thread — This precise lineage is recorded again in Nehemiah 11:11, linking the post-exilic temple roster to earlier priestly administration. The surrounding verses in 1 Chronicles 9:10 and 9:12 similarly enumerate priestly families to establish institutional continuity.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to observe how biblical temple authority is documented through verified ancestry rather than personal achievement. It asks the reader to track how specific names preserve institutional memory and religious order across generations.
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.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 11:11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of the house of God;
- Numbers 4:15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
- Numbers 4:28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
- Numbers 4:33 This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”
- 2 Kings 23:4 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.
- 2 Kings 25:18 The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers.
- 1 Chronicles 6:8 Ahitub was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz,
- 1 Chronicles 24:5 Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.
- Nehemiah 10:2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
- Jeremiah 20:1 When Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer and the chief official in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things,