1 Chronicles 9:33

Those who were musicians, the heads of Levite families, stayed in the temple chambers and were exempt from other duties because they were on duty day and night.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Chronicler writes to a post-exilic community, cataloging the returned Levites and organizing their permanent assignments in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

The words — פְּטוּרִים (pe.tu.rim) translates literally as "set free" or "exempt," describing their release from other labor to maintain continuous temple service. בַּ/לְּשָׁכֹת (ba./le.sha.khot) means "in the rooms" or "chambers," specifying their designated residential quarters within the temple complex.

The thread — This permanent assignment echoes David’s earlier appointments of Levite musicians in 1 Chronicles 6:31, 1 Chronicles 16:4, and 1 Chronicles 25:1, establishing a continuous lineage of dedicated worship personnel.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that sustained worship requires structural commitment and the removal of competing obligations, leaving no room for personal diversion.

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

וְאֵ֣לֶּהve./'E.lehand/ these הַ֠מְשֹׁרְרִיםHa/m.sho.re.rimthe/ singers רָאשֵׁ֨יra.Shei[the] chiefs of אָב֧וֹת'a.Votfathers לַלְוִיִּ֛םla/l.vi.Yimof the/ Levites בַּלְּשָׁכֹ֖תba./le.sha.Khot[were] in the/ rooms פְּטוּרִ֑יםpe.ti.rimset free כִּֽי־ki-for יוֹמָ֥םyo.Mamby day וָלַ֛יְלָהva./Lay.lahand/ night עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם'a.lei./Hem[was] on/ them בַּמְּלָאכָֽה׃ba./me.la.Khahin the/ work

King James Version

And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 6:31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there.
1 Chronicles 16:4 David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.
1 Chronicles 25:1 Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:
Psalms 134:1 A song of ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD!
1 Chronicles 15:16 David 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.
Ezra 7:24 And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
Nehemiah 11:17 Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
Nehemiah 11:22 Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. He was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the singers in charge of the service of the house of God.
Psalms 135:1 Hallelujah! Praise the name of the LORD. Give praise, O servants of the LORD,