1 Chronicles Chapter 1 of 29 about 3 min read

1 Chronicles 1

What happens in this chapter

1 Chronicles 1 is the opening chapter of the thirteenth book of the Bible. The 54-verse chapter is the first of nine consecutive chapters of genealogies that begin the book, tracing Israel's family lines from Adam through the patriarchs.

The chapter is almost entirely a list of names. It opens with the genealogy from Adam to Noah, naming each generation: Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.

It then lists the descendants of Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, whose lines populated the world after the flood. The lineage of Japheth covers the peoples to the north and west. The lineage of Ham covers Egypt, Cush, and Canaan. The lineage of Shem covers the Semitic peoples, narrowing eventually to Eber, from whom the Hebrews take their name.

The chapter then narrows further to the line from Shem to Abraham, naming each generation. From Abraham it covers his descendants through both Isaac and Ishmael, including the sons of Ishmael and the sons born to Abraham through Keturah after Sarah's death.

The chapter ends with the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother, including the kings who ruled in Edom before any king ruled in Israel. The genealogy of Jacob and his sons, the foundation of the twelve tribes of Israel, will follow in the next chapters.

Verse 1. Adam, Seth, Enosh,

Verse 2. Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

Verse 3. Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.

Verse 4. The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Verse 5. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Verse 6. The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

Verse 7. And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.

Verse 8. The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

Verse 9. The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.

Verse 10. Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one on the earth.

Verse 11. Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, the Naphtuhites,

Verse 12. the Pathrusites, the Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites.

Verse 13. And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,

Verse 14. the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,

Verse 15. the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,

Verse 16. the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

Verse 17. The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.

Verse 18. Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber.

Verse 19. Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan.

Verse 20. And Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

Verse 21. Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

Verse 22. Obal, Abimael, Sheba,

Verse 23. Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

Verse 24. So from Shem came Arphaxad, Shelah,

Verse 25. Eber, Peleg, Reu,

Verse 26. Serug, Nahor, Terah,

Verse 27. and Abram (that is, Abraham).

Verse 28. The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.

Verse 29. These are their genealogies: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

Verse 30. Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,

Verse 31. Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.

Verse 32. The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.

Verse 33. The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were Keturah’s sons.

Verse 34. Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.

Verse 35. The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

Verse 36. The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz; and by Timna, Amalek.

Verse 37. The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

Verse 38. The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.

Verse 39. The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.

Verse 40. The sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.

Verse 41. The son of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

Verse 42. The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

Verse 43. These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor. His city was named Dinhabah.

Verse 44. When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place.

Verse 45. When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

Verse 46. When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith.

Verse 47. When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place.

Verse 48. When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place.

Verse 49. When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place.

Verse 50. When Baal-hanan died, Hadad reigned in his place. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.

Verse 51. Then Hadad died. Now the chiefs of Edom were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,

Verse 52. Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,

Verse 53. Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,

Verse 54. Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.

Last updated: May 15, 2026