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Chronicles' Family Line from Adam to Abraham
This genealogy opens 1 Chronicles by tracing names from Adam to Abraham, then naming Abraham’s family branches. It does not retell earlier stories. It arranges people in a line and in groups, helping readers follow the family connections in this book.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this family record
The passage begins with Adam and moves quickly to Noah and Noah’s sons. It then lists descendants from Japheth, Ham and Shem, gives a few brief notes within the names, narrows from Shem to Abram, also called Abraham, and ends with Abraham’s descendants.
1 Chronicles 1:1–34Main takeaway
This passage orders the family line from Adam to Abraham while also showing several connected branches.
Follow the family lines
01From Adam to NoahThe opening is very brief. It names Adam’s line through Seth, Enosh and others until Noah, then gives Noah’s three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Explanation
The opening is very brief. It names Adam’s line through Seth, Enosh and others until Noah, then gives Noah’s three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. The passage starts with a straight line of names before expanding into wider family groups.
02Branches from Japheth and HamAfter Noah, the list spreads out. Japheth’s sons and grandsons come first. Then Ham’s family is named, including Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan.
Explanation
After Noah, the list spreads out. Japheth’s sons and grandsons come first. Then Ham’s family is named, including Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan. A few extra notes appear among the names: Nimrod began to be a mighty one on the earth, and the Philistines came from Casluhim.
03From Shem to AbramShem’s sons are listed, but then the genealogy narrows. Arpachshad leads to Shelah, then Eber.
Explanation
Shem’s sons are listed, but then the genealogy narrows. Arpachshad leads to Shelah, then Eber. Eber’s son Peleg receives a short note: in his days the earth was divided. After Joktan’s branch is listed, the text repeats the direct line from Shem to Abram, also called Abraham.
04Abraham’s family namedThe ending names Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael. It then lists Ishmael’s sons. After that, it separately names the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, including Midian’s sons.
Explanation
The ending names Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael. It then lists Ishmael’s sons. After that, it separately names the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, including Midian’s sons. The passage closes by returning to Isaac and naming his sons, Esau and Israel.
Questions to explore
01Where does the passage move from one line of names to many branches?
Compare the straight list from Adam to Noah with the wider family lists after Noah’s sons.
02What short notes add more than just names to the genealogy?
Look for places where the text explains something about Nimrod, the Philistines or Peleg.
03How does the passage organise Abraham’s descendants at the end?
Notice the order: Isaac and Ishmael are named, Ishmael’s sons are listed, Keturah’s sons are listed separately, and then Isaac’s sons are named.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Chronicles 1:1–34
1Adam, Seth, Enosh,
2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
4Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
5The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
6The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah.
7The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
8The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
9The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
10Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one on the earth.
11Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,
12Pathrusim, Casluhim (where the Philistines came from), and Caphtorim.
13Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, Heth,
14the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite,
15the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite,
16the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
17The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.
18Arpachshad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.
19To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
20Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
21Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
22Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,
23Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
24Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah,
25Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26Serug, Nahor, Terah,
27Abram (also called Abraham).
28The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.
29These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
30Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,
31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.
32The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.
33The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
34Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.