1 Chronicles 6:46

KJV

The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,

KJV (with Strong's)

The son {H1121} of Amzi {H557}, the son {H1121} of Bani {H1137}, the son {H1121} of Shamer {H8106},

Complete Jewish Bible

the son of Amtzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,

Berean Standard Bible

the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,

American Standard Version

the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 6:46 is a concise yet significant entry within the extensive Levitical genealogies, specifically detailing a segment of the lineage of the Kohathites. This verse, like the entire chapter, underscores the meticulous divine order and the profound importance of established heritage for those called to sacred service in ancient Israel, ensuring the continuity and legitimacy of their roles in the Tabernacle and later the Temple.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Chapter 6 of 1 Chronicles is entirely dedicated to the descendants of Levi, the tribe chosen for sacred service. This extensive genealogy serves a crucial purpose in the book, which was likely compiled during or after the Babylonian exile. It meticulously traces the lines of the priests (descendants of Aaron, through Kohath) and the various Levitical families responsible for temple duties, music, and gatekeeping. Verse 46, "The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer," is a single link in a much longer chain found within the lineage of the Kohathites, specifically those involved in the musical service (compare with [1 Chronicles 6:31-47](/1_chronicles/6-31 "1 Chronicles 6:31-47 - Genealogies of the Levitical Musicians")). Its brevity belies its importance in demonstrating the unbroken, verifiable lineage essential for legitimate service.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, genealogies were far more than mere family trees; they were foundational documents. They established tribal identity, validated claims to land inheritance, and, most critically for the Levites, confirmed their legitimate right to serve in the sanctuary. After the exile, when the community was re-establishing itself, these records were vital for restoring proper worship and social order. The Levites, as God's appointed servants, performed a wide array of duties, from carrying the Ark ([Numbers 4:15](/numbers/4-15 "Numbers 4:15 - Kohathites Carrying the Ark")) to maintaining the sanctuary and leading worship. The meticulous recording of their ancestry, as seen in [Numbers 3](/numbers/3 "Numbers 3 - Census of the Levites"), ensured that only those divinely designated could perform these sacred tasks, preserving the purity and integrity of Israel's worship.

* **Key Themes:** This seemingly dry genealogical entry contributes to several overarching themes in 1 Chronicles and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Order and Meticulousness**, demonstrating God's precise attention to detail in establishing and maintaining the structure of His covenant people and their worship. Every name, even in a long list, was significant in His grand plan. Secondly, it underscores the **Importance of Lineage and Heritage**, as legitimate descent was the basis for identity, privilege, and responsibility, particularly for those in sacred office. This is evident in the strict requirements for priests to prove their ancestry, as seen in [Ezra 2:62](/ezra/2-62 "Ezra 2:62 - Priests Unable to Prove Lineage"). Lastly, the verse speaks to the **Continuity of Sacred Service**, illustrating God's faithfulness in providing a people to minister before Him across generations, ensuring that the work of worship and instruction would persist.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **son of (Hebrew, _ben_):** This recurring phrase is the bedrock of Hebrew genealogical records. It signifies direct paternal descent, establishing a clear, verifiable chain from one generation to the next. In the context of Levitical genealogies, it was not merely about family pride but about establishing legal and religious legitimacy for service in the Tabernacle and Temple. The repetition emphasizes the unbroken, verifiable nature of the lineage.
* **Amzi (Hebrew, _'Amtsiy_):** A proper noun, likely meaning "my strength" or "strong." While the individual's specific actions are not recorded, the inclusion of his name, along with Bani and Shamer, signifies that each person in this chain was a distinct individual, known and accounted for in God's meticulous record-keeping. Their names, though brief mentions, represent real lives contributing to the sacred history of Israel.
* **Bani (Hebrew, _Baniy_):** Another proper noun, possibly meaning "my builder" or "built." Like Amzi, Bani's inclusion emphasizes the continuity of the lineage. The names themselves, while not providing direct theological insight, serve as markers in a divinely ordained progression, highlighting the intergenerational nature of God's covenant and the service He calls His people to.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The son of Amzi,"**: This clause establishes the immediate link in the genealogical chain, identifying the individual whose father was Amzi. It immediately places the unnamed individual within a specific lineage.
* **"the son of Bani,"**: This continues the chain backward, identifying Amzi's father as Bani. The repetitive structure reinforces the direct, lineal descent, crucial for validating the legitimacy of the subsequent generations for Levitical service.
* **"the son of Shamer,"**: This completes the segment of the lineage presented in this verse, identifying Bani's father as Shamer. Together, these three phrases form a concise, yet vital, record of a specific segment of the Levitical family tree, highlighting the meticulousness with which these sacred records were kept.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 1 Chronicles 6:46, and indeed throughout much of Chronicles, is **Genealogy**. This is not merely a list of names but a structured record designed to establish lineage, legitimacy, and historical continuity. The repetitive phrase "the son of" functions as a form of **Repetition**, creating a rhythmic pattern that emphasizes the unbroken chain of descent and the meticulousness of the record. This repetition also contributes to the device of **Enumeration**, where individual names are listed to create a comprehensive and verifiable historical account. While seemingly dry, these devices serve a profound theological purpose: they underscore God's faithfulness in preserving a people and a lineage through whom His covenant promises would be fulfilled, culminating in the Davidic line and ultimately, the Messiah.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 6:46, though a fragment of a long list, speaks volumes about God's character and His relationship with His people. It reveals a God who is intimately concerned with order, precision, and the faithful execution of His purposes. The meticulous preservation of these genealogies underscores that every individual, even those whose names appear briefly in a list, is known and valued in God's grand design. This divine attention to detail in the Old Covenant's administration of sacred service foreshadows the perfect order and intentionality of God's redemptive plan. It reminds us that our identity and purpose are often found within a larger, divinely orchestrated narrative, connecting us to a heritage of faith that spans generations.

* [Ezra 2:62](/ezra/2-62 "Ezra 2:62 - Priests Unable to Prove Their Lineage")
* [Nehemiah 7:64](/nehemiah/7-64 "Nehemiah 7:64 - Priests Disqualified from the Priesthood")
* [Numbers 3:15](/numbers/3-15 "Numbers 3:15 - Census of the Levites by Families")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While 1 Chronicles 6:46 might seem like an obscure verse, it offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is a God of order and pays meticulous attention to even the seemingly mundane details of history and individual lives. Just as He ensured the proper lineage for those serving in the Tabernacle and Temple, He orchestrates the details of our lives and calls us into His service. This verse encourages us to appreciate our spiritual heritage—the "lineage of faith" passed down through generations of faithful believers—and to recognize our own place within God's ongoing story. We are not isolated individuals but part of a continuous narrative of God's work in the world, called to contribute to His purposes with the same faithfulness expected of the ancient Levites. Our lives, like those recorded in this genealogy, are known to God and have significance in His eternal plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's meticulous attention to detail in these genealogies encourage you about His care for your own life and its seemingly small details?**
* **What spiritual heritage have you received from those who came before you in faith, and how can you honor or build upon it in your own generation?**
* **How does understanding your place within God's larger narrative—the "lineage of faith"—impact your sense of purpose and belonging today?**

### FAQ
**Why are genealogies so important in the Bible, especially in Chronicles?**

Answer: Genealogies are crucial in the Bible for several reasons. Primarily, they establish identity, tribal affiliation, and inheritance rights within ancient Israelite society. For the Levites and priests, as seen in 1 Chronicles 6, they were absolutely essential for validating their legitimate right to serve in the sanctuary. In Chronicles specifically, which was written for a post-exilic community, these genealogies served to reconnect the returning exiles to their heritage, emphasizing the continuity of God's covenant promises, particularly the Davidic line, and the proper order of worship. They demonstrate that God's plan unfolds through specific individuals and families, providing a historical framework for understanding divine faithfulness from [Genesis 5](/genesis/5 "Genesis 5 - Adam's Descendants") to the lineage of Christ in [Matthew 1](/matthew/1 "Matthew 1 - Genealogy of Jesus").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous record-keeping of Levitical lineages in 1 Chronicles 6:46 and throughout the chapter finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament genealogies were vital for establishing earthly legitimacy for service, they ultimately point to the one whose lineage is divinely perfect and eternally valid. Jesus, though not from the tribe of Levi but from Judah, fulfills the priestly role not by human descent but by divine appointment, after the order of Melchizedek ([Hebrews 7:11-17](/hebrews/7-11 "Hebrews 7:11-17 - A New Priesthood")). The Old Testament's emphasis on an unbroken chain of service foreshadows Christ, the perfect High Priest, who offered a singular, perfect sacrifice, rendering the continuous, lineage-dependent sacrifices of the Levitical system obsolete ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). Through His atoning work, all believers are now grafted into a new, spiritual lineage, becoming part of a "royal priesthood" ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Royal Priesthood")), no longer defined by earthly ancestry but by spiritual adoption into God's family through Christ ([Galatians 3:26-29](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26-29 - Children of God Through Faith")). The precision of the Old Covenant's records beautifully prefigures the divine precision of God's redemptive plan, culminating in the person and work of Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of all divine order and sacred service.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.