1 Chronicles 1:40

The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.

1 Chronicles 1:40 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to the long genealogical record that opens 1 Chronicles. The chapter traces families from Adam through Abraham and Jacob, then turns to the descendants of Seir the Horite, who lived in Edom. The Chronicler wrote after the exile in Babylon, when the people needed to know their roots and God’s faithful care through many generations.

Meaning

The verse names the sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. Then it names the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. Both Shobal and Zibeon were sons of Seir, so these lists record branches of one Horite family. Some names appear with variant spellings in other copies, such as Alvan for Alian, but the meaning remains the same: each name marks a real person and a family line. The careful listing shows that God values individuals and their place in history.

Biblical connections

Anah appears again in Genesis 36:2 as the father of Oholibamah, who became a wife of Esau. That link connects this genealogy to the wider story of Israel’s ancestors and to the Edomites, Esau’s descendants. The Chronicler preserved these records carefully, showing that God values every family and every individual in His plan. This genealogy also provides historical context for the origins of Edom, a nation often mentioned in the Old Testament.

Application

These names may seem distant, but they teach that God remembers people who are not famous. He kept their records for centuries. Believers can trust that their own lives matter to God, even when they seem small or forgotten by others. God’s faithfulness spans generations, and He weaves ordinary lives into His purposes.

Reflection

God’s redemptive purpose runs through ordinary families and unnoticed names. This verse reminds readers that the Messiah came through a long line of real people, and that God’s faithfulness reaches every generation.