אֲחִי֙ בֶּן־עַבְדִּיאֵ֣ל בֶּן־גּוּנִ֔י רֹ֖אשׁ לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹותָֽם׃
1 Chronicles 5:15 is a genealogical entry, but even the briefest list of names in the Hebrew Bible reveals grammatical precision. This verse highlights the syntax of genealogical construct chains and appositional phrases. The subject, אֲחִי (Aḥi), is identified through two successive genitive relationships—son of ʿAvdiʾel, son of Guni—followed by a status designation: רֹאשׁ לְבֵית אֲבֹותָם, “chief of the house of their fathers.”
Literal Translation
“Aḥi, son of ʿAvdiʾel, son of Guni, was chief of their ancestral house.”
Word-by-Word Morphology
- אֲחִי (ʾAḥī) –
Root: א־ח;
Form: proper noun in construct form (short for “my brother”);
Translation: “Aḥi” (a personal name);
Notes: Not possessive in this context, despite construct morphology. - בֶּן־עַבְדִּיאֵל (ben-ʿAvdīʾēl) –
Root: ב־נ־ה, ע־ב־ד, א־ל;
Form: construct noun + proper name;
Translation: “son of ʿAvdiʾel”;
Notes: Name means “servant of God.” - בֶּן־גּוּנִי (ben-Gūnī) –
Root: ב־נ־ה, proper name;
Form: construct noun + proper name;
Translation: “son of Guni” - רֹאשׁ (rōʾsh) –
Root: ר־א־שׁ;
Form: masculine singular noun;
Translation: “chief / head” - לְבֵית אֲבֹותָם (ləvēt ʾăvōtām) –
Root: ב־י־ת, א־ב;
Form: preposition + construct phrase + plural suffix;
Translation: “of the house of their fathers / ancestral house”
Construct Chains and Genealogical Syntax
Hebrew genealogical records frequently employ construct chains to link individuals to their forebears. The form בֶּן־X בֶּן־Y is standard and compact. Additionally, the identification of a leader or official status comes at the end, as seen here:
- רֹאשׁ לְבֵית אֲבֹותָם – “chief of their ancestral house”
This construct בֵית אֲבֹותָם combines the singular noun בֵית (“house of”) with the plural אֲבֹותָם (“their fathers”), showing that tribal or clan identity is anchored in familial lineage.
Grammar in Service of Memory
Though brief, this verse encapsulates the careful preservation of lineage and status through structured grammar. The construct forms preserve relationships, and the title רֹאשׁ clarifies function within the social hierarchy. Even as Chronicles recounts history, Hebrew grammar frames the architecture of memory.
