Briefly stated, 1 Chronicles 9:4 highlights a single family’s link to the broader story of Judah’s lineage, demonstrating that God faithfully preserves His people’s heritage and reaffirms their identity upon returning from exile.
Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah (v.4). This verse begins by listing a chain of ancestry for one particular man (Uthai). He is connected to Perez, who was the son of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob (Israel). Judah’s family line became a significant tribe within Israel, especially because it was prophesied that a ruler’s scepter would not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10). By stating Uthai’s lineage, the author of 1 Chronicles points back to the deep heritage of the tribe of Judah. This was crucial to the returning exiles who wanted to know their genealogical place in God’s covenant.
Uthai is singled out, emphasizing that he is a descendant from Judah through Perez. Perez himself was born of Judah and Tamar during a remarkable event (Genesis 38:27-30), which foreshadowed how God can bring blessing and hope through unexpected circumstances. Perez’s descendants became prominent in Israel’s story, eventually leading to King David and even to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33), fulfilling the promise that a special blessing would come through the tribe of Judah. This genealogical record roots Uthai firmly in the covenant community of Israel, highlighting how the returned exiles were indeed still part of God’s chosen people.
The mention of Judah here also foreshadows their eventual inheritance of the territory in the southern region, including Jerusalem. Historically, Judah became the dominant tribe after the monarchy divided (1 Kings 12), and Jerusalem was located in Judah’s portion of the land. The captivity and subsequent return are explained elsewhere in 1 Chronicles (for example, that Judah was carried away captive because of unfaithfulness, 1 Chronicles 9:1), but the line of genealogy in verse 4 urges the people to recall their origins and God’s promises, even after the exile.
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1 Chronicles 9:4 meaning
Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah (v.4). This verse begins by listing a chain of ancestry for one particular man (Uthai). He is connected to Perez, who was the son of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob (Israel). Judah’s family line became a significant tribe within Israel, especially because it was prophesied that a ruler’s scepter would not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10). By stating Uthai’s lineage, the author of 1 Chronicles points back to the deep heritage of the tribe of Judah. This was crucial to the returning exiles who wanted to know their genealogical place in God’s covenant.
Uthai is singled out, emphasizing that he is a descendant from Judah through Perez. Perez himself was born of Judah and Tamar during a remarkable event (Genesis 38:27-30), which foreshadowed how God can bring blessing and hope through unexpected circumstances. Perez’s descendants became prominent in Israel’s story, eventually leading to King David and even to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33), fulfilling the promise that a special blessing would come through the tribe of Judah. This genealogical record roots Uthai firmly in the covenant community of Israel, highlighting how the returned exiles were indeed still part of God’s chosen people.
The mention of Judah here also foreshadows their eventual inheritance of the territory in the southern region, including Jerusalem. Historically, Judah became the dominant tribe after the monarchy divided (1 Kings 12), and Jerusalem was located in Judah’s portion of the land. The captivity and subsequent return are explained elsewhere in 1 Chronicles (for example, that Judah was carried away captive because of unfaithfulness, 1 Chronicles 9:1), but the line of genealogy in verse 4 urges the people to recall their origins and God’s promises, even after the exile.