1 Chronicles 7:36
New International Version
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

New Living Translation
The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

English Standard Version
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah.

Berean Standard Bible
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

Berean Literal Bible
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,

King James Bible
The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,

New King James Version
The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

New American Standard Bible
The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

NASB 1995
The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri and Imrah,

NASB 1977
The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, and Imrah,

Legacy Standard Bible
The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, and Imrah,

Amplified Bible
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

Berean Annotated Bible
The sons of Zophah (a cruse): Suah (sweeping), Harnepher (panting), Shual (jackal), Beri (a well), Imrah (bitterness),

Christian Standard Bible
Zophah’s sons: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Zophah’s sons: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

American Standard Version
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,

Contemporary English Version
Zophah was the father of Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

English Revised Version
The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Zophah's sons were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

Good News Translation
The descendants of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

International Standard Version
Zophah's descendants included Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

NET Bible
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

New Heart English Bible
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual. And the sons of Imna:

Webster's Bible Translation
The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

World English Bible
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,

Berean Literal Bible
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,

Young's Literal Translation
Sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,

Smith's Literal Translation
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beni, and Imrah,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sons of Supha: Sue, Hernapher, and Sual, and Beri, and Jamra.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,

New American Bible
The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

New Revised Standard Version
The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The sons of Zophah: Suah and Harnepher and Shual and Beri and Imrah,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The Peshitta lacks this verse.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shaul, and Beri, and Imrah;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The sons of Sopha; Sue, and Arnaphar, and Suda, and Barin, and Imran,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sons of Asher
35The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. 36The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.…

Cross References
The sons of Zophah:

Genesis 46:17
The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.

Numbers 26:44-47
These were the descendants of Asher by their clans: The Imnite clan from Imnah, the Ishvite clan from Ishvi, and the Beriite clan from Beriah. / And these were the descendants of Beriah: the Heberite clan from Heber and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel. / And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah. …

Deuteronomy 33:24
And concerning Asher he said: “May Asher be the most blessed of sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot in oil.
Suah,

Genesis 25:2
and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

1 Chronicles 1:32
The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.

Job 2:11
Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.
Harnepher,

Numbers 26:32-33
the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher. / Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

Joshua 17:2-3
So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. / But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

1 Chronicles 4:6
Naarah bore to him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah.
Shual,

1 Samuel 13:17
And raiders went out of the Philistine camp in three divisions. One headed toward Ophrah in the land of Shual,

Judges 15:4
Then Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes. And he took torches, turned the foxes tail-to-tail, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails.

Lamentations 5:18
because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.
Beri,

1 Chronicles 8:13
and Beriah and Shema (who were the heads of families living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath).

1 Chronicles 8:16
Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.

1 Chronicles 23:10-11
And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei—four in all. / Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were counted as one family and received a single assignment.
Imrah,

2 Chronicles 31:14
Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions to the LORD and the consecrated gifts.


Treasury of Scripture

The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,

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Shaul Shual Shu'al Zophah
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Shaul Shual Shu'al Zophah
1 Chronicles 7
1. The sons of Issachar;
6. of Benjamin;
13. of Naphtali;
14. of Manasseh;
15. and of Ephraim.
21. The calamity of Ephraim by the men of Gath.
23. His posterity by Beriah.
28. Their habitations.
30. The sons of Asher.












The sons of Zophah:
Zophah is listed as a descendant of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Asher was known for its abundance and prosperity, as seen in Jacob's blessing in Genesis 49:20. This lineage emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promises to the tribes of Israel. The genealogies in Chronicles serve to establish the continuity of God's covenant people and their inheritance in the Promised Land.

Suah:
The name Suah is not widely mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, which is common for many names in genealogies. Each name, however, represents a link in the chain of Israel's history, underscoring the importance of every individual in God's plan. The inclusion of lesser-known figures highlights the comprehensive nature of God's covenant with Israel.

Harnepher:
Harnepher, like Suah, is not a prominent biblical figure outside of this genealogy. The mention of such names serves to authenticate the historical record of the tribes and their descendants. It also reflects the meticulous nature of the chronicler in preserving the heritage and identity of the Israelite people.

Shual:
Shual may be connected to the Hebrew word for "fox," which could imply characteristics or traits associated with the name. In biblical times, names often held significant meaning or were indicative of personal or familial traits. The chronicler's inclusion of Shual in the genealogy underscores the diversity and richness of Israel's tribal history.

Beri:
Beri is another name that appears only in this genealogical context. The chronicler's detailed record-keeping serves to remind readers of the vastness of God's people and the fulfillment of His promises to Abraham regarding his descendants. Each name, though obscure, contributes to the tapestry of Israel's history and God's faithfulness.

Imrah:
Imrah, like the other names listed, is not widely known outside of this passage. The chronicler's attention to detail in listing these descendants of Asher highlights the importance of every family and individual in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. This meticulous record serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of the tribes of Israel and their role in biblical history.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zophah
A descendant of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Zophah is listed as a patriarch whose lineage is part of the genealogical records in 1 Chronicles.

2. Suah
One of the sons of Zophah. His name is mentioned in the genealogical records, but little else is known about him.

3. Harnepher
Another son of Zophah. Like Suah, he is part of the genealogical listing, emphasizing the importance of family lineage.

4. Shual
Also a son of Zophah. His inclusion in the genealogy highlights the continuation of the family line.

5. Beri and Imrah
Additional sons of Zophah, contributing to the record of the tribe of Asher.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Genealogy in Scripture
Genealogies in the Bible serve to connect God's people to His promises. They remind us of the faithfulness of God across generations and the importance of family heritage in His divine plan.

God's Faithfulness Across Generations
The listing of names, though seemingly mundane, is a testament to God's ongoing work through families and tribes. It encourages us to see our own family histories as part of God's larger account.

The Value of Every Individual in God's Plan
Even when little is known about individuals like Suah or Harnepher, their inclusion in Scripture underscores that every person has a role in God's plan. This challenges us to value each person in our communities.

Continuity and Legacy
The genealogies remind us of the importance of leaving a spiritual legacy. As believers, we are called to pass on our faith to the next generation, ensuring the continuity of God's work.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 7:36?

2. How does 1 Chronicles 7:36 contribute to understanding the genealogy of Asher's descendants?

3. What can we learn about God's faithfulness through Asher's lineage in 1 Chronicles 7:36?

4. How does Asher's genealogy in 1 Chronicles 7:36 connect to God's promises to Israel?

5. What practical lessons can we apply from the genealogies in 1 Chronicles 7?

6. How does studying genealogies like 1 Chronicles 7:36 strengthen our faith in Scripture?

7. What is the significance of the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 7:36 for biblical history?

8. How does 1 Chronicles 7:36 contribute to understanding the tribes of Israel?

9. Why are genealogies like 1 Chronicles 7:36 important in the Bible?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Chronicles 7?

11. 1 Chronicles 7:30-40 - Why are certain names in Asher's genealogy missing or inconsistent when compared with other biblical genealogies?

12. Why does Judges 7 seemingly contradict other biblical passages that emphasize the need for adequate numbers in battle (e.g., 1 Chronicles 21:1-5)?

13. In 1 Chronicles 18:4, how do we reconcile the figure of 7,000 horsemen with 2 Samuel 8:4, which mentions 1,700 instead?

14. How do we reconcile the differences between 1 Chronicles 17 and 2 Samuel 7 regarding the details of God's covenant with David?
What Does 1 Chronicles 7:36 Mean
The sons of Zophah

1 Chronicles 7:36 lists “The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, and Imrah.” Zophah appears in a long record that traces the tribe of Asher (1 Chronicles 7:30–40). God had promised that every tribe and family would inherit land in Canaan (Genesis 17:8; Joshua 19:24–31). These names prove that promise really was fulfilled: entire clans grew from Zophah, took their places in the land, and helped Asher become, as Jacob foretold, “rich in food” (Genesis 49:20) and, as Moses blessed, “favored by his brothers” (Deuteronomy 33:24). Each son’s name anchors a clan to real ground, real history, and the ever-reliable faithfulness of God.


Suah

• Suah heads the first clan under Zophah. When Numbers 1:40–41 counts Asher for military service in the wilderness, the total includes Suah’s descendants—even if they are never mentioned by name.

• Later, in Numbers 26:44–47, the second census shows Asher’s numbers actually rose during the forty years in the desert. Suah’s clan contributed to that growth, illustrating Psalm 115:14, “May the Lord increase you more and more, you and your children.”

• Every time the tribe mustered for battle (Judges 6:35; 7:23) or brought offerings to the tabernacle (Numbers 7:72–77), Suah’s household was represented. Their quiet obedience teaches that even unrecorded acts of faithfulness matter to God (Hebrews 6:10).


Harnepher

• Harnepher’s clan would have shared in the allotment of fertile coastal land given to Asher (Joshua 19:28–30). Living in a rich agricultural region fulfilled God’s promise of daily provision (Psalm 37:25).

• Though silently present, Harnepher’s line forms part of the heritage that welcomed Christ: by New Testament times a prophetess named Anna, “of the tribe of Asher” (Luke 2:36), still traced her lineage back through lists like this.

• The continuity from Harnepher to Anna underscores Isaiah 40:8: “The word of our God stands forever.” What God records, He preserves.


Shual

• Shual’s people helped form the fighting strength praised in 1 Chronicles 7:40: “They were mighty men of valor… heads of the princes.”

• By standing shoulder to shoulder with brothers from Issachar and Zebulun when Deborah called for help (Judges 5:17), Asher as a tribe was rebuked for lingering on the coast, yet some clans did respond. Shual’s descendants may well have been among the willing—a reminder that family choices echo through history (Joshua 24:15).

• Their beaches and harbors made them merchants (Ezekiel 27:17). Shual’s clan likely contributed goods of oil and grain, becoming part of God’s provision to the world.


Beri

• Beri’s clan shares its root with “Beriah” (1 Chronicles 7:31), another Asherite. Together these families remind us that God often repeats gracious themes in family histories, weaving them into His larger plan (Romans 8:28).

• The territory Asher held bordered Phoenicia. Encounters with outsiders could lead to compromise, yet Beri’s name preserved inside a covenant document shows that God can keep a remnant holy in challenging surroundings (1 Peter 1:1–2).

• Every tithe of harvest (Leviticus 27:30) and every pilgrim journey to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16) would have seen Beri’s clan participating, connecting them to worship at the very heart of Israel’s life.


Imrah

• Imrah completes Zophah’s line, demonstrating God’s concern for the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Even the last-listed receives the same divine attention as the first.

• His descendants joined the national assemblies under King Hezekiah and Josiah, when letters summoned “Asher” to seek the LORD (2 Chronicles 30:11; 34:6). Some mocked, but “others humbled themselves and came,” quite possibly including Imrah’s line—evidence of the soft hearts God looks for (Isaiah 57:15).

Revelation 7:6 foresees twelve thousand sealed from Asher. Imrah’s clan may be among that prophetic number, showing that a name recorded early in Scripture still matters in the final plan of God.


summary

1 Chronicles 7:36 is more than a roster; it is a testimony to God’s meticulous faithfulness. Each son—Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, and Imrah—became a clan through which the tribe of Asher inherited land, provided warriors, merchants, and worshipers, and ultimately carried forward the line that greeted the Messiah. Their recorded names assure us that no act of obedience, no family, and no promise of God is ever forgotten.

(36) The branches of Helem through Zophah the elder house. Eleven names of the sons of Zophah. The second, "Harnepher," has a name which looks like pure Egyptian: Har nefer, "the beauteous Horus," or morning sun. Comp. the case of the Egyptian slave Jarha 34), and the marriage of Mered with "Pharaoh's daughter" (1Chronicles 4:18). (See also the Notes on 1Chronicles 7:10.)

Verses 36-38. - Vers. 36 and 37 purport to give us eleven sons of Zophah, son of Helem, and grandson of Heber, and these bring us to the sixth generation from Asher; and again (ver. 38), we reach the seventh in descent from Asher, in the three sons of Jether, or Ithran, the tenth son of Zophah.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The sons
בְּנֵ֖י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Zophah:
צוֹפָ֑ח (ṣō·w·p̄āḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6690: Zophah -- an Asherite

Suah,
ס֧וּחַ (sū·aḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5477: Suah -- an Asherite

Harnepher,
וְחַרְנֶ֛פֶר (wə·ḥar·ne·p̄er)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2774: Harnepher -- an Asherite

Shual,
וְשׁוּעָ֖ל (wə·šū·‘āl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7777: Shual -- 'fox', a district in Israel

Beri,
וּבֵרִ֥י (ū·ḇê·rî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1275: Beri -- a descendant of Asher

Imrah,
וְיִמְרָֽה׃ (wə·yim·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3236: Imrah -- an Asherite


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 7:36 The sons of Zophah: Suah and Harnepher (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 7:35
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