Lexical Summary Tulon or Tilon: Tilon Original Word: תּוּלוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance birth, generations From talal; suspension; Tulon, an Israelite -- Tilon (from the margin). see HEBREW talal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a man of Judah NASB Translation Tilon (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs תִּילוֺן proper name, masculine in Judah, 1 Chronicles 4:20 Qr (Kt תולון); Ινων, A Θιλων ᵐ5L Θωλειμ. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence and Genealogical Context Tilon is named once in the canonical record, nestled within the Judahite genealogies of 1 Chronicles 4:20. The Chronicler lists him among the four sons of Shimon: “The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon” (Berean Standard Bible). Although brief, this placement ties him to the larger clan structure descended from Judah and situates his descendants among those who would inhabit the southern territory of Israel after the conquest. Historical and Cultural Setting 1 Chronicles was compiled after the Babylonian exile, when returned exiles needed a clear sense of lineage to reclaim ancestral lands and temple duties. Tilon’s inclusion testifies to meticulous tribal records preserved through centuries of dispersion, warfare, and captivity. The Chronicler’s interest in even obscure names like Tilon reflects the covenant people’s commitment to preserving every branch of Judah’s family tree, ensuring rightful inheritance and continuity of worship in Jerusalem. Terraced agriculture defined much of Judah’s hill country, and the very meaning of Tilon’s name evokes the stepped ridges carved into slopes for cultivation. His family likely participated in this labor-intensive practice, contributing to Judah’s agrarian economy and sustaining the communities surrounding Bethlehem, Hebron, and the Shephelah. Theological and Spiritual Insights 1. Faithful Preservation: The Spirit-guided Chronicler recorded Tilon’s name to demonstrate that God remembers every individual within His covenant community, no matter how hidden from historical spotlight (compare Malachi 3:16). Practical Ministry Applications • Valuing the Hidden: Church leaders can draw encouragement from Tilon’s brief mention that every congregant, regardless of public recognition, has an indispensable role in God’s plan (1 Corinthians 12:22). Legacy within the Line of Judah While Scripture records no exploits or prophetic acts by Tilon, the very preservation of his name affirms the dignity of every member in God’s covenant household. His family helped populate and cultivate Judah’s heartland, contributing to the social, economic, and spiritual environment from which kings, prophets, and ultimately the Messiah would arise. In this way, Tilon’s legacy is woven into the larger account of redemption—reminding readers that faithfulness in obscurity is never lost to the God who “calls each of the stars by name” (Psalm 147:4). Forms and Transliterations וְתִילֹ֑ון ותילון vetiLon wə·ṯî·lō·wn wəṯîlōwnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 4:20 HEB: [וְתֹולֹון כ] (וְתִילֹ֑ון ק) וּבְנֵ֣י NAS: Benhanan and Tilon. And the sons KJV: Benhanan, and Tilon. And the sons INT: and Rinnah Benhanan birth and the sons of Ishi 1 Occurrence |
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