How does the naming of "Peresh" and "Sheresh" reflect biblical naming traditions? setting the genealogical scene • In 1 Chronicles 7 the chronicler records the descendants of Manasseh, one of Joseph’s two sons. • The list is historical, not mythical; it anchors real people in God’s covenant story. the verse in focus “Machir’s wife Maacah bore a son, and she named him Peresh; his brother was named Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.” (1 Chronicles 7:16) meaning behind the names • Peresh (פֶּרֶשׁ, peʾresh) – Root ideas: “separated, distinct,” and in some contexts “horseman” (cf. 1 Kings 5:6 where the noun parash is “horseman”). – The idea of being set apart fits a firstborn who opens a new branch of the family. • Sheresh (שֹׁרֶשׁ, shōresh) – Means “root.” – Conveys stability and continuation, the very traits a second son would supply to a growing clan. how their names mirror biblical naming traditions • Purposeful meaning – Hebrew parents often embedded prayer or prophecy into a name (Genesis 5:29; 1 Samuel 1:20). – “Separated” and “Root” together express hope that the family would both stand out and stay grounded. • Wordplay and sound echoes – The slight consonant shift from P to Sh creates a memorable pair—common in biblical genealogies (e.g., Jacob/Esau, Perez/Zerah). • Maternal naming – Maacah does the naming (v. 16), echoing other mothers who named covenant children (Genesis 29 – 30; 35:18). • Genealogical theology – By listing even lesser-known figures, Scripture underlines that every life, every name, serves God’s unfolding plan (Isaiah 49:1). – Peresh’s “separated” line and Sheresh’s “root” line both lead ultimately to the Messiah’s era when “the Root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:10) gathers a people “holy to the Lord” (Exodus 19:6). takeaways for today • God records ordinary names because ordinary people matter. • He still assigns identity and purpose: some are “set apart” for pioneering work, others provide the “root” that steadies families and churches (Ephesians 4:11-16). • The trustworthiness of genealogies assures us every promise, down to each name, stands firm (Matthew 1:1, 17; 2 Corinthians 1:20). |
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