1 Chronicles 15:23

וּבֶֽרֶכְיָה֙ וְאֶלְקָנָ֔ה שֹֽׁעֲרִ֖ים לָֽאָרֽוֹן
And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

וּ בֶֽרֶכְיָה֙
וּ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
בֶֽרֶכְיָה֙
Root word a name — transliterate it ("And berechiah")
Dictionary form: בֶּרֶכְיָה · beh-rek-YAW

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: and berechiah
of berechiah ×6 and berechiah ×3 berechiah ×1 of berachiah ×1
More options
Berechiah — Most common modern spelling; preferred in scholarly works.
Berekiah — Closer transliteration; used in some modern translations.
Berachiah — Alternate traditional spelling; reflects KJV variant form.

berechiah, berachiah
berekyâ
Jehovah blesses
Berekjah, the name of six Israelites
  • a son of Zerubbabel
    • "a Levite who returned for the exile"father of Meshullam, one of Nehemiah's chiefs who assisted in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem"father of Zechariah"a Gershonite Levite, the father of Asaph, the singer, doorkeeper of the ark"an Ephraimite chief in the time of Ahaz

וְ אֶלְקָנָ֔ה
וְ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
אֶלְקָנָ֔ה
Root word a name — transliterate it ("And elkanah")
Dictionary form: אֶלְקָנָה · el-kaw-NAW

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: and elkanah
and elkanah ×6 elkanah ×6 of elkanah ×6 as for elkanah ×1 that elkanah ×1 was elkanah ×1
More options
Elkanah — Standard modern spelling; use in most contexts.
El-kanah — Hyphenated form; clarifies two-part Hebrew name structure.
Elqanah — Scholarly transliteration; preferred in academic or critical texts.

BDB470 H511

BDB469 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB471

אֶלְקָנָה proper name, masculine (God has created, or taken possession)
  a. father of Samuel 1 Sam 1-2 (8 t.) 1Chr 6:12; 1Chr 6:19.
  b. son of Korah Exod 6:24.
  c. a ruler in Jerusalem in the time of Ahaz 2Chr 28:7.
  d. one of David's warriors 1Chr 12:6.
  e. several Levites
   (a) 1Chr 6:8; 1Chr 6:10; 1Chr 6:21. (β) v.1Chr 6:11 v.1Chr 6:20. (γ) 1Chr 9:16 (δ) 1Chr 15:23.

elkanah
ʾelqānâ
God has possessed, God has created
Elkanah, the name of several Israelites
  • Samuel's father
    • "a ruler in Jerusalem in the time of king Ahaz"one of David's mighty warriors"son of Korah"several Levites

שֹֽׁעֲרִ֖ים
שֹֽׁעֲרִ֖ים
Root word porters, porter, doorkeepers
Dictionary form: שׁוֹעֵר · shoh-ARE

Noun — Common, masculine plural, absolute state plural — usually add "-s"

In the KJV here: were doorkeepers
and the porters ×10 the porters ×8 of the porters ×4 the porter ×3 were porters ×3 to be porters ×2 were doorkeepers ×2 and porters ×1
More options
gatekeeper — Most common modern equivalent; preferred in contemporary translations.
doorkeeper — Modernized KJV form; suits smaller, interior entry points.
guard — Broader term; use when access-control role is emphasized.
sentry — Military or formal register; highlights watchful, posted duty.
keeper of the gate — Descriptive phrase; useful for poetic or narrative clarity.

BDB8930 H7778

BDB8929 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8931

שֹׁעֵר37 noun masculine porter (denominative from שַׁעַר); — absolute ׳שׁוֺ 2Chr 31:14, construct ׳שֹׁ 2Kgs 7:10; 1Chr 9:21, + feminine שׁוֺעֶ֫רֶת 2Sam 4:6 (for ᵑ0 [וֺךְ] בֹּאוּ עַד תּ) We Dr HPS Bu Now after ᵐ5 (Th פְּקִידַת דֶּלֶת); plural שֹׁעֲרִים 2Kgs 7:11 +; construct שֹׁעֲרֵי 2Chr 23:4 — porter of city gate 2Kgs 7:10; 2Kgs 7:11 (2Sam 18:26 read הַשַּׁעַר ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Th We Dr and most); portress of house 2Sam 4:6 (see above); elsewhere (34 t. Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah) of gate-keepers in sanctuary 1Chr 9:17; 1Chr 9:18; 1Chr 9:24 +; 4,000 in number, 1Chr 23:5 ׳שׁ פֶּתַח לְאֹהֶל מוֺעֵד 1Chr 9:21 שֹׁעֲרִים בַּסִּפִּים v1Chr 9:22 לָאָרוֺן ׳שׁ 1Chr 15:23; 1Chr 15:24 שֹׁעֲרֵי הַסִּפִּים 2Chr 23:4 בְּנֵי הַשֹּׁעֲרִים Ezra 2:42.

porters, porter, doorkeepers
šôʿēr
a janitor
  • gatekeeper, porter

לָ ֽאָרֽוֹן
לָ
Prefix — preposition to, for + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)
ֽאָרֽוֹן
Root word ark, chest, coffin
Dictionary form: אָרוֹן · aw-RONE

לָ
Hidden "the" לָ = the preposition + the article הַ squeezed together: the "a" vowel under the prefix is the swallowed "the". Translate "to the ___".

Noun — Common, both singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: for the ark
the ark ×147 and the ark ×10 of the ark ×7 for the ark ×6 in the ark ×4 an ark ×3 as the ark ×2 but the ark ×2
More options
ark — Best for sacred/covenant contexts; widely recognized term.
chest — Good for storage or offering-box contexts.
box — Neutral, everyday register; suits non-religious contexts.
coffer — Slightly formal; implies a lockable or valuable container.
coffin — Reserve strictly for Genesis 50:26, Joseph's burial.
container — Generic fallback when shape or function is ambiguous.

BDB777 H727

BDB776 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB778

אֲרוֺן, with article הָאָרוֺן, הָאָרֹן203 noun masculineExod 35:12 (feminine1Sam 4:17; 2Chr 8:11) chest, ark (Phoenician ארן, sarcophagus, Assyrian êrênu (& êrû) chest ZimBP 6, 22, Arabic , chest, so Aramaic , also Nabataean ארנא, Vogp. 102, Phoenician; Mishna also plural ארונות) — only singular; absolute אֲרוֺן 2Kgs 12:10 = 2Chr 24:8 with article הָאָרוֺן Deut 10:2 + always except Exodus Leviticus Numbers where הָאָרֹן (Exod 25:14 (twice in verse) + 13 t. Exodus; Lev 16:2; Num 3:31; Num 10:35); construct אֲרוֺןExod 25:10 +, אֲרֹן Exod 30:6; Num 4:5; Num 7:89 —

1. chest, for money-offerings 2Kgs 12:10; 2Kgs 12:11; 2Chr 24:8; 2Chr 24:10; 2Chr 24:11 (twice in verse).
2. sarcophagus, mummy-case of Joseph Gen 50:26 (E).
3. chest, ark in tabernacle & temple, containing tables of law, with cherubim above, the especially seat of ׳י among his people, only Hexateuch (71 t.) Samuel (61 t.) Kings (12 t.) & Chronicles (48 t.) + Judg 20:27; Jer 3:16; Ps 132:8 used alone & in various combinations (compare SeyringZAW 1891, 114 f.).
  a. indefinite אֲרוֺן עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים an ark of shittim-wood Exod 25:10; Deut 10:3 compare vDeut 10:1.
  b. def. ׳הָא Exod 25:14 + 54 t. (Hexateuch P, except Joshua J E; Samuel Kings Chronicles).
  c. יהוה ׳א Josh 4:11 + 32 t. Joshua (J E D) Samuel Kings Chronicles.
  d. ׳א אֱלֹהִים 1Sam 3:3; 1Sam 4:11 הָאֱלֹהִים ׳א1Sam 4:13 + 32 t. Samuel, Chronicles (but 1Sam 14:18 (twice in verse) read הָאֵפוֺד ᵐ5 We Dr), compare אֱלֹהֵינוּ ׳א 1Chr 13:3.
  e. אלהי יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳א 1Sam 5:7 + 6 t. Samuel, term used only by Philistines; יהוה אלהי יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳א 1Chr 15:12; 1Chr 15:14 יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם ׳א Josh 4:5 (JE); ׳א אֲדֹנָי יהוה 1Kgs 2:26 יחוה אֲדוֺן כָּלהָֿאָרֶץ ׳א Josh 3:13 (J E D) compare אדון כלהֿארץ [הברית] ׳א vJosh 3:11, where הברית (with article) is probably interpolated, see Di; only once & late the long phrase האלהים יהוה יוֺשֵׁב ׳א הַכְּרוּבִים אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָאשֵֿׁם 1Chr 13:6. feminine in combination with בְּרִית, largely D & under D's influence; ארון הַבְּרִית ark of the covenant Josh 3:6 (twice in verse); Josh 3:8; Josh 4:9; Josh 6:6 (all J E D); בְּרִית יהוה ׳א Num 10:33; Num 14:44 (both J) Deut 10:8; Deut 31:9; Deut 31:25; Josh 4:7; Josh 4:18; Josh 6:8; Josh 8:33; Jer 3:16 + 17 t. Samuel Kings Chronicles; once longer צְבָאוֺת ישֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים ׳בְּרִית י ׳א 1Sam 4:4 also בְּרִית הָאֱלֹהִים ׳א Judg 20:27; 1Sam 4:4; 2Sam 15:24; 1Chr 16:6 & אלהיכם ׳בְּרִית א ׳א Deut 31:26; Josh 3:3.
  g. אֲרוֺן הָעֵדוּת ark of the testimony, only in P, corresponding to בְּרִית ׳א (compare Di on Exod 25:16), Exod 25:22 + 8 t. Exodus; Num 4:5; Num 7:84; Josh 4:16.
  h. הַקֹּדֶשׁ ׳א 2Chr 35:3.
  i. עֻזֶּךָ֑ ׳א the ark of thy strength 2Chr 6:41; Ps 132:8. — (compare also tables given by Seyringl.c. & his theory as to earliest designation of ark.)

אַרְנֶ֫בֶת see אנב.

ארניה see אֲרַוְנָה.

ark, chest, coffin
ʾārôn
a box
  • chest, ark
    • money chest
      • "Ark of the Covenant
    coffin

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
וּבֶֽרֶכְיָה֙ Pashta — a lesser break וְאֶלְקָנָ֔ה Zaqef Qatan — a strong break שֹֽׁעֲרִ֖ים Tipeha — a lesser break לָֽאָרֽוֹן Silluq — end of the verse

וּבֶֽרֶכְיָה וְאֶלְקָנָה שֹֽׁעֲרִים לָֽאָרֽוֹן׃
23
And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
Cross References

Psalms 84:10

כִּי טֽוֹב-יוֹם בַּחֲצֵרֶיךָ מֵאָלֶף בָּחַרְתִּי הִסְתּוֹפֵף בְּבֵית אֱלֹהַי מִדּוּר בְּאָהֳלֵי-רֶֽשַׁע׃
10
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

2 Kings 22:4

עֲלֵה אֶל-חִלְקִיָּהוּ הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל וְיַתֵּם אֶת-הַכֶּסֶף הַמּוּבָא בֵּית יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר אָֽסְפוּ שֹֽׁמְרֵי הַסַּף מֵאֵת הָעָֽם׃
4
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:

1 Chronicles 9:21

זְכַרְיָה בֶּן מְשֶֽׁלֶמְיָה שֹׁעֵר פֶּתַח לְאֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃
21
And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

2 Kings 25:18

וַיִּקַּח רַב-טַבָּחִים אֶת-שְׂרָיָה כֹּהֵן הָרֹאשׁ וְאֶת-צְפַנְיָהוּ כֹּהֵן מִשְׁנֶה וְאֶת-שְׁלֹשֶׁת שֹֽׁמְרֵי הַסַּֽף׃
18
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:
1 Chronicles 15:22
Read 1 Chronicles 15
1 Chronicles 15:24