Who was Pelaiah in the Bible?

Pelaiah was a descendant of King David, listed in the royal genealogy found in 1 Chronicles 3. He was the son of Elioenai, making him part of the post-exilic line of Judah's kings.

Why is Pelaiah mentioned in 1 Chronicles?

Pelaiah is included to document the precise lineage of King David, which was crucial for establishing messianic hope and royal legitimacy for Israel. His mention helps trace the family line through the Babylonian exile and into the restoration period.

What is significant about Pelaiah's life?

While no specific events of his life are recorded, his inclusion in the genealogy signifies his role in preserving the Davidic bloodline after the exile. This lineage was vital for the future expectation of the Messiah, as prophesied to come from David's house (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

Pelaiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleKing

Pelaiah, a descendant of King David, mentioned in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 3.

Pelaiah

Biography

Pelaiah was a descendant of King David through the royal line of Judah, recorded in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 3:24. He appears among the post-exilic generations of the Davidic house, listed as a son of Elioenai, who was himself a descendant of Zerubbabel, the governor who led the return from Babylon. Pelaiah and his six brothers, Hodaviah, Eliashib, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, represent the continuation of the Davidic lineage well into the period of Persian rule over Judah. Though none of these descendants exercised royal authority in the manner of their ancestors, their careful genealogical documentation by the Chronicler indicates the ongoing importance of the Davidic line to Israel's theological identity and messianic expectations during the post-exilic period.

Significance

Pelaiah's inclusion in the Davidic genealogy of 1 Chronicles 3 carries messianic significance, as it demonstrates the preservation of David's royal line through centuries of exile and foreign domination. The Chronicler's meticulous recording of each generation reflects the enduring conviction that God's covenant promise to David, that his throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16), remained operative even when no Davidic king sat on a throne. Each name in this lineage, including Pelaiah's, represents a link in the chain connecting the ancient promise to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. His presence in the genealogy testifies to God's quiet faithfulness in sustaining His redemptive purposes through seemingly ordinary individuals during periods when those purposes appeared dormant.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherElioenai

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 3:24

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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