Revision #7335
Heman
Localized for English-speaking readers
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Biblical Record
=
- The name Heman appears in Scripture in two distinct strands.
+ Scripture uses the name Heman in two distinct strands.
=
- **Heman the Levite worship leader.** The genealogy in 1 Chronicles 6:33–38 identifies Heman as the son of Joel and the grandson of Samuel and traces his lineage back through Korah and Kohath to Levi. When David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, the Levites appointed Heman, together with Asaph and Ethan, as singers, and these three sounded "cymbals of brass" (1 Chronicles 15:16–19). Afterward Heman, along with Jeduthun, was assigned to give praise with trumpets and cymbals at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:41–42).
+ **Heman the Levite worship leader.** The genealogy in 1 Chronicles 6:33–38 identifies Heman as the son of Joel and the grandson of Samuel. It traces his lineage back through Korah and Kohath to Levi. When David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, the Levites appointed Heman, Asaph, and Ethan as singers, and these three sounded "cymbals of brass" (1 Chronicles 15:16–19). Heman and Jeduthun were later assigned to give praise with trumpets and cymbals at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:41–42).
=
- First Chronicles 25:1–6 records that David set apart the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, "who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals." Here Heman is called "the king's seer" (one who perceives and declares the will of God), and God is said to have given him fourteen sons and three daughters. When Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, the Levitical singers of the lines of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun offered praise (2 Chronicles 5:12). Descendants of Heman also took part in the cleansing of the temple under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:14).
+ First Chronicles 25:1–6 records that David set apart the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, "who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals." In this passage Heman is called "the king's seer," meaning one who perceives and declares the will of God. God is said to have given him fourteen sons and three daughters. When Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, the Levitical singers of the lines of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun offered praise (2 Chronicles 5:12). Descendants of Heman also took part in the cleansing of the temple under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:14).
=
= **Heman the wise man.** 1 Kings 4:31 records that Solomon was wiser "than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol." First Chronicles 2:6 lists Heman among the sons of Zerah of the tribe of Judah.
…
= ## Significance Within Scripture
=
- In Chronicles, Heman, together with Asaph and Jeduthun, heads one of the three lines of temple musicians. Chronicles portrays their praise as "prophesying," that is, as an activity connected with prophecy. Psalm 88, whose title bears Heman's name, cries out from suffering and abandonment and ends without any confession of hope, closing with the word "darkness." For this reason it is often called the darkest lament in the Psalter. Heman is not mentioned in the New Testament.
+ In Chronicles, Heman, Asaph, and Jeduthun each head one of the three lines of temple musicians. Chronicles portrays their praise as "prophesying," an activity connected with prophecy. Psalm 88, whose title bears Heman's name, cries out from suffering and abandonment. It ends without any confession of hope, closing with the word "darkness." For this reason it is often called the darkest lament in the Psalter. Heman is not mentioned in the New Testament.
=
= ## Interpretation and Debate
=
- The chief question is whether Heman the Levite and Heman the wise man are the same person. Chronicles presents Heman the Levite as a descendant of Kohath and Heman the wise man as belonging to the line of Zerah of the tribe of Judah. Yet the title of Psalm 88 links "the sons of Korah" with "the Ezrahite." Accordingly, some interpreters regard the two as different individuals, others hold that the title combines distinct traditions, and still others seek to harmonize them as a single person. The biblical text does not explicitly resolve the matter.
+ The chief question is whether Heman the Levite and Heman the wise man are the same person. Chronicles presents Heman the Levite as a descendant of Kohath and Heman the wise man as belonging to the line of Zerah of the tribe of Judah. Yet the title of Psalm 88 links "the sons of Korah" with "the Ezrahite." Interpreters therefore take several positions. Some regard the two as different individuals, others hold that the title combines distinct traditions, and still others seek to harmonize them as a single person. The biblical text does not explicitly resolve the matter.
=
- Jewish tradition (the Talmud) contains an account that David composed the Psalms by drawing together the work of several individuals, and Heman is reportedly among them. Some sermons, drawing on phrases such as "I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up" (Psalm 88:15), suggest that Heman suffered from a serious illness such as leprosy. This, however, is merely an inference from the text, not something Scripture states directly.
+ Jewish tradition (the Talmud) contains an account that David composed the Psalms by drawing together the work of several individuals, and Heman is reportedly among them. Some sermons suggest that Heman suffered from a serious illness such as leprosy, drawing on phrases such as "I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up" (Psalm 88:15). This is only an inference from the text, however; Scripture does not state it directly.
=
= ## In Korean Churches
=
- In Korean churches, 1 Chronicles 25 is commonly used as a text for choir ministry or for a choir dedication service. In such settings, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun are presented as models for those who lead music in worship. Psalm 88 is often cited in sermons on suffering, depression, or unanswered prayer as a text showing that lament is itself a form of prayer.
+ In Korean Protestant churches, 1 Chronicles 25 is commonly used as a text for choir ministry or for a choir dedication service. In these settings, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun are presented as models for those who lead music in worship. Psalm 88 is often cited in sermons on suffering, depression, or unanswered prayer as a text showing that lament is itself a form of prayer.
Heman is a figure in the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Chronicles, where he appears as a Levite worship leader in charge of temple music in the time of David. The same name also appears in the title of Psalm 88 and in 1 Kings 4.
Heman is an Old Testament figure who appears in 1 and 2 Chronicles as a Levite worship leader in charge of temple music in the time of David. The same name also appears in the title of Psalm 88 and in 1 Kings 4.
Full revision
Heman is an Old Testament figure who appears in 1 and 2 Chronicles as a Levite worship leader in charge of temple music in the time of David. The same name also appears in the title of Psalm 88 and in 1 Kings 4.
Biblical Record
Scripture uses the name Heman in two distinct strands.
Heman the Levite worship leader. The genealogy in 1 Chronicles 6:33–38 identifies Heman as the son of Joel and the grandson of Samuel. It traces his lineage back through Korah and Kohath to Levi. When David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, the Levites appointed Heman, Asaph, and Ethan as singers, and these three sounded "cymbals of brass" (1 Chronicles 15:16–19). Heman and Jeduthun were later assigned to give praise with trumpets and cymbals at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:41–42).
First Chronicles 25:1–6 records that David set apart the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, "who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals." In this passage Heman is called "the king's seer," meaning one who perceives and declares the will of God. God is said to have given him fourteen sons and three daughters. When Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, the Levitical singers of the lines of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun offered praise (2 Chronicles 5:12). Descendants of Heman also took part in the cleansing of the temple under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:14).
Heman the wise man. 1 Kings 4:31 records that Solomon was wiser "than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol." First Chronicles 2:6 lists Heman among the sons of Zerah of the tribe of Judah.
Psalm 88. The title of Psalm 88 bears the name "Heman the Ezrahite" alongside "the sons of Korah."
Significance Within Scripture
In Chronicles, Heman, Asaph, and Jeduthun each head one of the three lines of temple musicians. Chronicles portrays their praise as "prophesying," an activity connected with prophecy. Psalm 88, whose title bears Heman's name, cries out from suffering and abandonment. It ends without any confession of hope, closing with the word "darkness." For this reason it is often called the darkest lament in the Psalter. Heman is not mentioned in the New Testament.
Interpretation and Debate
The chief question is whether Heman the Levite and Heman the wise man are the same person. Chronicles presents Heman the Levite as a descendant of Kohath and Heman the wise man as belonging to the line of Zerah of the tribe of Judah. Yet the title of Psalm 88 links "the sons of Korah" with "the Ezrahite." Interpreters therefore take several positions. Some regard the two as different individuals, others hold that the title combines distinct traditions, and still others seek to harmonize them as a single person. The biblical text does not explicitly resolve the matter.
Jewish tradition (the Talmud) contains an account that David composed the Psalms by drawing together the work of several individuals, and Heman is reportedly among them. Some sermons suggest that Heman suffered from a serious illness such as leprosy, drawing on phrases such as "I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up" (Psalm 88:15). This is only an inference from the text, however; Scripture does not state it directly.
In Korean Churches
In Korean Protestant churches, 1 Chronicles 25 is commonly used as a text for choir ministry or for a choir dedication service. In these settings, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun are presented as models for those who lead music in worship. Psalm 88 is often cited in sermons on suffering, depression, or unanswered prayer as a text showing that lament is itself a form of prayer.