פָּדוֹן
Padon, one of the Nethinim.
Definition
Padon is a proper name meaning 'ransom' or 'redemption', derived from the Hebrew root פָּדָה (pādâ). In the Bible, Padon is exclusively identified as one of the Nethinim (temple servants), whose descendants returned from the Babylonian exile. The name appears in two identical lists: Ezra 2:44 and Nehemiah 7:47, which catalog the families who returned to Judah. As a personal name, its meaning ('ransom') likely carried a symbolic or hopeful significance for the individual or family, possibly reflecting gratitude for deliverance.
Biblical Usage
The word is used only as a proper noun, referring to a specific individual. It appears solely in the post-exilic context of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, within the official registries of returning exiles. Its usage is administrative and genealogical, listing Padon among the families of the Nethinim (temple servants) in Ezra 2:44 and Nehemiah 7:47. There are no narrative or poetic uses of this name.
Etymology
Padon (פָּדוֹן) is a proper name derived from the Hebrew root פָּדָה (pādâ, H6299), which means 'to ransom,' 'to redeem,' or 'to deliver.' It is a participial form meaning 'ransomed one' or 'redeemed one.' This root is theologically significant, appearing in contexts of God redeeming Israel from slavery (e.g., Exodus 6:6) and in laws concerning redemption of persons or property.
Semantic Range
While Padon itself is a personal name, its etymological root (פָּדָה, pādâ) is deeply theological, connected to the concept of redemption. Understanding that this temple servant's name means 'ransom' enriches the reading of the exile lists, reminding us that the community returning to rebuild the temple was itself a redeemed people. It subtly points to the broader biblical theme of God as the redeemer of His people, a theme fulfilled in the ultimate redemption through Christ.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaningful significance, describing character, circumstance, or parental hopes. 'Padon' ('ransom') as a name given to a member of the Nethinim (a class of temple servants) may reflect a family's sense of gratitude for God's deliverance, possibly from hardship or exile. The Nethinim were assigned to assist the Levites with menial temple duties, and their inclusion in the return lists highlights their valued, though subordinate, role in restoring worship.
פדיה (Pedaiah, H6305) — Another proper name derived from the same root (פָּדָה), meaning 'Yahweh has ransomed.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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