יְהוֹעַדָּה
Jehoaddah, an Israelite
Definition
יְהוֹעַדָּה (Yᵉhôwʻaddâh) is a proper name meaning 'Yahweh has adorned' or 'Jehovah-adorned.' It refers to a single individual in the Bible, Jehoaddah (also spelled Jehoada in the KJV), who was a descendant of King Saul through his son Jonathan. The name appears only in the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles 8:36, where he is listed as the son of Ahaz and the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. As a proper noun, it has no other semantic senses or variations in meaning across different passages.
Biblical Usage
This name is used exactly once in the Old Testament, within a genealogical list in 1 Chronicles 8:36. It occurs in the context of tracing the lineage of Saul's family in the tribe of Benjamin. The usage is purely onomastic (name-giving) within a historical record, with no narrative or dialogical context. There are no patterns of usage across different books, as it is a unique, singular reference.
Etymology
The name יְהוֹעַדָּה is a compound of two Hebrew elements. The first part is a theophoric element from יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068), the personal name of God. The second part comes from the root עָדָה (ʻādâ, H5710), meaning 'to pass on, to adorn.' Thus, the name literally means 'Yahweh has adorned' or 'adorned by Yahweh,' suggesting a child given or beautified by God. It is structurally similar to other Hebrew names that begin with 'Yeho-' or 'Jeho-' (e.g., Jehoshaphat, Jehoiada).
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not central to major doctrines, it reflects the common Israelite practice of embedding faith in Yahweh into personal identity. Names like Jehoaddah served as daily reminders of God's character and action. For the modern reader, understanding that this name means 'Yahweh has adorned' enriches the reading of 1 Chronicles by highlighting how even in a simple genealogy, individuals were identified in relationship to God, acknowledging Him as the source of blessing and beauty in family lines.
In ancient Israel, names were often meaningful statements of faith, hope, or circumstance. A name like Jehoaddah ('Yahweh has adorned') likely expressed the parents' gratitude or acknowledgment of God's favor in the birth of their son. This differs from modern naming conventions, which are often chosen for sound or family tradition rather than explicit theological meaning. The name places this individual within the cultural and religious framework of Judah during the monarchy or post-exilic period when Chronicles was compiled.
יְהוֹיָדָע (Yᵉhôyâdâʻ, H3077) — A more common name (Jehoiada) with a similar theophoric prefix but a different second element meaning 'Yahweh knows.'
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.
Full methodology & sources →