יְהוֹשֶׁבַע
Jehosheba, an Israelitess
Definition
Jehosheba is the name of a heroic Israelite woman, the daughter of King Jehoram of Judah and sister of King Ahaziah (2 Kings 11:2). Her name means 'Yahweh is an oath' or 'Yahweh has sworn,' reflecting a theophoric element common in Hebrew names. Her primary biblical role is as a protector; she is the aunt of the infant prince Joash, whom she rescues from a royal massacre orchestrated by Queen Athaliah, thereby preserving the Davidic line. This single, defining act secures her place in biblical history.
Biblical Usage
The name יְהוֹשֶׁבַע (Jehosheba) appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 11:2. It is used in a narrative context to identify the woman who saved the royal heir, Joash, from execution. The usage is strictly as a proper noun designating this specific individual and her pivotal action during a coup in the Kingdom of Judah.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: the divine name יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhōvâ, H3068), often rendered as 'Yahweh' or 'the LORD,' and the root שָׁבַע (shāvaʻ, H7650), meaning 'to swear' or 'to take an oath.' Thus, the name Jehosheba literally means 'Yahweh is an oath' or 'Yahweh has sworn,' signifying a person under the covenant promise of God. It is a feminine form related to the masculine name יְהוֹשָׁבָע (Jehoshaphat, H3092).
Semantic Range
Jehosheba's action is theologically significant as it directly preserves the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:16). By hiding Joash for six years, she becomes an instrument of God's faithfulness, ensuring the continuation of the kingly line from which the Messiah would ultimately come. Her story highlights God's providence working through faithful individuals in moments of crisis to fulfill His promises.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive and carried theological weight. A name like Jehosheba, invoking Yahweh's oath, would reflect the family's faith. Her role also defies typical gender expectations of the time; as a princess, she used her access to the royal nursery to execute a bold, subversive act of rescue, demonstrating that women could be decisive agents in God's redemptive plan.
יְהוֹשַׁבְעַת (Yᵉhôshabʻath, H3090) — A longer, alternate form of the same name, used for the wife of King Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 22:11), likely the same person.
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 →