יְהוֹצָדָק
Jehotsadak, an Israelite
Definition
יְהוֹצָדָק (Yᵉhôtsâdâq) is the Hebrew name for Jehozadak (also spelled Josedech in the KJV), the father of Joshua the high priest. He was a priest from the line of Aaron who lived during the Babylonian exile. The name signifies 'Yahweh is righteous' or 'Yahweh has shown himself righteous,' reflecting a theological affirmation of God's character. In the biblical narrative, Jehozadak himself was taken into exile (1 Chronicles 6:15), but his son Joshua returned to Jerusalem and played a crucial role in the post-exilic restoration under the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.
Biblical Usage
This proper name appears eight times in the Old Testament, exclusively in post-exilic books. It is used in genealogical records (1 Chronicles 6:14-15) to establish the priestly lineage. Its primary usage, however, is in the prophetic books of Haggai and Zechariah, where Joshua is consistently identified as 'Joshua the son of Jehozadak' (e.g., Haggai 1:1, Zechariah 6:11). This repeated formula emphasizes Joshua's legitimate priestly authority and his role as a leader alongside Zerubbabel in rebuilding the temple.
Etymology
The name יְהוֹצָדָק is a compound of two Hebrew elements: the divine name יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068), often rendered as 'the LORD,' and the root צָדַק (tsâdaq, H6663), meaning 'to be just' or 'righteous.' It is a theophoric name, meaning 'Yahweh is righteous' or 'Yahweh has vindicated/declared righteous.' It is a variant form of the name יוֹצָדָק (Yôwtsâdâq, H3136), found in Ezra and Nehemiah, with the same essential meaning.
Semantic Range
The name Jehozadak is theologically significant as a declaration of God's righteousness, especially in the context of the exile. His son, Joshua the high priest, becomes a central figure in prophecies of restoration (Zechariah 3:1-10), symbolically cleansed and restored by God. This points to God's faithfulness to His covenant and His righteous character in both judging and restoring His people. The name serves as a reminder that true priestly ministry and national hope are founded on the righteousness provided by Yahweh Himself.
In ancient Israel, names were often descriptive and carried significant meaning. A name like Jehozadak, which incorporates the divine name (Yahweh), identified the bearer and his family as worshippers of the LORD. For a priestly family, this name was a public profession of their core belief about God's nature. The exile threatened Israel's identity, but the persistence of this name in the genealogical record and its association with the restored high priest affirmed the continuity of God's promises and the priestly line despite national catastrophe.
יוֹצָדָק (Yôwtsâdâq, H3136) — A variant spelling of the same name, used for the same person in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
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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