יְהוֹיָרִיב
Jehojarib, the name of two Israelites
Definition
Yᵉhôwyârîyb (יְהוֹיָרִיב) is a Hebrew proper name meaning 'Yahweh will contend' or 'the LORD will plead.' It is borne by two significant Israelites in the Old Testament. In 1 Chronicles 9:10, a Jehoiarib is listed among the priests who returned from exile, indicating his role in the reestablished worship in Jerusalem. In 1 Chronicles 24:7, Jehoiarib is the head of the first priestly division established by King David, a position of high honor and responsibility in the temple service.
Biblical Usage
This name appears exclusively in the genealogical and administrative lists of 1 Chronicles. It is used in two contexts: first, in a post-exilic priestly lineage (1 Chronicles 9:10), and second, in the foundational organization of the priestly courses under David (1 Chronicles 24:7). The usage is purely for identification within the priestly and Levitical systems, highlighting the continuity and order of Israel's worship.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: Yᵉhôwâ (יְהֹוָה, H3068), the personal name of God (Yahweh), and rîyb (רִיב, H7378), a verb meaning 'to contend, strive, or plead.' Thus, the name literally means 'Yahweh will contend.' It is a theophoric name, expressing faith in God's active role as a defender or advocate for His people. A variant form, Yôyârîyb (יוֹיָרִיב, H3114), appears in Ezra 8:16 and Nehemiah 11:10, likely referring to the same priestly line.
Semantic Range
The name Jehoiarib embodies a key theological concept: Yahweh as the divine warrior and advocate who contends on behalf of His covenant people. This is central to the Exodus narrative (Exodus 14:14) and prophetic literature (e.g., Isaiah 49:25). For a priest to bear this name underscores that the temple service was not merely ritual but was founded on the active, defending presence of God. Understanding the name enriches the reading of Chronicles by connecting the priestly order directly to trust in God's powerful intervention.
In ancient Israel, names were often statements of faith or descriptions of character. A name meaning 'Yahweh will contend' given to a priest reflects the cultural expectation that religious leaders were representatives of a God who actively engages in justice and defense. The assignment of Jehoiarib as the head of the first priestly course (1 Chronicles 24:7) placed this family in a position of primacy and responsibility, a significant honor in the highly structured society of restored Israel.
Yôyârîyb (יוֹיָרִיב, H3114) — A variant spelling of the same name, used in post-exilic lists (Ezra 8:16, Nehemiah 11:10).
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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