יֶרֶד
Jered, the name of an antediluvian, and of an Israelite
Definition
Yered (Jared) is a proper name meaning 'descent' or 'one who descends.' In the Old Testament, it primarily refers to two distinct individuals. The most prominent is Jared, the antediluvian patriarch from the line of Seth, the father of Enoch and an ancestor of Noah (Genesis 5:15-20). A second, lesser-known Yered is mentioned as a descendant of Judah in the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 4:18). The name's meaning, 'descent,' is consistent for both figures, referring to their place in a genealogical line.
Biblical Usage
The name Yered is used seven times in the Old Testament, exclusively in genealogical contexts. Six of its occurrences are in Genesis 5, detailing the lineage from Adam to Noah, where Jared is the sixth generation from Adam. The single other use is in the tribal genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles 4:18, referring to a different individual. The usage pattern is strictly for identifying individuals within historical family lines, with no narrative stories attached to the characters.
Etymology
Yered is a proper noun derived directly from the Hebrew root יָרַד (yarad, H3381), which means 'to go down, descend, or decline.' The name is a simple qal passive participle form, meaning 'descent' or 'one who descends.' This connects the individual to the concept of genealogical descent or lineage. It shares this root with common verbs describing movement downward, such as going down to Egypt or the descent of dew.
Semantic Range
As a genealogical name meaning 'descent,' Yered is theologically significant in anchoring the historical and linear progression of God's covenant promises through a specific family line. His placement in the Genesis 5 genealogy (between Mahalalel and Enoch) is part of the unbroken chain from Adam to Noah and ultimately to Abraham and Christ, emphasizing God's faithfulness across generations. Understanding his name highlights the importance of lineage in biblical history and God's sovereign plan working through human descent.
In ancient Hebrew culture, names were often descriptive and carried meaning related to circumstances, hopes, or character. A name like Yered ('descent') likely emphasized the individual's place within the family and community structure, acknowledging him as a link in the ancestral chain. This differs from modern naming conventions, where names are often chosen for sound or family tradition rather than literal meaning. In genealogies, such names served as mnemonic devices, reinforcing the recorded history of the people.
Zera (H2233) — 'seed' or 'offspring'; a broader term for descendants or progeny. Toledot (H8435) — 'generations' or 'account'; refers to the history or record of a family line.
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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