יוֹאָשׁ
Joash, the name of six Israelites
Definition
Yoash (or Joash) is a proper name borne by six distinct individuals in the Old Testament, most notably a king of Judah and a king of Israel. The most prominent is King Joash of Judah (2 Kings 11-12, 2 Chronicles 22-24), who began his reign as a seven-year-old boy after being saved from a massacre. He is remembered for repairing the temple under Jehoiada the priest's guidance but later fell into idolatry. Another significant figure is Joash, the father of Gideon (Judges 6:11-32), who defended his son's altar from hostile townspeople. Other individuals include a son of King Ahab (1 Kings 22:26), a descendant of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:22), one of David's mighty men (1 Chronicles 12:3), and a king of Israel (2 Kings 13:10-25).
Biblical Usage
The name Yoash appears approximately 40 times across historical books, primarily in Judges, Kings, and Chronicles. In Judges 6-8, it refers exclusively to Gideon's father. In 2 Kings 11-12 and 2 Chronicles 22-24, it refers to the boy-king of Judah. The name also identifies a king of Israel in 2 Kings 13-14. The usage consistently marks specific individuals, with context (patronymic, title, or narrative) distinguishing between them.
Etymology
The name יוֹאָשׁ (Yôwʼâsh) is a contracted form of יְהוֹאָשׁ (Yᵊhôwʼâsh, H3060), meaning 'Yahweh has given' or 'Yahweh supports.' It combines the divine name Yahweh (יהוה) with a form of the root אושׁ, relating to giving or granting. This theophoric name reflects the common Israelite practice of embedding God's name into personal names to express faith and gratitude.
Semantic Range
The name Yoash, meaning 'Yahweh has given,' highlights divine providence and the gift of leadership, even in flawed vessels. King Joash of Judah illustrates both God's preservation of the Davidic line and the spiritual danger of abandoning covenant faithfulness after the death of a godly mentor (2 Chronicles 24:17-22). The name serves as a reminder that God initiates and sustains His purposes, though human response determines blessing or judgment.
As a theophoric name containing the divine element 'Yah,' Yoash reflects the deep integration of faith and identity in ancient Israel. Naming a child Yoash was an act of testimony, acknowledging God as the source of blessing and support. The multiple bearers, including kings and commoners, show the name's popularity across different tribes and eras, emphasizing a shared cultural reliance on Yahweh's giving nature.
Yehoyash (Yᵊhôwʼâsh, H3060) — The longer, original form of the same name. Yehoash (יְהוֹאָשׁ) — A variant spelling found in 2 Kings 12:1.
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 →