זַבְדִּי
Zabdi, the name of four Israelites
Definition
Zabdi is a Hebrew proper name meaning 'my gift' or 'gift of Yahweh,' derived from the root word for 'gift' or 'endowment.' In the Old Testament, it refers to four distinct Israelites. The most prominent is Zabdi of the tribe of Judah, the grandfather of Achan, whose sin of taking devoted things led to Israel's defeat at Ai (Joshua 7:1, 17-18). Another Zabdi is listed among the Benjamites in 1 Chronicles 8:19. A third Zabdi, called 'the Shiphmite,' was an overseer of David's vineyards (1 Chronicles 27:27). Finally, a Zabdi is mentioned among the Levites in Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 11:17).
Biblical Usage
The name Zabdi is used six times in the Old Testament, appearing in historical and genealogical contexts. It is found in the conquest narrative of Joshua (Joshua 7:1, 17, 18), the tribal genealogies of 1 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 8:19), the administrative lists of David's kingdom (1 Chronicles 27:27), and the post-exilic records of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 11:17). The usage shows it was a known Israelite name across several centuries, from the conquest period to the restoration.
Etymology
Zabdi (זַבְדִּי) is a proper noun derived from the root זָבַד (zabad, H2065), meaning 'to give' or 'to endow.' It is a theophoric name, a shortened form meaning 'my gift,' with the implied giver being God (Yahweh). It is related to names like Zebadiah (זְבַדְיָה, H2069), which explicitly includes the divine name, meaning 'Yahweh has given.'
Semantic Range
While a personal name, Zabdi's connection to the root for 'gift' subtly reflects the Israelite understanding of life and lineage as endowments from God. The most theologically significant bearer is the grandfather of Achan (Joshua 7), linking the name to the serious narrative about covenant faithfulness, corporate responsibility, and the consequences of sin against a holy God. The name serves as a small reminder that identity and position are divine gifts to be stewarded rightly.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaning and expressed hopes or truths about the individual or God. Zabdi, meaning 'my gift,' likely expressed parental gratitude for a child or acknowledged the child as a blessing from God. Its use across different tribes and eras indicates it was a recognized and meaningful name within the community.
Zebadiah (Zᵊḇadyâh, H2069) — A longer, more explicit form meaning 'Yahweh has given.' Yᵊhô-nāṯān (Yehonathan, H3083) — Another theophoric name meaning 'Yahweh has given.' Nᵊṯan'ēl (Nethanel, H5417) — Meaning 'God has given.'
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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