Who was Eliada in the Bible?

Eliada, also called Beeliada, was a son of King David, born to him in Jerusalem after he became king (2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Chronicles 14:7). He was one of many sons born to David during his reign.

What is the significance of Eliada having two names?

The dual names Eliada (meaning 'God knows') and Beeliada (meaning 'Baal knows') likely reflect a theological editing practice. Later scribes may have changed 'Baal' to 'El' to avoid association with the Canaanite god, emphasizing devotion to Yahweh.

What key events was Eliada part of?

The Bible records no specific events in Eliada's life. His significance lies primarily in being listed among David's sons born in Jerusalem, which demonstrates the establishment and blessing of David's royal dynasty (1 Chronicles 3:1-9).

Eliada

Old TestamentUnited MonarchyMaleSon

Eliada, also known as Beeliada, was a son of David born in Jerusalem.

Eliada

Biography

Eliada, also called Beeliada in 1 Chronicles 14:7, was one of the sons born to David after his establishment in Jerusalem as king over all Israel. His name appears in the lists of David's children recorded in 2 Samuel 5:16 and 1 Chronicles 3:8 and 14:7. The variant name Beeliada, meaning "the Lord knows" or possibly incorporating the divine name Baal in its older, more neutral sense of "lord", is thought to reflect a later scribal substitution of "El" for "Baal" to avoid the connotation of the Canaanite deity. Eliada was one of many children born to David's multiple wives and concubines in Jerusalem, reflecting both the political alliances and the personal privileges of David's kingship. Beyond his genealogical listing, no individual deeds or narrative are attributed to him.

Significance

Eliada's significance lies primarily in his place within the royal genealogy of David, which carried profound covenant importance. Each son born to David in Jerusalem was part of the expanding Davidic dynasty through which God had promised an eternal throne (2 Samuel 7:12–16). The variant names Eliada/Beeliada also offer a glimpse into the scribal and theological history of the biblical text: later editors were attentive to theological implications of names, substituting references to the Canaanite deity Baal with the Hebrew El to protect the integrity of the text. Though Eliada himself plays no individual role in the narrative, his existence within David's household contributed to the dynastic vitality that Israel's covenant hope depended upon.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherDavid

Verse Appearances (3)

2Sam

2Sam 5:16

1Chr

1Chr 3:8 1Chr 14:7

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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