Who was Iddo in the Bible?

Iddo, also called Adaiah, was a Levite listed in the genealogy of the temple singers and musicians who served in Jerusalem after the exile. He is mentioned as the son of Ethan and the father of Zerahiah in the lineage of Gershon (1 Chronicles 6:21).

What was Iddo's role and significance?

Iddo's significance lies in his place within the Levitical lineage responsible for the temple's musical worship. His inclusion in the genealogy (1 Chronicles 6:21-22) highlights the organization and continuity of this vital priestly service for Israel's worship.

Are there any key events in Iddo's life?

The Bible does not record specific events in Iddo's life. His mention is genealogical, establishing his family line within the tribe of Levi to confirm the rightful heritage of the temple singers during the time of King David and after the return from exile.

Iddo

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLevite

Iddo (or Adaiah), a Levite in the genealogy of the temple singers.

Iddo

Biography

Iddo, also known as Adaiah, appears in the genealogical records of the Levitical temple singers in 1 Chronicles 6:41, listed among the ancestors of Ethan (or Jeduthun), one of David's three chief musicians appointed to lead worship before the ark (1 Chronicles 15:17–19). His placement in this lineage positions him as a remote ancestor whose descendants would eventually hold a prominent role in the formal worship of Israel. The Levitical genealogies in 1 Chronicles 6 trace the musical guilds back through generations to establish the legitimacy and antiquity of their sacred calling. Iddo's name in this list, however brief his mention, connects him to the enduring heritage of Israel's liturgical music.

Significance

The inclusion of Iddo in the Levitical genealogy of temple singers underscores the biblical conviction that worship leadership is a sacred calling with deep roots. The Chronicler's meticulous recording of these lineages was a theological statement: the music of the temple was not improvised but inherited, a gift passed down through generations of faithful Levites. This Iddo, though personally obscure, stood in a line that would culminate in the powerful worship ministry of Ethan the Ezrahite, associated with the profound wisdom of Psalm 89. His legacy reminds readers that faithfulness in one generation plants seeds of worship and beauty that may flourish magnificently in the next.

Verse Appearances (3)

2Chr

2Chr 9:29 2Chr 12:15 2Chr 13:22

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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