Who was Johanan in the Bible?

Johanan was a descendant of King David, listed in the genealogy of the royal line of Judah. He is specifically mentioned as a son of Elioenai, a descendant of King Jehoiachin (1 Chronicles 3:24).

Why is Johanan mentioned in the Bible?

Johanan is significant because his inclusion in the genealogy (1 Chronicles 3) preserves the lineage of King David. This lineage was crucial for establishing the legitimacy of future kings and, ultimately, the Messiah's Davidic ancestry.

What happened to Johanan in the Bible?

The Bible does not record any specific events in Johanan's life. His sole mention is his name in the genealogical list, indicating his place in the royal family line during the post-exilic period.

Johanan

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of elioenai

Johanan is listed in the genealogy of David as a descendant of King Jehoiachin (1Ch.3.24).

Johanan

Biography

Johanan appears in the post-exilic Davidic genealogy recorded in 1 Chronicles 3:24, where he is listed as a son of Elioenai and a descendant of King Jehoiachin, who was taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC. This genealogy extends the Davidic line well into the post-exilic period, tracing the royal lineage through generations of obscurity following the termination of the monarchy. Johanan's inclusion in this extended genealogy indicates that the Chronicler considered the Davidic line vital even in its diminished post-exilic state. Though no narrative describes his life, his place in the royal genealogy means he belonged to the family through which God's covenant promises to David were being perpetuated.

Significance

Johanan's position in the extended post-exilic Davidic genealogy carries profound messianic significance. The Chronicler's meticulous tracing of David's descendants beyond the exile reflects the theological conviction that God's unconditional covenant with David (2 Samuel 7) remained in force even when the throne lay vacant. Each name in this genealogy, including Johanan's, represents a living witness to the promise that the Davidic line would not be permanently extinguished. This careful record-keeping served the post-exilic community's hope for restoration and anticipates the New Testament's careful genealogical tracing of Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant (Matthew 1; Luke 3).

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 3:24

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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