Bible Word Study
לַהַד
Lahad · Lahad, an Israelite
לַהַד
Lahad, an Israelite
Definition
Lahad is a proper noun referring to an individual listed in the genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles 4:2. He is identified as a son of Jahath, making him a descendant of Judah through the line of Shobal. As a genealogical entry, the name serves primarily to establish lineage and tribal affiliation within the Israelite community. No other meanings, actions, or narratives are associated with this name in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
The word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 4:2, within a list of descendants of Judah. It functions strictly as a personal name in a genealogical context, contributing to the chronicler's record of tribal lineages. There are no narrative contexts or usage patterns beyond this single occurrence.
Etymology
The name Lahad (לַהַד) is derived from an unused Hebrew root, suggesting a connection to concepts of 'glowing' or 'shining' (comparing to לַהַב, lahab, 'flame') or possibly to 'being earnest' or 'muttering' (comparing to לַהַג, lahag, 'to murmur, meditate'). As a proper name, its exact meaning is uncertain, but it likely carried a positive connotation related to light or fervor.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names often held significant meaning, reflecting hopes, characteristics, or divine attributes. While the precise meaning of Lahad is unclear, its potential roots in words for 'flame' or 'earnestness' suggest it may have been chosen to symbolize brightness, zeal, or devotion. As a genealogical entry, it underscores the importance of family lineage and tribal identity in preserving the community's history and covenant relationship.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]