Bible Word Study
נָדָב
Nâdâb · Nadab, the name of four Israelites
נָדָב
Nadab, the name of four Israelites
Definition
Nadab is a proper name meaning 'liberal' or 'generous,' derived from the Hebrew root for voluntary giving. In the Old Testament, it refers to four distinct individuals: 1) Aaron's eldest son, a priest who was killed by God for offering unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1-2). 2) The son of Jeroboam I, who became king of Israel but did evil and was assassinated (1 Kings 15:25-31). 3) A descendant of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:28). 4) A son of Shammai from the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:28, 30). The name's meaning contrasts with the fates of the two most prominent bearers, highlighting a tension between their given identity and their actions.
Biblical Usage
The name Nadab appears 20 times, primarily in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and 1 Kings. In the Pentateuch, it consistently refers to Aaron's son, often alongside his brother Abihu, especially in priestly contexts (Exodus 6:23, 24:1, 28:1). The narrative of his death in Leviticus 10:1 is a key usage. In historical books, it refers to King Jeroboam's son (1 Kings 14:20, 15:25-31). The Chronicler also lists two lesser-known Judahites (1 Chronicles 2:28, 30). The usage patterns show it is exclusively a personal name for male Israelites.
Etymology
Derived from the root נָדַב (nādab, H5068), meaning 'to incite, impel; to volunteer, offer freely.' The name Nadab is a qal passive participle form, signifying 'one who is impelled' or 'liberal/generous.' It shares this root with words for freewill offerings (נְדָבָה, nedabah) and voluntary service, emphasizing spontaneity and willingness in devotion.
Semantic Range
The name Nadab carries theological weight, especially for Aaron's son. His name ('liberal') ironically precedes his death for a 'liberal' or unauthorized priestly act (Leviticus 10:1-2), serving as a sobering lesson on the holiness of God and the necessity of obedience in worship. For King Nadab, his evil reign and assassination (1 Kings 15:25-31) exemplify the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness in Israel's monarchy. The name thus becomes a marker for divine judgment against presumption and idolatry, even among the consecrated. As a name meaning 'generous,' Nadab reflects a positive cultural value in ancient Israel, where voluntary giving was esteemed, especially toward God and community. Its use for Aaron's firstborn son indicates high expectations. However, the tragic narratives associated with the name demonstrate that cultural ideals (like generosity) were insufficient without covenant obedience. The name's persistence across tribes (Levi, Israel, Judah) shows it was a recognized, meaningful personal name. nādab (H5068) — the root verb meaning 'to volunteer, offer freely.' nedabah (H5071) — the noun for a 'freewill offering.'
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]