Jedaiah
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Topical Encyclopedia
Etymology and Meaning:
The name Jedaiah is of Hebrew origin, meaning "Yahweh has known" or "Yahweh knows." This name reflects a common theme in Hebrew nomenclature, emphasizing the omniscience and personal relationship of God with His people.

Biblical References:
Jedaiah is a name that appears several times in the Old Testament, associated with different individuals, primarily within the context of the priesthood and the return from the Babylonian exile.

1. Jedaiah the Priest:
Jedaiah is mentioned as one of the priests who returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel. In the book of Nehemiah, he is listed among the priests who helped to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 12:6 states, "These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua." This Jedaiah is part of the priestly lineage, serving in the temple and playing a role in the restoration of worship in Jerusalem.

2. Jedaiah, Head of a Priestly Family:
In 1 Chronicles 9:10, Jedaiah is noted as a head of a priestly family: "From the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin." This reference places him among the prominent families responsible for maintaining the temple services and rituals, highlighting the continuity of priestly duties from the time of King David through the post-exilic period.

3. Jedaiah in the Division of Priests:
The division of priests under King David's organization is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 24:7, where Jedaiah is listed as the head of the second division: "The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah." This division of labor ensured that the temple services were conducted in an orderly and systematic manner, with each family serving at appointed times.

4. Jedaiah in the Book of Ezra:
Ezra 2:36-39 records the return of the priests, including Jedaiah, from exile: "The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the house of Jeshua), 973." This passage underscores the faithfulness of the priestly families in returning to Jerusalem to restore the temple and its services, fulfilling their covenantal responsibilities.

Historical and Theological Significance:
Jedaiah's repeated mention in the context of the priesthood and the return from exile highlights the importance of the priestly role in Israel's religious and communal life. The priests were not only responsible for conducting sacrifices and maintaining the temple but also for teaching the Law and guiding the people in their spiritual lives. Jedaiah's inclusion in these records reflects the continuity of God's covenant with Israel and the restoration of proper worship after the exile.

Theologically, the name Jedaiah, meaning "Yahweh knows," serves as a reminder of God's intimate knowledge and care for His people. It emphasizes the personal relationship between God and the individuals He calls to serve Him, as well as His sovereign oversight of history and the fulfillment of His promises.

Cultural Context:
In the ancient Near Eastern context, names were often given with the hope of reflecting the character or destiny of the individual. The name Jedaiah, therefore, not only identifies a person but also conveys a theological truth about God's nature and His relationship with His people. The role of the priests, including those named Jedaiah, was central to maintaining the cultural and religious identity of Israel, especially during times of upheaval and restoration.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Jedaiah

the hand of the Lord; confessing the Lord

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Jedaiah

(praise Jehovah).

  1. Head of the second course of priests, as they were divided in the time of David. (1 Chronicles 24:7) (B.C. 1014.) some of them survived to return to Jerusalem after the Babylonish captivity, as appears from (Ezra 2:36; Nehemiah 7:39)
  2. A priest in the time of Jeshua the high priest. (Zechariah 6:10,14) (B.C. 536.)
Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) Invoker of Jehovah. The son of Shimri, a chief Simeonite (1 Chronicles 4:37).

(2.) One of those who repaired the walls of Jerusalem after the return from Babylon (Nehemiah 3:10).

(3.) Knowing Jehovah. The chief of one of the courses of the priests (1 Chronicles 24:7).

(4.) A priest in Jerusalem after the Exile (1 Chronicles 9:10).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
JEDAIAH

je-da'-ya, je-di'-a:

(1) (yedha`yah, "Yah knows"):

(a) A priest in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:10; 1 Chronicles 24:7).

(b) Ezra 2:36 = Nehemiah 7:39, where "children of Jedaiah" are mentioned = "Jeddu" in 1 Esdras 5:24.

(c) Jedaiah is among "the priests and the Levites" that returned with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 11:10; Nehemiah 12:6, 19).

(d) Another priest of the same name (Nehemiah 12:7, 21).

(e) One of the exiles whom Zechariah was commanded to send with silver and gold to Jerusalem. Septuagint does not take the word as a proper name (Zechariah 6:10, 14)

(2) (yedhayah, "Yah throws" (?)):

(a) Father of a Simeonite prince (1 Chronicles 4:37).

(b) One of the repairers of the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:10).

David Francis Roberts

Strong's Hebrew
3042. Yedayah -- perhaps "praised by Yah," two Israelites
... perhaps "praised by Yah," two Israelites. Transliteration: Yedayah Phonetic Spelling:
(yed-aw-yaw') Short Definition: Jedaiah. ... NASB Word Usage Jedaiah (2). ...
/hebrew/3042.htm - 6k

3048. Yedayah -- "Yah has known," the name of several Israelites
... Yedayah. 3049 . "Yah has known," the name of several Israelites. Transliteration:
Yedayah Phonetic Spelling: (yed-ah-yaw') Short Definition: Jedaiah. ... Jedaiah. ...
/hebrew/3048.htm - 6k

Library

Appendix 1 Massecheth Middoth
... porch, and by them the young priests mounted, to look at the crowns, as it is written:
"And crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 1 massecheth middoth.htm

Thesaurus
Jedaiah (13 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JEDAIAH. ... (c) Jedaiah is among "the priests and
the Levites" that returned with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 11:10; Nehemiah 12:6, 19). ...
/j/jedaiah.htm - 11k

Jedaiah's (2 Occurrences)
...Jedaiah's (2 Occurrences). Nehemiah 12:19 and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah,
Uzzi; (See NIV). Nehemiah 12:21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel. ...
/j/jedaiah's.htm - 6k

Jedai'ah (13 Occurrences)
Jedai'ah. Jedaiah, Jedai'ah. Jedaiah's . Multi-Version Concordance ... 1 Chronicles
9:10 And of the priests: Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin; (See RSV). ...
/j/jedai'ah.htm - 9k

Jehoiarib (2 Occurrences)
... 19. In Nehemiah 11:10 we should probably read "Jedaiah and Joiarib" for
"Jedaiah the son of Joiarib" (compare 1 Chronicles 9:10). ...
/j/jehoiarib.htm - 8k

Uzzi (11 Occurrences)
... (6.) The head of the house of Jedaiah, one of "the chief of the priests" (Nehemiah
12:19). ... (6) Head of the priestly family of Jedaiah (Nehemiah 12:19, 42). ...
/u/uzzi.htm - 12k

Joi'arib (5 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Nehemiah 11:10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, (See
RSV). Nehemiah 12:6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah; (See RSV). ...
/j/joi'arib.htm - 7k

Joiarib (5 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 11:10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, (WEB KJV JPS
ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). Nehemiah 12:6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah. ...
/j/joiarib.htm - 8k

Jeshua (30 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:36 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred
seventy-three. ... Nehemiah 12:7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. ...
/j/jeshua.htm - 21k

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)
... Zechariah 6:10 to take of the captivity (who came from Babylon) from Heldai, from
Tobijah, and from Jedaiah, 'and thou hast come in -- thou, in that day, yea ...
/z/zephani'ah.htm - 9k

Jeddu
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia JEDDU. jed'-oo (Ieddou): Called JEDAIAH
(which see 1, (b)) in canonical books (1 Esdras 5:24). ...
/j/jeddu.htm - 6k

Resources
Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Jedaiah (13 Occurrences)

1 Chronicles 4:37
and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah-
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:10
Of the priests: Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, Jachin,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 24:7
Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Ezra 2:36
The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 3:10
Next to them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, over against his house. Next to him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabneiah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 7:39
The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 11:10
Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 12:6
Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 12:7
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 12:19
and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 12:21
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Zechariah 6:10
"Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Zechariah 6:14
The crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Jedaiah

Jedaiah: A Priest of the Captivity

Jedaiah: A Priest Who Lived in Jerusalem After the Return of the Captivity

Jedaiah: A Returned Exile

Jedaiah: Another Priest, Who Returned from Babylon With Nehemiah

Jedaiah: Descendant of Simeon

Related Terms

Jedaiah (13 Occurrences)

Jedaiah's (2 Occurrences)

Jeconias
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