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Amminadab

biblical_person theological_term standard

Amminadab is a biblical personal name borne by more than one man, especially the Judahite ancestor in the line leading to David and, in the New Testament genealogies, to Jesus.

At a Glance

A biblical proper name, not a doctrine or theological concept.

Key Points

Description

Amminadab is a biblical personal name borne by more than one individual. The best-known references identify Amminadab as the father of Nahshon of Judah and as part of the genealogical line preserved in Ruth, Chronicles, Matthew, and Luke, tracing the royal line associated with David and, ultimately, with Jesus. Chronicles also preserves another Amminadab in a Levite context, so the name should be read carefully in its setting. As a dictionary entry, Amminadab belongs under biblical proper names or biblical people rather than theological topics.

Biblical Context

In the Pentateuch and historical books, Amminadab appears in tribal and genealogical contexts tied to Judah and the wilderness generation. The name is associated with Nahshon, with Aaron’s marriage into that family line, and with the ancestry remembered in Ruth and Chronicles.

Historical Context

Biblical genealogies often preserve family names to mark covenant continuity, tribal identity, and royal descent. Amminadab is one of those names whose significance lies less in narrative detail than in its place within Israel’s family records.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Israel, genealogies served to establish tribal membership, inheritance, and covenant identity. The preservation of Amminadab’s name in multiple genealogical lists reflects the importance of ancestral memory in Jewish Scripture and history.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew: עַמִּינָדָב (ʿammînāḏāḇ). The name is commonly understood along the lines of ‘my kinsman is noble’ or ‘my people are noble,’ though exact nuance is debated.

Theological Significance

Amminadab matters mainly as a marker of covenant continuity in the genealogies that lead from Judah to David and then to Jesus. The name itself is not a doctrine, but its placement in Scripture supports the reliability and continuity of God’s redemptive purposes through real family lines.

Philosophical Explanation

This entry is an example of a proper name whose importance is historical and canonical rather than conceptual. Its meaning comes from its location in the narrative and genealogical structure of Scripture, not from an abstract idea.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse the Judahite Amminadab with the Levite Amminadab named in Chronicles. Also avoid overclaiming what the name alone proves; its value is genealogical and contextual, not doctrinal by itself.

Major Views

Most readers and commentators treat Amminadab as a genealogical proper name. The main interpretive issue is simply distinguishing the different biblical individuals who bear the name.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Amminadab is not a theological doctrine, sacrament, or covenant term. Any doctrinal application should remain limited to the larger biblical themes of genealogy, covenant continuity, and messianic lineage.

Practical Significance

Genealogical names like Amminadab remind readers that God works through ordinary families, long stretches of history, and preserved covenant lines. They also encourage careful reading of Scripture’s family records.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Amminadab

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