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Jashen

proper_name_person theological_term standard

A biblical proper name associated with David’s mighty men, though the text is difficult and the exact identification is uncertain.

At a Glance

Biblical proper name; linked to David’s mighty men; textually uncertain; not a doctrine term.

Key Points

Description

Jashen is an Old Testament proper name connected with the list of David’s mighty men. The relevant passage is textually difficult, and the exact reading has been discussed in translation and textual notes. For that reason, some readers treat the term as a distinct personal name while others regard the wording as uncertain in relation to the surrounding names and titles. In either case, the entry should be handled as a proper-name item with a textual caution rather than as a theological concept. The main value of the entry is historical and textual, not doctrinal.

Biblical Context

The name is linked to the Old Testament material listing David’s mighty men, a section that preserves honor rolls and military companions from David’s reign. Because the passage is difficult, the exact placement of Jashen in the list is not always straightforward in translation.

Historical Context

David’s reign and the narratives around his warriors preserve names from a royal military circle. Some of these names are difficult because of the transmission history of the Hebrew text, which can create uncertainty in translation and identification.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient scribal transmission sometimes left proper names in difficult or variant forms. Textual comparison can help, but it does not always remove uncertainty. Jashen is an example of a name whose reading is discussed in relation to the Davidic lists.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

A Hebrew proper name is involved, but the textual form is difficult and may be reflected differently across translations and manuscript traditions.

Theological Significance

Jashen has little direct theological significance. Its importance is mainly textual and historical: it reminds readers that some biblical proper names are preserved in passages where the exact reading is debated.

Philosophical Explanation

The entry illustrates a general principle of textual transmission: a name may be real and meaningful within the biblical record even when the precise form of the text is difficult to establish with certainty.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not build doctrine from this name. The chief issue is textual and translational, not theological. Because the passage is difficult, it is best to avoid overconfident assertions about the exact identity or spelling.

Major Views

Interpreters generally agree that the entry belongs in the Davidic warrior traditions, but they differ on the exact reading of the text and the identification of the name in context.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should not be used to support doctrine. At most, it supports a careful view of Scripture that recognizes textual complexity without denying biblical authority.

Practical Significance

Jashen can help Bible readers appreciate why study notes and translation choices matter. It is also a reminder that not every biblical name is equally transparent in the preserved text.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Jashen

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