Jehohanan

At a Glance

A biblical proper name used for more than one Old Testament man.

Key Points

• Meaning: “Yahweh has been gracious.”
• Category: personal name, not doctrine
• Usage: appears in multiple Old Testament contexts, especially in name lists and genealogical records

Description

Jehohanan is a theophoric Hebrew personal name meaning “Yahweh has been gracious.” In the Old Testament, the name is borne by more than one man, so the entry should be handled as a biblical proper name with a brief note on multiple referents rather than as a theological category. The proper editorial approach is to recognize the name’s meaning, acknowledge its repeated use in Scripture, and avoid treating the name itself as a doctrinal term.

Biblical Context

The name appears in Old Testament personal-name lists and other passages where individuals are identified by family or tribal setting. Its significance lies in identification and naming practice, not in a separate biblical teaching.

Historical Context

Jehohanan reflects common ancient Israelite naming patterns, especially the use of names that include the divine name. Such names were common in the biblical period and often expressed gratitude or confession about God’s character.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Israel, names regularly carried theological meaning. Jehohanan is a theophoric name, combining reference to the LORD with the idea of graciousness or favor.

Primary Key Texts

• Old Testament occurrences in genealogical and postexilic name lists
• verify the individual passages in Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah for the specific referents.

Secondary Key Texts

• Related Old Testament name lists where the same Hebrew name appears under more than one individual.

Original Language Note

Hebrew יְהוֹחָנָן (Yehohanan), meaning “Yahweh has been gracious.” English transliteration may vary slightly across Bible resources.

Theological Significance

The name itself is not a doctrine, but it reflects the biblical habit of using the LORD’s name in personal names and of naming children in ways that acknowledge God’s grace.

Philosophical Explanation

This is an example of how language functions in Scripture: a proper name can carry meaning without becoming a theological category. The meaning of the name is real, but the name should not be turned into a doctrine beyond its biblical usage.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse this name entry with a doctrinal term. Because more than one Old Testament person bears the name, the entry should not collapse all referents into one individual without context.

Major Views

The main editorial issue is not theological disagreement but proper classification and disambiguation of referents.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry concerns a biblical personal name only. Any theological use should remain limited to the name’s meaning and its biblical naming context.

Practical Significance

Jehohanan illustrates how biblical names often express faith, gratitude, or confession. It also reminds readers to read name lists carefully and distinguish one person from another.

Related Entries

• Johanan
• John
• Hebrew names
• personal names in the Bible

See Also

• Johanan
• John
• names
• Chronicles
• Ezra-Nehemiah