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Jehonadab

biblical_person_name theological_term standard

A biblical personal name borne by more than one man, usually referring to Jonadab son of Rechab or Jonadab son of Shimeah.

At a Glance

A Hebrew personal name used in the Old Testament for more than one man.

Key Points

Description

Jehonadab is a biblical personal name rather than a theological term, so it should be classified as a name entry. Scripture uses the name for more than one individual, most notably Jonadab son of Rechab, who appears with Jehu in 2 Kings 10 and whose family, the Rechabites, is later presented in Jeremiah 35 as an example of steadfast obedience to their forefather's command; it is also used for Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's relative whose shrewd but ungodly advice assisted Amnon in his sin against Tamar (2 Sam. 13). A publishable entry should therefore function as a brief disambiguation page or resolver for the name rather than as a theological term.

Biblical Context

In 2 Kings 10:15-23, Jehonadab is associated with Jehu during the purge of Baal worship. In Jeremiah 35, the Rechabites are held up as an example of faithful obedience to the command of their ancestor. In 2 Samuel 13:3-5, the same name is associated with a different man whose counsel helped Amnon carry out sin against Tamar.

Historical Context

The name appears in the monarchic period narratives of Kings and Samuel and in Jeremiah's later prophetic setting. Bible readers often encounter it in discussions of the Rechabites and of the moral contrast between godly family loyalty and corrupt counsel.

Jewish and Ancient Context

The Rechabites were remembered as a clan marked by strict ancestral discipline and non-settled patterns of life, which gives Jehonadab's role in Jeremiah 35 special importance. The name therefore carries historical interest as a marker of family identity and covenant-like obedience, not as a doctrine in itself.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew personal name, commonly represented in English as Jehonadab or Jonadab; the forms are closely related and often treated as the same name family.

Theological Significance

Jehonadab matters chiefly as a biblical name attached to two contrasting narrative settings: one connected with obedience and reform, and one connected with deceit and sin. The name itself does not define a doctrine, but the stories attached to it illustrate the importance of wise counsel, family faithfulness, and covenant obedience.

Philosophical Explanation

As a dictionary headword, Jehonadab is best handled by naming and distinguishing referents. The same spelling or closely related spelling can point to different individuals, so the entry should clarify context rather than assume a single identity.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not collapse the two biblical figures into one person. Do not import the commendation of the Rechabite-related Jehonadab into the Amnon narrative. Also note that Jehonadab is a name entry, not a theological concept.

Major Views

Bible dictionaries typically treat Jehonadab as a personal-name entry and cross-reference Jonadab, the Rechabites, Jehu, and the Amnon account.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should remain within historical and lexical scope. Any doctrinal use must arise from the specific passages, not from the name itself.

Practical Significance

The entry reminds readers to read names in context and to distinguish faithful ancestral example from corrupt counsel. It also highlights how biblical narratives use the same or similar names for different people.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Jehonadab

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