Jehozabad

Jehozabad is an Old Testament personal name borne by more than one man. The best-known Jehozabad was one of the servants involved in the assassination of King Joash of Judah.

At a Glance

Old Testament personal name

Most notable bearer: one of the men who killed King Joash

Category: biblical proper name, not a doctrinal term

Key Points

Description

Jehozabad is a Hebrew personal name found in more than one Old Testament context. The most prominent Jehozabad is one of the servants who turned against King Joash and took part in his assassination. Scripture also indicates that the name was borne by other men in different settings, so the entry functions as a proper-name disambiguation rather than a doctrinal definition. As a result, the entry is best published under a biblical-person category with a brief note identifying the principal biblical occurrences.

Biblical Context

The clearest biblical setting for Jehozabad is the account of King Joash’s death, where servants conspired against him and killed him. The name also appears elsewhere in Old Testament lists, showing that it was used by more than one individual.

Historical Context

Jehozabad reflects the common ancient practice of shared personal names within Israel’s historical records. In narrative passages, the name is tied to court intrigue during the reign of Joash, while in other contexts it appears among ordinary named individuals preserved in Scripture’s genealogical and administrative records.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In the Old Testament world, names often carried theological meaning and were shared across families and generations. Jehozabad is an example of a Hebrew name that appears in multiple contexts, requiring readers to distinguish one bearer from another by the surrounding passage.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Jehozabad reflects a Hebrew personal name. The entry should be understood as a proper name shared by multiple individuals rather than as a doctrinal term.

Theological Significance

This entry has limited direct theological content, since it names a person rather than a doctrine. Its main value is historical: it preserves the biblical record of individual accountability, covenant infidelity, and the consequences of turning from the Lord.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper-name entry, Jehozabad illustrates how Scripture grounds theology in real persons and events. Biblical truth is not abstracted from history; it is revealed through named individuals, public actions, and covenant consequences.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse the different men named Jehozabad. The best-known bearer is the man connected with Joash’s assassination, but the name is not limited to that one individual. Because this is a proper name, it should not be treated as a doctrinal or thematic term.

Major Views

There is no major doctrinal debate attached to the name itself. The main editorial issue is identification and disambiguation of the biblical referent(s).

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should remain descriptive and historical. It should not be expanded into speculative moral or theological claims beyond what the biblical text clearly states.

Practical Significance

The entry helps readers trace biblical characters accurately and avoid confusing similarly named individuals. It also reminds readers that Scripture records both faithful and unfaithful people by name, with real historical consequences.

Related Entries

See Also

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