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Jidlaph

biblical_person theological_term standard

Jidlaph is a minor biblical personal name listed as one of Nahor’s sons in Genesis 22:22.

At a Glance

Minor biblical person; son of Nahor; mentioned only in a genealogy.

Key Points

Description

Jidlaph is a biblical personal name found in the genealogy of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, in Genesis 22:22. Scripture simply includes him among Nahor’s sons and gives no additional information about his life, actions, or theological significance. Because the biblical text provides only genealogical identification, Jidlaph should be classified as a minor biblical person rather than as a doctrinal or theological term. His inclusion still serves the broader biblical purpose of preserving family lines within the Abrahamic narrative context.

Biblical Context

Jidlaph appears in the list of Nahor’s sons in the closing verses of the account of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:20–24). The verse belongs to a genealogy that helps situate Abraham’s extended family line.

Historical Context

The name reflects ordinary ancient Near Eastern family naming and genealogical recordkeeping. Such lists preserved kinship lines, inheritance connections, and family identity across generations.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In the Old Testament genealogical tradition, names like Jidlaph help mark the wider family network around the patriarchs. Later Jewish readers would have recognized the name as part of the remembered ancestry of Abraham’s relatives, though no extra biblical tradition is needed to understand the text.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The Hebrew name is transliterated Jidlaph; its precise meaning is uncertain and is not required for interpretation.

Theological Significance

Jidlaph has little direct theological content because Scripture does not describe any event, saying, or role attached to him. His value is genealogical: he is part of the family record preserved around Abraham’s relatives.

Philosophical Explanation

Genealogical names like Jidlaph remind readers that biblical history is rooted in real people and actual family lines, not merely abstract ideas. Even brief names contribute to the continuity of the biblical narrative.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not read symbolic meaning or doctrinal weight into Jidlaph’s name beyond the text itself. The Bible does not supply a story, character evaluation, or theological teaching about him.

Major Views

There are no major interpretive debates about Jidlaph in the biblical text. He is simply identified as a son of Nahor in Genesis.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Jidlaph is not a doctrine-bearing term and should not be used to build theological conclusions. Any discussion of him should remain within the limits of the Genesis genealogy.

Practical Significance

Jidlaph shows that Scripture preserves even brief and seemingly minor names within God’s covenant history. This supports a reverent reading of genealogies as part of the Bible’s historical witness.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Jidlaph

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