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Johanan

biblical_person_name theological_term standard

Johanan is a Hebrew personal name borne by several men in the Old Testament, most notably Johanan son of Kareah, a military leader in the aftermath of Jerusalem’s fall.

At a Glance

Proper name; multiple Old Testament referents. Best known: Johanan son of Kareah.

Key Points

Description

Johanan is a Hebrew personal name borne by multiple men in the Old Testament. The most prominent bearer is Johanan son of Kareah, a military leader associated with the remnant of Judah after Jerusalem’s fall, especially in Jeremiah 40–43. Other men with the same name appear in priestly, genealogical, and historical lists elsewhere in the Old Testament. Because the term identifies biblical persons rather than a doctrinal or theological concept, it should be read as a proper-name entry and interpreted according to context.

Biblical Context

Johanan son of Kareah appears in the Jeremiah narrative after the fall of Jerusalem, when Judah’s remnant faced pressure, uncertainty, and conflict over whether to remain in the land or go to Egypt. The name also occurs in other Old Testament name lists and genealogies.

Historical Context

The best-known Johanan belongs to the period after Babylon’s conquest of Judah in 586 BC. In the unstable political situation that followed, local leaders, survivors, and military figures made difficult decisions about the future of the remaining population.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Johanan is a theophoric Hebrew name meaning that the LORD has shown grace or favor. Such names were common in ancient Israel and often reflected faith, hope, or thanksgiving rather than a formal title or office.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yôḥānān), commonly understood to mean “the LORD has been gracious” or “Yahweh has shown grace.”

Theological Significance

As a personal name, Johanan has no direct doctrinal content. Its significance is mainly historical: the name appears in narratives that illuminate the upheaval after Judah’s fall and the importance of careful attention to biblical persons and contexts.

Philosophical Explanation

Proper names refer to real individuals in history; they are not abstract concepts. A sound reading of Scripture therefore distinguishes between same-named persons by literary and historical context.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not assume every occurrence of Johanan refers to the same person. Distinguish this name from similar spellings or related forms such as Jehohanan when the text requires it. Identify the referent from the immediate context before drawing conclusions.

Major Views

There is no major doctrinal dispute here. The main interpretive issue is simple identification: which Johanan is being named in a given passage.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry concerns a biblical proper name, not a doctrine. It should not be used to support theological claims beyond what the surrounding passage actually says.

Practical Significance

This entry encourages careful Bible reading, attention to historical setting, and patience with repeated names in Scripture.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Johanan

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