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Mehetabel

biblical_person_name theological_term standard

A biblical personal name borne by at least one individual in Scripture, appearing in genealogical and historical notices rather than as a theological term.

At a Glance

Proper name used for biblical individuals in genealogical and historical settings.

Key Points

Description

Mehetabel is a biblical personal name, not a theological term. The name appears in Old Testament genealogical and historical notices, including Genesis 36:39 and its parallel in 1 Chronicles 1:50, where Mehetabel is the wife of an Edomite ruler in the royal genealogy, and Nehemiah 6:10, where the name appears in a later family line. Since the term refers to specific individuals rather than a doctrine, theme, or biblical concept, it should be handled as a proper-name entry with attention to its immediate textual context.

Biblical Context

In Genesis and Chronicles, Mehetabel appears in the Edomite royal genealogy. In Nehemiah, the name appears in a postexilic setting connected with a family line or ancestry notice.

Historical Context

The name belongs to the world of ancient Israel and Edom, where genealogies preserved lineage, inheritance, and historical memory. Such names often functioned as markers of family identity and social location.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Jewish reading and record-keeping, genealogical notices were important for tribal memory, inheritance, and covenant history. Mehetabel is one of many personal names preserved in these lists without further narrative detail.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

From Hebrew, a theophoric personal name containing the element "El" (God). The exact etymology is not certain in every detail, but it is generally understood as a name expressing divine goodness or beneficence.

Theological Significance

The name itself carries no doctrinal content, but its preservation in Scripture reflects the historical concreteness of the biblical record and God's concern for real people and family lines.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Mehetabel identifies a person rather than an abstract idea. Dictionary treatment should therefore focus on identification, textual context, and careful distinction between names and doctrines.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not build doctrine from the meaning of the name alone. Treat each occurrence in its immediate context, since biblical proper names can appear in more than one setting and may refer to different individuals.

Major Views

The main interpretive question is identification: whether the Nehemiah reference preserves the same name as the Edomite notices or a distinct bearer of the name. The safest treatment is to acknowledge both textual settings without overclaiming.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry concerns a biblical personal name only. It should not be used to infer doctrinal meaning beyond the general truth that Scripture preserves real historical persons and family lines.

Practical Significance

Mehetabel reminds readers that Scripture includes many lesser-known people whose lives are preserved in the biblical record. Even brief genealogical notices contribute to the continuity of redemptive history.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Mehetabel

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