Meholathite

At a Glance

A regional identifier meaning “from Abel-meholah.”

Key Points

• It is a place-based label, not a theology term. • It helps identify biblical persons by origin. • The exact location of Abel-meholah is not certain, but the designation is clear in Scripture.

Description

Meholathite is a Hebrew Bible designation for a person from Abel-meholah or its surrounding district. Such labels function like hometown or regional identifiers, helping readers locate individuals geographically and distinguish them from others with similar names. The term itself does not develop theological content; it is descriptive rather than doctrinal. In the Bible, the designation appears in relation to figures such as Adriel, and it is best understood as a gentilic formed from the place name Abel-meholah.

Biblical Context

Scripture uses gentilics frequently to identify people by town, region, or clan. Meholathite belongs to that category and points back to Abel-meholah in the Old Testament.

Historical Context

Abel-meholah is associated with the Jordan Valley area, though its exact archaeological location is uncertain. The gentilic helps place biblical figures in their historical setting.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Hebrew usage, place-based labels were a normal way to identify individuals. Meholathite fits that broader biblical naming pattern.

Primary Key Texts

• 1 Samuel 18:19
• 2 Samuel 21:8

Secondary Key Texts

• 1 Kings 19:16

Original Language Note

From Hebrew usage meaning a person associated with Abel-meholah; a gentilic formed from the place name rather than a theological term.

Theological Significance

The term has no direct doctrinal meaning, but it supports careful reading by identifying biblical people and their geographic setting.

Philosophical Explanation

Meholathite is an example of how language can carry precise historical information without expressing a theological claim. The Bible often uses such labels to locate persons within real places and communities.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Meholathite as a doctrine, office, or spiritual category. It is best read as a geographic identifier, and the exact location of Abel-meholah should not be overstated beyond the text.

Major Views

Most interpreters understand the term as a gentilic derived from Abel-meholah.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should not be used to support doctrine. Its significance is historical and exegetical, not theological.

Practical Significance

It helps readers understand biblical narrative details, genealogy, and the movement of people in Israel’s history.

Related Entries

• Abel-meholah
• Adriel
• Elisha

See Also

• Gentilic
• Geography in Scripture
• Hometown designations