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Zebadiah

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Zebadiah is a Hebrew personal name borne by several Old Testament men. The name means “Yahweh has bestowed” or “given by the LORD.”

At a Glance

A biblical name, not a doctrinal term: Zebadiah refers to multiple Old Testament individuals whose names express the idea that the LORD has given.

Key Points

Description

Zebadiah is a Hebrew personal name used for several different men in the Old Testament. The name is commonly explained as meaning “Yahweh has bestowed” or “The LORD has given,” fitting the theophoric naming patterns common in ancient Israel. The individuals named Zebadiah appear in varying settings, including genealogical records, Levitical or administrative listings, military associations, and postexilic community records. Scripture does not present Zebadiah as a theological concept; it is a proper name shared by multiple persons. For that reason, the entry should be read as a biblical name study rather than as a doctrinal term.

Biblical Context

The Old Testament uses Zebadiah as a personal name for more than one man. The name appears in lists and genealogies rather than in a sustained narrative role, so its significance is mainly identified through the setting and the meaning of the name itself.

Historical Context

Names in ancient Israel often carried theological meaning. Zebadiah reflects the common practice of naming children with confession-like statements about God’s action, in this case that the LORD gives or bestows.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In Hebrew naming practice, many names were theophoric, including a reference to Yahweh. Zebadiah fits that pattern and communicates gratitude or testimony about God’s gift and provision.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew personal name, commonly understood from the root idea “to give” with a divine name element: “Yahweh has bestowed” or “The LORD has given.”

Theological Significance

Zebadiah itself is not a doctrine, but the name reflects a biblical pattern of confessing God as giver and source of blessing.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Zebadiah functions primarily as identity marker rather than as an abstract concept. Its meaning, however, expresses a theological worldview in which human life and blessing are received from the LORD.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Zebadiah as a single individual if the context indicates one of several men with the same name. Do not build doctrine from the name alone; its significance comes from the biblical naming pattern and the context of each occurrence.

Major Views

There is little interpretive dispute about the basic sense of the name. The main issue is disambiguation, since multiple Old Testament men share it.

Doctrinal Boundaries

The entry supports the biblical truth that God is giver and benefactor, but it does not establish any standalone doctrinal point beyond the meaning of the name.

Practical Significance

Zebadiah reminds readers that even ordinary names in Scripture can testify to God’s generosity, and that many faithful people appear only briefly in the biblical record.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Zebadiah

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