Lexical Summary Besodeyah: Besodeiah Original Word: בְּסוֹדְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Besodeiah From cowd and Yahh with prepositional prefix; in (the) counsel of Jehovah; Besodejah, an Israelite -- Besodeiah. see HEBREW cowd see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition an Isr. NASB Translation Besodeiah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בְּסוֺדְיָה֑ proper name, masculine (? in the secret of Yah) Israelite in Nehemiah's time Nehemiah 3:6. Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Besodeiah is a personal name that intertwines “counsel” with the covenant name of the Lord, suggesting “under the counsel of Yahweh.” The form itself hints at intimate fellowship with God’s purposes, a quality reflected in the rebuilding narrative in which the name appears. Biblical Occurrence Nehemiah 3:6 records a single appearance: “Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they laid its beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars” (Berean Standard Bible). Besodeiah is mentioned only as the father of Meshullam, yet even this brief notice situates him in a pivotal chapter of redemptive history—the restoration of Jerusalem’s walls after the exile. Historical Context The year is roughly 445 B.C. Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, has gained royal permission to fortify Jerusalem. Chapter 3 itemizes the labor crews working side by side along the wall. Meshullam son of Besodeiah partners with Joiada son of Paseah at the Old Gate (sometimes called the Jeshanah Gate), a strategic entrance on Jerusalem’s northwestern side. This gate guarded the approach from Samaria and other potential adversaries, so its repair was militarily essential and symbolically charged; the people were reclaiming both security and identity. Although Besodeiah himself is not said to have wielded hammer or nail, the mention of his paternity embeds him in the public record. In a culture where genealogy carried theological weight, the appearance of his name affirms that the restoration was more than a civic undertaking—it was a covenant reclamation in which whole families were represented. Theological and Ministerial Significance 1. Covenant Legacy. Besodeiah’s name, joined to “Yahweh,” reminds readers that the wall-builders were acting in accord with, and under the counsel of, the Lord. The work was not merely political; it was liturgical, a lived confession that Jerusalem belonged to God. Lessons for the Church Today • Labor in God’s counsel. Planning is valid, but Proverbs 19:21 cautions, “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.” Christian ministry flourishes when undertaken in prayerful alignment with divine counsel. Related Scripture Themes Psalm 33:11—“The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.” Psalm 127:1—“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Isaiah 58:12—“You will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Ephesians 2:20-22—Christ builds His church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with believers “being built together into a dwelling place for God.” Through a single mention in Nehemiah, Besodeiah reminds readers that every faithful life—named or unnamed—finds lasting significance when it stands in the counsel of the Lord. Forms and Transliterations בְּסֽוֹדְיָ֑ה בסודיה bə·sō·wḏ·yāh besodYah bəsōwḏyāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 3:6 HEB: וּמְשֻׁלָּ֖ם בֶּן־ בְּסֽוֹדְיָ֑ה הֵ֣מָּה קֵר֔וּהוּ NAS: the son of Besodeiah repaired KJV: the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams INT: and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah they laid 1 Occurrence |
    |