1913. Hadoram

Lexical Summary

Hadoram: Hadoram

Original Word: הֲדוֹרָם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Hadowram
Pronunciation: hah-do-RAHM
Phonetic Spelling: (had-o-rawm')
KJV: Hadoram
NASB: Hadoram
Word Origin: [probably of foreign derivation]

1. Hadoram, a son of Joktan, and the tribe descended from him

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Hadoram

Or Hadoram {had-o-rawm'}; probably of foreign derivation; Hadoram, a son of Joktan, and the tribe descended from him -- Hadoram.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a son of Joktan and his desc., also son of the king of Hamath, perhaps also an official of Rehoboam
NASB Translation
Hadoram (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

הֲדוֺרָם proper name, masculine 1. Arabian tribe, called son of Joktan Genesis 10:27 (compare Di) = 1 Chronicles 1:21; Glas^{ii. 435} compare Dauram near ‚ang â in Yemen (Sabean הדרום CIS^{iv.1. p.1}; ᵐ5 Ὁδορρα Genesis 10:27, ᵐ5^L Οδορραμ; 1 Chronicles 1:21 ᵐ5^B omitted by ᵐ5^L Αδωραμ).

2 son of Tou (תֹּעוּ) king of Hamath 1 Chronicles 18:10 (ᵐ5 Ἱδουρααμ, ᵐ5^L Αθωραμ); so read probably in "" 2 Samuel 8:10, for יוֺרָם, compare ᵐ5 Ἰεδδουραν, see We Dr) — הֲדֹרָם.

הֲדֹרָם proper name, masculine an official of Rehoboam2Chronicles 10:18 (ᵐ5 Ἀδωνειραμ) = אֲדֹרָם 1 Kings 12:18 (ᵐ5 Ἀραμ, Ἀδωνιραμ), & אֲדֹנִירָם q. v. — הֲדוֺרָם.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Hadoram appears four times in the Old Testament, designating three distinct individuals whose lives touch on the early post-Flood dispersion, the rise of Davidic power, and the fracture of the united monarchy. The name thus spans Genesis through the Chronicler’s history, tying together themes of covenant succession, international diplomacy, and the ethical exercise of authority.

Occurrences and Persons

1. Genesis 10:27; 1 Chronicles 1:21 – Hadoram son of Joktan, a descendant of Shem.
2. 1 Chronicles 18:10 – Hadoram son of Tou king of Hamath, envoy to David.
3. 2 Chronicles 10:18 – Hadoram (elsewhere “Adoram/Adoniram”), overseer of forced labor under Rehoboam.

Genealogical Significance

The Table of Nations places Hadoram within Joktan’s thirteen-son lineage, whose settlements are associated with southern Arabia. This positioning underlines Scripture’s testimony that the sons of Shem populated regions extending toward “the mountains of the east” (Genesis 10:30). Joktanite peoples likely participated in the flourishing spice trade that later intersected with Israel’s economy (compare the Ishmaelite caravan in Genesis 37:25), illustrating the providential scattering that prepared the world for future redemptive interaction.

Diplomatic Envoy from Hamath

In 1 Chronicles 18:9–10, amid David’s consolidation of the kingdom, Tou of Hamath sends his son Hadoram with gifts “of gold, silver, and bronze” (verse 10). The Chronicler highlights three facets:
• Recognition of the LORD’s hand on David’s victories over Hadadezer.
• Peaceful relations between Israel and a neighboring Aramean polity.
• Consecration of the tribute to the LORD (verse 11), affirming that international wealth rightly belongs to Israel’s God.

This episode foreshadows later Gentile homage to the Messiah-King (Psalm 72:10–11; Isaiah 60:5–7), showing that Israel’s monarchy, when faithful, draws nations to worship.

Royal Administrator of Forced Labor

2 Chronicles 10:18 recounts the death of Hadoram at the outbreak of civil unrest: “Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death.” The incident encapsulates several historical and theological lessons:
• The misuse of conscription, intensified under Solomon and perpetuated by Rehoboam, alienated the northern tribes and hastened schism.
• Hadoram’s stoning marks the end of a centralized corvée system that, while effective for temple and palace construction, violated the servant-leader model set forth in Deuteronomy 17:14-20.
• The Chronicler presents the event as divine judgment for covenant unfaithfulness, contrasting David’s God-honoring administration (1 Chronicles 18) with Rehoboam’s self-serving rule.

Intertextual Note on “Adoram/Adoniram”

1 Kings 12:18 employs the form “Adoram,” but the Chronicler’s “Hadoram” preserves phonetic continuity. The variation underscores that inspired Scripture can record distinct traditions without contradiction, reflecting common ancient naming fluidity while maintaining a unified historical portrait.

Ministry and Discipleship Applications

• Leadership: David receives Gentile tribute and immediately dedicates it to the LORD, modeling stewardship that channels success toward worship rather than self-exaltation.
• Servanthood versus Oppression: The fate of Hadoram under Rehoboam warns spiritual leaders against coercive authority. Christ’s kingship, announced centuries later, is characterized by humble service (Matthew 20:25–28).
• Mission: From Joktan’s south-Arabian descendants to Hamath’s envoy, the narrative trajectory hints at God’s heart for the nations. Contemporary ministry finds precedent for cross-cultural engagement rooted in covenant faithfulness.

Summary

Hadoram, though mentioned only four times, threads through Scripture as a genealogical marker, a diplomatic bridge, and a tragic casualty of oppressive policy. Together these references affirm God’s sovereign guidance of peoples and rulers, commend righteous governance, and caution against the abuse of power—all vital themes for the church’s witness today.

Forms and Transliterations

הֲדֹרָם֙ הֲדֽוֹרָם־ הֲדוֹרָ֥ם הדורם הדורם־ הדרם hă·ḏō·rām hă·ḏō·w·rām hă·ḏō·w·rām- hadoRam hăḏōrām hadorom hăḏōwrām hăḏōwrām-

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 10:27
HEB: וְאֶת־ הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־ אוּזָ֖ל
NAS: and Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah
KJV: And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,
INT: and Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah

1 Chronicles 1:21
HEB: וְאֶת־ הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־ אוּזָ֖ל
NAS: Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
KJV: Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,
INT: Hadoram Uzal Diklah

1 Chronicles 18:10
HEB: וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אֶת־ הֲדֽוֹרָם־ בְּנ֣וֹ אֶל־
NAS: he sent Hadoram his son to King
KJV: He sent Hadoram his son to king
INT: sent Hadoram his son to

2 Chronicles 10:18
HEB: רְחַבְעָ֗ם אֶת־ הֲדֹרָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־
NAS: Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over
KJV: sent Hadoram that [was] over the tribute;
INT: King Rehoboam Hadoram who was over

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1913
4 Occurrences

hă·ḏō·w·rām — 3 Occ.
hă·ḏō·w·rām- — 1 Occ.