Lexical Summary Tebalyahu: Tebaliah Original Word: טְבַלְיָהוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Tebaliah From tabal and Yahh; Jah has dipped; Tebaljah, an Israelite -- Tebaliah. see HEBREW tabal see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tabal and Yah Definition "Yah has dipped," an Isr. NASB Translation Tebaliah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs טְבַלְיָ֫הוּ proper name, masculine (׳י hath dipped, i.e. purified) — name of one of the porters, line of Merari 1 Chronicles 26:11 (ᵐ5L Ταβεηλ). II. טבל (perhaps to be assumed as √ of following; compare Ethiopic Topical Lexicon Identity Tebaliah is a son of Hosah the Merarite and a Levitical gatekeeper during the reign of King David. Scriptural Reference 1 Chronicles 26:11 – “Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth; the sons and relatives of Hosah were thirteen in all.” Historical Context The chronicler records David’s reorganization of Levitical duties, including the gatekeepers who safeguarded the entrances of the sanctuary (1 Chronicles 23–26). Hosah’s household is listed among the custodians stationed on the west side of the temple complex (1 Chronicles 26:10). Tebaliah stands in the third position among four sons, indicating both familial hierarchy and assigned watch rotations. Levitical Ministry Gatekeepers protected the sanctity of worship by regulating access to holy precincts, safeguarding treasuries, and supervising temple chambers (1 Chronicles 9:22–24; 26:20–22). Their role paralleled the priestly calling to holiness, requiring readiness, discernment, and faithfulness (Numbers 3:36–37). Tebaliah, as a Merarite, also shared ancestral responsibility for transporting and maintaining the heavy structural elements of the tabernacle in earlier generations (Numbers 4:29–33). Theological Significance The placement of Tebaliah within the gatekeeping corps illustrates the seamless continuity between worship, holiness, and service. His name, testifying to divine cleansing, echoes the spiritual prerequisite that all who draw near to God’s dwelling must be purified (Psalm 24:3–4). His ministry anticipates New Covenant realities, where Christ—the ultimate Door (John 10:7)—grants purified access to God, and every believer is called to vigilant stewardship of the church’s spiritual integrity (1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 3:8). Spiritual Lessons 1. Faithful obscurity: Though Tebaliah appears only once, his silent obedience contributed to Israel’s ordered worship—an encouragement to serve steadfastly even when unnoticed. Related Figures and Themes • Hosah – patriarch of Tebaliah’s line, exemplifying the Merarite commitment to God’s house. Forms and Transliterations טְבַלְיָ֣הוּ טבליהו ṭə·ḇal·yā·hū ṭəḇalyāhū tevalYahuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 26:11 HEB: חִלְקִיָּ֤הוּ הַשֵּׁנִי֙ טְבַלְיָ֣הוּ הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ NAS: the second, Tebaliah the third, KJV: the second, Tebaliah the third, INT: Hilkiah the second Tebaliah the third Zechariah 1 Occurrence |
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wind about, wrap up; Assyrian ‰ublu, turban, Dl in Baer's Ezechxii).