Lexical Summary Tobiyyahu or Tobiyyah: Tobiah or Tobijah Original Word: טוֹבִיָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Tobiah, Tobijah Or Towbiyahuw {to-bee-yaw'-hoo}; from towb and Yahh; goodness of Jehovah; Tobijah, the name of three Israelites and of one Samaritan -- Tobiah, Tobijah. see HEBREW towb see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tob and Yah Definition "Yah is my good," three Isr., also an Ammonite NASB Translation Tobiah (13), Tobiah's (2), Tobijah (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs טוֺבִיָּ֫הוּ, טוֺבִיָּה proper name, masculine (Yah(u) is my good) — 1 טוֺבִיָּהוּ a Levite, assigned to reign of Jehoshaphat 2Chronicles 17:8, not ᵐ5; ᵐ5L Τωβιας, elsewhere טוֺבִיָּה ᵐ5 Τωβια(ς). 2 Ammonite adversary of Nehem. Nehemiah 2:10,19; Nehemiah 3:35; Nehemiah 4:1; Nehemiah 6:1,12,14,17 (twice in verse); Nehemiah 6:19; Nehemiah 13:4,7,8. 3 head of a family of returning exiles of doubtful lineage Ezra 2:60 = Nehemiah 7:62. 4 a chief of returning exiles Zechariah 6:10,14, ᵐ5 χρησίμων(#NAME?)αὐτῆς, i.e. טוֺבֶיהָ. Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Identification• 2 Chronicles 17:8 – a Levite teacher who helped spread the Law throughout Judah during King Jehoshaphat’s reforms. Tobiah the Levite Teacher (2 Chronicles 17:8) Jehoshaphat’s reign is marked by a deliberate return to covenant faithfulness. Tobiah stands among the Levites sent out “to teach throughout Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them” (2 Chronicles 17:9). His inclusion demonstrates the king’s commitment to leverage trained Levites for the spiritual formation of the nation. By carrying the Torah from town to town, Tobiah and his companions fostered both literacy in the Scriptures and reverence for Yahweh, preparing the ground for the later prophetic ministries in Judah. The Genealogically Unverified Family (Ezra 2:60; Nehemiah 7:62) Upon return from Babylon, certain families “could not prove that their families were descended from Israel” (Ezra 2:59). Among them were “the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda” (Ezra 2:60). Their situation highlights two covenant concerns: the necessity of recorded lineage for priestly and Levitical service and the grace extended in allowing them to reside among the restored community while awaiting clarification from the Urim and Thummim (Ezra 2:63). The episode underscores God’s insistence on both holiness and mercy within His people. Tobiah the Ammonite Opponent of Nehemiah Role and Position Tobiah appears as an “official” (Nehemiah 2:10), likely a Persian-appointed governor over Ammon east of the Jordan. His alliance with Sanballat of Samaria and Geshem of Arabia formed a tri-regional coalition that resisted any strengthening of Jerusalem that might threaten their political influence. Tactics of Opposition 1. Mockery: “What they are building—if even a fox climbs up on it, he will break down their wall of stones!” (Nehemiah 4:3). Nehemiah’s Response Nehemiah countered prayerfully (“But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands,’” Nehemiah 6:9) and with steadfast leadership, finishing the wall in fifty-two days. Later, during Nehemiah’s absence, High Priest Eliashib prepared a large chamber in the Temple for Tobiah (Nehemiah 13:4-5). On returning, Nehemiah “was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room” (Nehemiah 13:8), then ordered ceremonial cleansing. The episode illustrates covenant vigilance, temple purity, and courageous reform. Tobiah in Zechariah’s Prophecy (Zechariah 6:10, 14) During Zechariah’s night-visions, the prophet is commanded: “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah… and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (Zechariah 6:11). The resulting crown became “a memorial in the temple of the LORD to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah” (Zechariah 6:14). Tobijah’s free-will offering symbolizes post-exilic hope, foreshadowing Messiah’s dual role as Priest-King (Zechariah 6:12-13), and testifies to lay participation in the advance of God’s redemptive plan. Spiritual Themes and Lessons • Fidelity to the Word: The Levite Tobiah exemplifies how teaching Scripture fortifies a nation against idolatry. Chronological Summary c. 870 BC ‒ Tobiah the Levite aids Jehoshaphat’s reforms (2 Chronicles 17). c. 538-458 BC ‒ Descendants of Tobiah return from Babylon but are administratively restricted (Ezra 2; Nehemiah 7). 445 BC ‒ Tobiah the Ammonite resists the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall; opposition peaks and is overcome (Nehemiah 2-6). 433 BC (approx.) ‒ Nehemiah’s second term; Temple cleansed of Tobiah’s occupancy (Nehemiah 13). 519-518 BC ‒ Tobijah participates in Zechariah’s prophetic sign-act of the crown (Zechariah 6). Together these passages trace a composite portrait: some bearing the name served the covenant faithfully, others opposed it, yet all demonstrate the sovereignty of God who directs history toward His redemptive ends. Forms and Transliterations וְ֠טוֹבִיָּה וְטֹבִיָּ֣ה ׀ וְטֽוֹבִיָּ֛הוּ וְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ וְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה וּלְטוֹבִיָּ֣ה וטביה וטוביה וטוביהו ולטוביה טוֹבִיָּ֑ה טוֹבִיָּ֖ה טוֹבִיָּ֛ה טוביה לְט֣וֹבִיָּ֔ה לְטוֹבִיָּ֖ה לְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה לְטוֹבִיָּֽה׃ לטוביה לטוביה׃ lə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh letoiYah ləṭōwḇîyāh ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh toiYah ṭōwḇîyāh ū·lə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh uletoiYah ūləṭōwḇîyāh vetoiYah vetoiYahu wə·ṭō·ḇî·yāh wə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yā·hū wə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh wəṭōḇîyāh wəṭōwḇîyāh wəṭōwḇîyāhūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Chronicles 17:8 HEB: וִֽיהוֹנָתָן֩ וַאֲדֹ֨נִיָּ֧הוּ וְטֽוֹבִיָּ֛הוּ וְט֥וֹב אֲדוֹנִיָּ֖ה NAS: Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah, KJV: and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, INT: Jehonathan Adonijah Tobijah and Tobadonijah the Levites Ezra 2:60 Nehemiah 2:10 Nehemiah 2:19 Nehemiah 4:3 Nehemiah 4:7 Nehemiah 6:1 Nehemiah 6:12 Nehemiah 6:14 Nehemiah 6:17 Nehemiah 6:17 Nehemiah 6:19 Nehemiah 7:62 Nehemiah 13:4 Nehemiah 13:7 Nehemiah 13:8 Zechariah 6:10 Zechariah 6:14 18 Occurrences |
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