2900. Tobiyyahu or Tobiyyah
Lexical Summary
Tobiyyahu or Tobiyyah: Tobiah or Tobijah

Original Word: טוֹבִיָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Towbiyah
Pronunciation: toh-bee-YAH-hoo or toh-bee-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (to-bee-yaw')
KJV: Tobiah, Tobijah
NASB: Tobiah, Tobijah, Tobiah's
Word Origin: [from H2896 (טּוֹב - Good) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. goodness of Jehovah
2. Tobijah, the name of three Israelites and of one Samaritan

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 Origin
from 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.
Ezra 2:60; Nehemiah 7:62 – ancestor of a post-exilic family unable to prove its genealogy.
Nehemiah 2:10, 19; 4:3, 7; 6:1, 12, 14, 17, 19; 13:4, 7, 8 – Tobiah the Ammonite, a regional governor and chief antagonist of Nehemiah.
Zechariah 6:10, 14 – one of three exiles whose precious metals were fashioned into a crown for the high priest.

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).
2. Conspiracy: Reports of planned armed attack (Nehemiah 4:7-8).
3. Intimidation and Slander: Circulation of open letters claiming Nehemiah sought kingship (Nehemiah 6:5-7).
4. Religious Subterfuge: Paid prophet Shemaiah to lure Nehemiah into sinful sanctuary refuge (Nehemiah 6:10-13).
5. Political Entrenchment: “Many in Judah were bound by oath to him, for he was son-in-law to Shecaniah” (Nehemiah 6:17-18), revealing deep intermarriage that compromised Judah’s leaders.

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.
• Covenant Identity: The genealogical Tobiahs remind believers that belonging to God’s people is grounded in divine calling and validated obedience, not mere claim.
• Opposition to God’s Work: Tobiah the Ammonite embodies external hostility mingled with internal compromise; believers must guard against both.
• Purity of Worship: Nehemiah’s expulsion of Tobiah’s effects from the Temple calls the church to preserve holiness in its worship and leadership.
• Generous Partnership: Tobijah’s gifts in Zechariah anticipate the later New Testament principle that lay stewardship advances God’s kingdom purposes.

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 wəṭōwḇîyāhū
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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
HEB: דְלָיָ֥ה בְנֵי־ טוֹבִיָּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י נְקוֹדָ֑א
NAS: the sons of Tobiah, the sons
KJV: the children of Tobiah, the children
INT: of Delaiah the children of Tobiah the children of Nekoda

Nehemiah 2:10
HEB: סַנְבַלַּ֣ט הַחֹרֹנִ֗י וְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ הָעֶ֣בֶד הָֽעַמֹּנִ֔י
NAS: the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite
KJV: the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant,
INT: Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah official the Ammonite

Nehemiah 2:19
HEB: סַנְבַלַּ֨ט הַחֹרֹנִ֜י וְטֹבִיָּ֣ה ׀ הָעֶ֣בֶד הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗י
NAS: the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite
KJV: the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant,
INT: Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah official the Ammonite

Nehemiah 4:3
HEB: וְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה הָעַמֹּנִ֖י אֶצְל֑וֹ
NAS: Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] near
KJV: Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him,
INT: now Tobiah the Ammonite near

Nehemiah 4:7
HEB: שָׁמַ֣ע סַנְבַלַּ֡ט וְ֠טוֹבִיָּה וְהָעַרְבִ֨ים וְהָעַמֹּנִ֜ים
NAS: Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs,
KJV: But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians,
INT: heard Sanballat Tobiah the Arabs the Ammonites

Nehemiah 6:1
HEB: נִשְׁמַ֣ע לְסַנְבַלַּ֣ט וְ֠טוֹבִיָּה וּלְגֶ֨שֶׁם הָֽעַרְבִ֜י
NAS: to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem
KJV: Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem
INT: reported to Sanballat Tobiah to Geshem the Arab

Nehemiah 6:12
HEB: דִּבֶּ֣ר עָלַ֔י וְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה וְסַנְבַלַּ֖ט שְׂכָרֽוֹ׃
NAS: against me because Tobiah and Sanballat
KJV: this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat
INT: uttered against Tobiah and Sanballat had hired

Nehemiah 6:14
HEB: זָכְרָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛י לְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה וּלְסַנְבַלַּ֖ט כְּמַעֲשָׂ֣יו
NAS: O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat
KJV: think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat
INT: Remember my God Tobiah and Sanballat works

Nehemiah 6:17
HEB: הוֹלְכ֖וֹת עַל־ טוֹבִיָּ֑ה וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לְטוֹבִיָּ֖ה
NAS: of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah's
KJV: letters unto Tobiah, and [the letters] of Tobiah
INT: went unto Tobiah and Tobiah's

Nehemiah 6:17
HEB: טוֹבִיָּ֑ה וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לְטוֹבִיָּ֖ה בָּא֥וֹת אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: to Tobiah, and Tobiah's [letters] came
KJV: unto Tobiah, and [the letters] of Tobiah came
INT: Tobiah and Tobiah's came to him

Nehemiah 6:19
HEB: אִגְּר֛וֹת שָׁלַ֥ח טוֹבִיָּ֖ה לְיָֽרְאֵֽנִי׃
NAS: my words to him. Then Tobiah sent
KJV: my words to him. [And] Tobiah sent
INT: letters sent Tobiah to frighten

Nehemiah 7:62
HEB: דְלָיָ֥ה בְנֵֽי־ טוֹבִיָּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י נְקוֹדָ֑א
NAS: the sons of Tobiah, the sons
KJV: the children of Tobiah, the children
INT: of Delaiah the children of Tobiah the children of Nekoda

Nehemiah 13:4
HEB: אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ קָר֖וֹב לְטוֹבִיָּֽה׃
NAS: of our God, being related to Tobiah,
KJV: of our God, [was] allied unto Tobiah:
INT: of our God related to Tobiah

Nehemiah 13:7
HEB: עָשָׂ֤ה אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ לְט֣וֹבִיָּ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לוֹ֙
NAS: had done for Tobiah, by preparing
KJV: did for Tobiah, in preparing
INT: had done Eliashib Tobiah preparing A room

Nehemiah 13:8
HEB: כְּלֵ֧י בֵית־ טוֹבִיָּ֛ה הַח֖וּץ מִן־
NAS: all of Tobiah's household
KJV: stuff of Tobiah out of
INT: goods household of Tobiah's of out

Zechariah 6:10
HEB: מֵחֶלְדַּ֕י וּמֵאֵ֥ת טוֹבִיָּ֖ה וּמֵאֵ֣ת יְדַֽעְיָ֑ה
NAS: from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah;
KJV: [even] of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah,
INT: the exiles Heldai Tobijah and Jedaiah go

Zechariah 6:14
HEB: תִּֽהְיֶה֙ לְחֵ֙לֶם֙ וּלְטוֹבִיָּ֣ה וְלִידַֽעְיָ֔ה וּלְחֵ֖ן
NAS: to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah
KJV: shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah,
INT: will become to Helem Tobijah Jedaiah and Hen

18 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2900
18 Occurrences


lə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh — 4 Occ.
ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh — 6 Occ.
ū·lə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh — 1 Occ.
wə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh — 6 Occ.
wə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yā·hū — 1 Occ.

2899b
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