Lexical Summary Yigdalyahu: Yigdalyahu Original Word: יִגְדַּלְיָהוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Igdaliah From gadal and Yahh; magnified of Jah; Jigdaljah, an Israelite -- Igdaliah. see HEBREW gadal see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom gadal and Yah Definition "Yah is great," an Isr. prophet NASB Translation Igdaliah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יִגְדַּלְיָ֫הוּ proper name, masculine (Yah(u) is great) a prophet of the age of Josiah Jeremiah 35:4. Topical Lexicon Biblical appearance Igdaliah is mentioned once, in Jeremiah 35:4, within the narrative of Jeremiah’s object-lesson featuring the Rechabites. The prophet records that he escorted the Rechabite clan “into the chamber of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, the man of God” (Jeremiah 35:4). Historical setting The event comes late in Judah’s history, during the reign of Jehoiakim or early in Zedekiah’s rule (Jeremiah 35:1). Jerusalem still stood, but Babylonian pressure was mounting. The Temple complex, rebuilt and expanded since Solomon’s day, contained numerous side-rooms assigned to priests, Levites, royal officials, and other notable servants of the Lord (compare 1 Kings 6:5–10; Nehemiah 13:4–9). One such chamber bore the name of Igdaliah, attesting to his standing among the Temple community. Status as “man of God” The title “man of God” (’îš hāʾĕlōhîm) is used for prophets like Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1), Samuel (1 Samuel 9:6), Elijah (1 Kings 17:18), and other revered servants. Its application to Igdaliah strongly implies recognized prophetic or priestly service. Though details of his ministry have not survived, his reputation endured, so much so that a permanent chamber in the house of the Lord remained associated with his name long enough for Jeremiah to identify it generations later. The chamber of Igdaliah’s descendants Hanan, Igdaliah’s son, appears to have inherited both his father’s faith and his father’s space within the sanctuary. The “sons of Hanan” likely denotes a guild or family line engaged in Temple service or prophetic instruction. Jeremiah’s choice of this precise location underscored the seriousness of his illustration: obedience would be demonstrated in a room linked to a respected spiritual lineage, heightening the contrast between the faithful Rechabites and the disobedient nation. Role in Jeremiah’s ministry Jeremiah invited the Rechabites into Igdaliah’s chamber and set wine before them (Jeremiah 35:5). Their refusal, rooted in ancestral commitment, became a living parable of covenant fidelity. By situating the scene in a chamber tied to a “man of God,” Jeremiah emphasized that genuine devotion transcends lineage, rank, or proximity to holy places; it rests in obedient hearts. Theological significance 1. Continuity of witness: Even a single mention of Igdaliah shows how the Lord preserves testimonies of faithful servants throughout generations. Applications for believers • Faithfulness leaves a legacy that may outlast personal fame. Later tradition and remembrance Jewish commentators occasionally link Igdaliah with prophetic circles contemporary to Jeremiah, though no extra-biblical records are extant. Christian writers have often cited him as evidence that God’s faithful remnant included many whose accounts Scripture only briefly records (compare Hebrews 11:32–38). Thus, Igdaliah stands as a reminder that in every era God raises men and women whose quiet faithfulness supports larger prophetic purposes, even when their names flash across the biblical page but once. Forms and Transliterations יִגְדַּלְיָ֖הוּ יגדליהו yiḡ·dal·yā·hū yigdalYahu yiḡdalyāhūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 35:4 HEB: חָנָ֥ן בֶּן־ יִגְדַּלְיָ֖הוּ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים NAS: the son of Igdaliah, the man KJV: the son of Igdaliah, a man INT: of Hanan the son of Igdaliah the man of God 1 Occurrence |
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