Lexical Summary Yedayah: Yedayah Original Word: יְדַעְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jedaiah From yada' and Yahh; Jah has known; Jedajah, the name of two Israelites -- Jedaiah. see HEBREW yada' see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yada and Yah Definition "Yah has known," the name of several Isr. NASB Translation Jedaiah (11). Brown-Driver-Briggs יְדַעְיָה proper name, masculine (Sabean proper name ידעאל DHMZMG 1875, 605) priestly name; — 1 1 Chronicles 9:10 ᵐ5 Ιωαδε, 1 Chronicles 24:7 ᵐ5 (Ανε)ιδεια. 2 Ezra 2:36; Nehemiah 7:39 ᵐ5 Ιεουδα, (Ι)εδδουα, Ιωαδε. 3 Nehemiah 11:10; Nehemiah 12:6,19 ᵐ5 Δαδεια, Ιαδιασς, Ιδειας, etc. 4 Nehemiah 12:7,21 ᵐ5L Ωδουιας. 5 Zechariah 6:10,14 ᵐ5 ((παρὰ) τῶν ἐπεγνωκότων αὐτήν. Topical Lexicon Occurrences and IdentificationThe name Jedaiah appears eleven times in the Old Testament, designating at least four individuals whose lives intersect the worship and restoration of the house of the LORD: 1. A priestly head in the days of David (1 Chronicles 9:10; 1 Chronicles 24:7). Though distinct in time and circumstance, every mention ties Jedaiah to temple service, covenant fidelity, and God’s unfolding plan to preserve a priesthood until the coming of the Messiah. Priestly Course Established by David “The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah” (1 Chronicles 24:7). Under David, twenty-four priestly divisions were created to regulate orderly worship. Jedaiah’s division held the second position, underscoring both prominence and seniority. This structure ensured continual ministry, foreshadowing the New Testament principle of decently ordered worship (1 Corinthians 14:40). Return from Exile and Covenant Renewal “The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua), nine hundred seventy-three” (Ezra 2:36). Nearly a thousand men from the house of Jedaiah chose the arduous return to Judah. Their willingness displayed a commitment to restore sacrificial worship despite ruined walls and meager resources. The parallel record in Nehemiah 7:39 confirms the accuracy of the numbers and God’s faithfulness in preserving priestly lines. Residence in Restored Jerusalem “Of the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jakin” (Nehemiah 11:10). When Nehemiah repopulated Jerusalem, a representative of the Jedaiah lineage settled inside the city, sacrificing rural holdings for proximity to the altar. Their presence supplied daily offerings and taught the Law, confirming that true reform requires both physical rebuilding and spiritual instruction. Registers in Nehemiah 12 In Nehemiah 12, Jedaiah surfaces five times in lists of priests serving under the high priest Joiakim. These genealogies did more than preserve ancestry; they authenticated priestly legitimacy, protecting worship from corruption (compare Ezra 2:62). By recording Jedaiah’s heirs, Scripture highlights God’s meticulous providence in safeguarding worship until Christ, the ultimate High Priest, would appear. Participation in Zechariah’s Messianic Sign-Act “Take an offering from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah… and make a crown” (Zechariah 6:10). “The crown will reside in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah” (Zechariah 6:14). Here Jedaiah joins fellow returnees in funding a prophetic act: Joshua the high priest receives a royal crown, prefiguring the coming Branch who unites priesthood and kingship (Zechariah 6:12-13). Jedaiah’s gift therefore participates in a revelation of Messiah’s dual office, reinforcing that lay generosity advances God’s redemptive storyline. Theological Insights 1. Continuity of Worship: From Davidic order to post-exilic restoration, the Jedaiah family embodies God’s resolve to maintain pure priesthood despite exile, displacement, and opposition. Lessons for Contemporary Faith • Faithful service in seemingly routine roles—such as rotating priestly courses—forms the backbone of corporate worship. Jedaiah’s scattered mentions thus combine into a portrait of steadfast ministry, covenant loyalty, and forward-looking hope, encouraging every generation to hold fast to the worship of the living God. Forms and Transliterations וְלִידַֽעְיָ֔ה ולידעיה יְדַֽעְיָ֑ה יְדַֽעְיָ֥ה יְדַֽעְיָֽה׃ יְדַֽעְיָה֙ ידעיה ידעיה׃ לִֽידַֽעְיָ֖ה לִֽידַעְיָ֖ה לידעיה lî·ḏa‘·yāh lîḏa‘yāh lidaYah velidaYah wə·lî·ḏa‘·yāh wəlîḏa‘yāh yə·ḏa‘·yāh yəḏa‘yāh yedaYahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 9:10 HEB: וּמִן־ הַֽכֹּהֲנִ֑ים יְדַֽעְיָ֥ה וִיהוֹיָרִ֖יב וְיָכִֽין׃ NAS: From the priests [were] Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, KJV: And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, INT: From the priests Jedaiah Jehoiarib Jachin 1 Chronicles 24:7 Ezra 2:36 Nehemiah 7:39 Nehemiah 11:10 Nehemiah 12:6 Nehemiah 12:7 Nehemiah 12:19 Nehemiah 12:21 Zechariah 6:10 Zechariah 6:14 11 Occurrences |
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