Lexical Summary Yithmah: Yithmah Original Word: יִתְמָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ithmah From the same as yathowm; orphanage; Jithmah, an Israelite -- Ithmah. see HEBREW yathowm NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as yathom Definition one of David's valiant men NASB Translation Ithmah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יִתְמָה proper name, masculine one of David's valiant men, called הַמּוֺאָבִי 1 Chronicles 11:46, ᵐ5 (Ι)εθαμα; ᵐ5L Ιεθαμ. יתן (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Ithmah (Hebrew יִתְמָה, Strong’s 3495) is mentioned once, in the catalogue of David’s elite warriors: “Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite” (1 Chronicles 11:46). His placement among the “mighty men” situates him within one of the Old Testament’s most celebrated military units, the cohort whose exploits secured and extended David’s kingdom. Historical Context 1 Chronicles recounts Israel’s history from a post-exilic vantage, emphasizing covenant continuity. By including the roster of warriors in chapter 11, the Chronicler highlights the broad support God raised for David. The list draws from, but also supplements, 2 Samuel 23; Ithmah appears only in Chronicles, suggesting the writer deliberately notes additional figures to underscore the wideness of David’s coalition. Ethnic Significance Ithmah is identified as “the Moabite,” a noteworthy detail because Moab often opposed Israel (Judges 3:12–30; 2 Kings 3). Yet Ruth, the Moabitess, stands in David’s ancestry, and now a Moabite soldier stands in David’s service, illustrating how faith and loyalty—not ethnicity—determine participation in God’s purposes. Ithmah joins other non-Israelites in David’s circle (e.g., Uriah the Hittite, Zelek the Ammonite, Ittai the Gittite), foreshadowing the later inclusion of Gentiles in the people of God (Isaiah 56:3–8; Acts 10). Military Valor and Personal Character Though Scripture records no individual deed, Ithmah’s very presence among the gibborim testifies to proven courage, skill, and unwavering fidelity to the anointed king. The mighty men endured hardships (2 Samuel 23:15–17) and undertook daring missions (2 Samuel 23:20–23). Ithmah therefore represents the disciplined warrior whose loyalty outweighed natural national allegiances. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Mercy: Ithmah’s service demonstrates how God’s grace reaches beyond Israel, anticipating the Abrahamic promise, “all the families of the earth shall be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). Lessons for Ministry Today • God equips His work with people from unexpected backgrounds; leaders should recognize and affirm such gifts. Related Figures and Parallels Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11), Zelek the Ammonite (2 Samuel 23:37), and Ittai the Gittite (2 Samuel 15:19–22) exemplify parallel accounts of foreigners who aligned with David. Their collective presence points to an inclusive pattern wherein God draws outsiders into His redemptive program. Legacy in Redemptive History While secular annals omit Ithmah, Scripture immortalizes him among those who helped establish the royal line that leads to Messiah (Matthew 1:1). His brief mention underscores a larger narrative: the gospel’s reach to every nation, culminating in the “great multitude… from every nation and tribe and people and tongue” who will cry out, “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9–10). Forms and Transliterations וְיִתְמָ֖ה ויתמה veyitMah wə·yiṯ·māh wəyiṯmāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 11:46 HEB: בְּנֵ֣י אֶלְנָ֑עַם וְיִתְמָ֖ה הַמּוֹאָבִֽי׃ NAS: of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, KJV: of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, INT: the sons of Elnaam and Ithmah the Moabite 1 Occurrence |
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be perpetual, never-failing, especially of water, 
a permanent thing: Phoenician ירח אתנם CISI. i. 86 A; WPSBA 1886 (ix ), 47).