Lexical Summary Mehetabel: Mehetabel Original Word: מְהֵיטַבְאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mehetabeel, Mehetabel From yatab (augmented) and 'el; bettered of God; Mehetabel, the name of an Edomitish man and woman -- Mehetabeel, Mehetabel. see HEBREW yatab see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yatab and el Definition "God benefits," wife of an Edomite king, also an ancestor of the false prophet Shemaiah NASB Translation Mehetabel (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְהֵיטַבְאֵל proper name, person ( = מֵיטִיב אֵל God benefits) — 1. feminine an Edomite princess Genesis 36:39 (P), 1 Chronicles 1:50. 2. maculine ancestor of the false prophet Shemaiah Nehemiah 6:10. Topical Lexicon Name Significance The compound name ends with “El,” the standard Hebrew designation for the true and living God, indicating that the bearer is in some way related to, or blessed by, the Lord. The first element derives from a root that speaks of goodness or beneficence. Thus every mention of מְהֵיטַבְאֵל quietly reminds the reader of God’s gracious favor. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Genesis 36:39 – “His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.” Mehetabel in the Edomite Monarchy In the table of Edomite kings (Genesis 36:31-39; 1 Chronicles 1:43-50), Mehetabel is introduced as the queen-consort of Hadad (also rendered Hadar). The passage is significant for at least two reasons: Mehetabel in Post-Exilic Judah Nehemiah 6:10 introduces a second Mehetabel—the grandfather of Shemaiah, a man who attempted to lure Nehemiah into hiding inside the temple. The surrounding narrative (Nehemiah 6:10-13) reveals the plot: “Shemaiah said, ‘Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you….’ But I realized that God had not sent him.” The family connection to Tobiah and Sanballat’s conspiracy illustrates how spiritual compromise can infiltrate even those who bear a theophoric name. The account serves as a warning: noble ancestry or godly nomenclature is no substitute for personal fidelity to the Lord. Historical Connectivity The two chronological poles—Edom’s early monarchy and Judah’s restoration era—are bridged by the same name. This emphasizes Scripture’s internal unity: genealogies in Genesis and Chronicles set a baseline that later narrative books draw upon. The thread testifies to the reliability of the biblical record; centuries apart, the inspired authors assume a common historical framework. Theological Reflection and Ministry Application 1. God’s goodness transcends ethnicity and era. A woman in Edom and a man in post-exilic Jerusalem both carry a name that exalts divine beneficence. Key Takeaways • מְהֵיטַבְאֵל appears three times, binding together Edomite royalty and post-exilic intrigue. Forms and Transliterations מְהֵֽיטַבְאֵ֖ל מְהֵֽיטַבְאֵל֙ מְהֵיטַבְאֵל֙ מהיטבאל mə·hê·ṭaḇ·’êl meheitavEl məhêṭaḇ’êlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 36:39 HEB: וְשֵׁ֨ם אִשְׁתּ֤וֹ מְהֵֽיטַבְאֵל֙ בַּת־ מַטְרֵ֔ד NAS: name was Mehetabel, the daughter KJV: name [was] Mehetabel, the daughter INT: name and his wife's was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred 1 Chronicles 1:50 Nehemiah 6:10 3 Occurrences |
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