450. Elyada
Lexical Summary
Elyada: Elyada

Original Word: אֶלְיָדָע
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Elyada`
Pronunciation: el-yah-DAH
Phonetic Spelling: (el-yaw-daw')
KJV: Eliada
NASB: Eliada
Word Origin: [from H410 (אֵל - God) and H3045 (יָדַע - know)]

1. God (is) knowing
2. Eljada, the name of two Israelites and of an Aramaean leader

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Eliada

From 'el and yada'; God (is) knowing; Eljada, the name of two Israelites and of an Aramaean leader -- Eliada.

see HEBREW 'el

see HEBREW yada'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from el and yada
Definition
"God knows," three Isr.
NASB Translation
Eliada (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֶלְיָדָע proper name, masculine (God knows, compare דְּעוּאֵל, Sabean אלידע Hal209)

a. son of David 2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Chronicles 3:8 = בעלידע 1 Chronicles 14:7 which perhaps read here, compare DrSm.

b. father of an adversary of Solomon 1 Kings 11:23 =

c. chief of Benjamin2Chronicles 17:17.

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrences

Elyada appears four times in the Old Testament (2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Kings 11:23; 1 Chronicles 3:8; 2 Chronicles 17:17). These references point to three distinct individuals who bore the same God-honoring name during Israel’s united and divided-kingdom eras.

Royal Lineage: Elyada Son of David

After the conquest of Jerusalem David “took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem” and fathered additional sons. Among them was Elyada (2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Chronicles 3:8). Though Scripture records nothing further about this prince, his inclusion in the Jerusalem-born line underscores the Lord’s multiplication of David’s house in fulfillment of the covenant promise of an enduring dynasty (2 Samuel 7:11-16). Every named son testifies to God’s faithfulness in establishing the royal line that would ultimately culminate in the Messiah. Eliada’s quiet presence in the record therefore encourages confidence that even seemingly minor members of the covenant family contribute to the unfolding redemptive plan.

Ancestral Note: Elyada in the Aramean Opposition to Solomon

During Solomon’s latter reign “God also raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master Hadadezer king of Zobah” (1 Kings 11:23). Here Elyada is mentioned only as Rezon’s father. While Rezon became an external scourge to a spiritually slipping king, the text provides no moral evaluation of Elyada himself. Still, the episode reveals the sovereignty of God in using nations and individuals—even those with covenantal names—to discipline His people when they drift from wholehearted obedience.

Military Leadership: Elyada the Valiant Benjamite

Under King Jehoshaphat’s reforms the Chronicler highlights Judah’s well-organized defenses. Among the commanders was “Elyada, a valiant warrior, with two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield” (2 Chronicles 17:17). As a Benjamite, a tribe long famed for its skill with the bow, Elyada exemplified readiness, courage, and submission to righteous leadership. His large contingent helped secure Judah’s borders during a time of spiritual renewal, demonstrating that godly leadership often involves both piety and preparedness.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Knowledge and Care: The name itself expresses confidence that the Lord knows His own. Whether a royal son in Jerusalem, the ancestor of a foreign troublemaker, or a faithful officer in Judah’s army, each Elyada lived under the gaze of an all-knowing God.
2. Covenant Faithfulness: The appearances of the name in connection with David and Jehoshaphat frame seasons when covenant promises were emphasized—David’s dynasty established and Jehoshaphat’s reforms reviving Mosaic obedience.
3. Sovereign Discipline: The mention of Elyada in the context of Solomon’s adversary illustrates that the Lord remains sovereign even when invoking external opposition to correct His people.

Practical Reflections for Believers

• God’s purposes often advance through individuals who receive only brief biblical notice. Faithfulness is measured not by fame but by alignment with God’s unfolding plan.
• Names that honor the Lord testify to parental faith and can serve as lifelong reminders of divine ownership.
• Spiritual health in leadership—seen in David’s covenant, Solomon’s decline, and Jehoshaphat’s reforms—has tangible effects on families, nations, and warfare. Believers today are called to walk in obedience lest the Lord raise corrective opposition.

Summary

Elyada, though scarcely detailed in Scripture, spans royal birth, foreign turbulence, and military valor. Together these snapshots reinforce the central biblical themes of God’s intimate knowledge, covenant loyalty, and sovereign governance over Israel’s history and the lives of all who bear His name.

Forms and Transliterations
אֶלְיָדָ֑ע אלידע וְאֶלְיָדָ֖ע וְאֶלְיָדָ֛ע ואלידע ’el·yā·ḏā‘ ’elyāḏā‘ elyaDa veelyaDa wə’elyāḏā‘ wə·’el·yā·ḏā‘
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Samuel 5:16
HEB: וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע וְאֶלְיָדָ֖ע וֶאֱלִיפָֽלֶט׃ פ
NAS: Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.
KJV: And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
INT: Elishama Eliada and Eliphelet

1 Kings 11:23
HEB: רְז֖וֹן בֶּן־ אֶלְיָדָ֑ע אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּרַ֗ח
NAS: the son of Eliada, who
KJV: the son of Eliadah, which fled
INT: Rezon the son of Eliada who had fled

1 Chronicles 3:8
HEB: וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֧ע וְאֶלְיָדָ֛ע וֶאֱלִיפֶ֖לֶט תִּשְׁעָֽה׃
NAS: Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet, nine.
KJV: And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet,
INT: Elishama Eliada and Eliphelet nine

2 Chronicles 17:17
HEB: גִּבּ֥וֹר חַ֖יִל אֶלְיָדָ֑ע וְעִמּ֛וֹ נֹֽשְׁקֵי־
NAS: and of Benjamin, Eliada a valiant
KJV: And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man
INT: man of valour Eliada with armed

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 450
4 Occurrences


’el·yā·ḏā‘ — 2 Occ.
wə·’el·yā·ḏā‘ — 2 Occ.

449
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