Lexical Summary Maadyah: Maadiah Original Word: מַעֲדְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Maadiah From adah and Yahh; ornament of Jah; Maadjah, an Israelite -- Maadiah. Compare Mow'adyah. see HEBREW adah see HEBREW Yahh see HEBREW Mow'adyah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom maad and Yah Definition an Isr. priest NASB Translation Maadiah (1), Moadiah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs ַמעַדְיָה proper name, masculine a priest of Zerubbabel's time according to Nehemiah 12:5; ᵐ5. א Μααδιας, ᵐ5L Μαασιας; apparently = מוֺעַדְיָה Nehemiah 12:17, ᵐ5L Μασαι (etymology dubious; Thes puts below עדה = ornamentum Jovae, but properly ׳מֹע = ׳מוֺע, √ יעד = convenius Jovae). מֹעֵד see מוֺעֵד below יעד. [מַעֲדָן], מַעֲדַנִּים see עדן. Topical Lexicon Historical Context Nehemiah’s register in Nehemiah 12:1-7 enumerates the heads of priestly families who returned from the Babylonian exile under Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Within that list stands Maadiah, placed among twenty-two other priestly leaders whose presence guaranteed that the temple liturgy would resume according to the Law of Moses. His singular appearance in Scripture thus locates him at the pivotal moment when covenant worship was re-established in Jerusalem after seventy years of desolation (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Placement within the Priestly Order The priests named in Nehemiah 12 parallel, though not identically, the twenty-four courses instituted by King David (1 Chronicles 24). By the post-exilic period, the original courses had been disrupted; new family heads like Maadiah ensured continuity. Positioned fifth in the Nehemiah roster—“Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah” (Nehemiah 12:5)—he likely belonged to a division that served at the temple during a specified fortnight each year. This rotation maintained an orderly, perpetual ministry, exemplifying obedience to the statutes governing priestly service (Numbers 18:7; 2 Chronicles 31:2). Role in Temple Restoration Although the text assigns no personal exploits, Maadiah’s inclusion testifies to faithful participation in three linked undertakings: 1. Rebuilding the altar (Ezra 3:2-6) where daily offerings recommenced. Genealogical Significance The chronicling of priestly heads safeguards the legitimacy of temple office. Post-exilic genealogical scrutiny was stringent (Ezra 2:61-63). Maadiah’s verified lineage preserved the Aaronic line, shielding Israel from another episode like the sons of Eli who had profaned the sanctuary (1 Samuel 2:12-17). His name therefore represents fidelity to ancestral records and, by extension, to covenant stipulations. Theological Insights 1. Covenant Faithfulness: Each priest named by Nehemiah embodies God’s promise to restore worship (Jeremiah 33:17-18). Maadiah’s presence shows that divine fidelity extends not only to kings but also to the priesthood. Practical Application • Anonymous Faithfulness: Like Maadiah, many believers labor unseen yet indispensable to kingdom advance. Summary Although Maadiah enters Scripture only once, his name seals a vital moment in Israel’s redemptive history—when a restored priesthood re-anchored the nation to its divine mandate. His silent yet significant role invites contemporary readers to embrace faithful service, uphold biblical worship, and trust God’s unfailing plan to preserve a people for His glory. Forms and Transliterations מַֽעַדְיָ֖ה מעדיה ma‘aḏyāh ma·‘aḏ·yāh maadYahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 12:5 HEB: מִיָּמִ֥ין מַֽעַדְיָ֖ה בִּלְגָּֽה׃ NAS: Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, KJV: Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, INT: Mijamin Maadiah Bilgah 1 Occurrence |
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