6305. Pedayahu or Pedayah

Lexical Summary

Pedayahu or Pedayah: Pedayahu or Pedayah

Original Word: פְדָיָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Pdayah
Pronunciation: peh-dah-YAH-hoo or peh-dah-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ped-aw-yaw')
KJV: Pedaiah
NASB: Pedaiah
Word Origin: [from H6299 (פָּדָה - redeem) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. Jah has ransomed
2. Pedajah, the name of six Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Pedaiah

Or Pdayahuw {ped-aw-yaw'-hoo}; from padah and Yahh; Jah has ransomed; Pedajah, the name of six Israelites -- Pedaiah.

see HEBREW padah

see HEBREW Yahh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from padah and Yah
Definition
"Yah has ransomed," the name of several Isr.
NASB Translation
Pedaiah (8).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מְּדָיָהוּ, מְּדָיָה proper name, masculine (׳י hath ransomed; in late Assyrian Padâma, Hilpr^{Univ. Pa, Exp. ix. 27, 68}); — מְּדָיָה:

1 father-in-law of Josiah 2 Kings 23:36, but ᵐ5 Εδειλ (ᵐ5^L Ιερεμιας, from 2 Kings 23:31).

2 father of Zerubbabel 1 Chronicles 3:18,19.

3. a. Nehemiah 3:25.

b. Nehemiah 8:4.

4 Benjamite Nehemiah 11:7.

5 Levite Nehemiah 13:13.

6 מְּדָיָהוּ, Manassite 1 Chronicles 27:20 — ᵐ5 (except

1) Φα(λ)δαιας, etc.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The name פְדָיָה (Pedaiah) appears eight times in the Old Testament and is borne by several men whose lives span the monarchy, the exile, and the post-exilic restoration. In each setting the Lord’s providential care of His people is underscored, whether through royal lineage, military administration, or temple and civic reform. Though scattered across centuries, every mention of Pedaiah occurs in passages that highlight covenant faithfulness and the preservation of the Davidic promise.

Royal Lineage Connections (2 Kings 23:36; 1 Chronicles 3:18-19)

• Pedaiah of Rumah is introduced as the maternal grandfather of King Jehoiakim. “Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king… His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah; she was from Rumah.” (2 Kings 23:36). Through him the royal court is linked to the northern town of Rumah, showing the reach of Davidic influence into Galilee.
• A later Pedaiah is listed among the sons of the exiled king Jeconiah: “The sons of Jeconiah the captive: Shealtiel his son, and Malkiram, Pedaiah…” (1 Chronicles 3:17-18). Verse 19 states, “The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei.” Zerubbabel would become governor of Judah and leader of the first return (Ezra 2), so Pedaiah stands at a pivotal junction between the collapsed monarchy and its messianic hope. The seeming discrepancy between Zerubbabel’s being called both “son of Shealtiel” (Ezra 3:2) and “son of Pedaiah” is best resolved by the levirate principle: Pedaiah may have fathered Zerubbabel on behalf of his deceased brother Shealtiel, allowing the legal line to continue through Shealtiel while the biological line ran through Pedaiah. Scripture thus preserves both dimensions of covenant succession without contradiction.

Service Under King David (1 Chronicles 27:20)

David’s military roster names “Joel son of Pedaiah” as commander for the half-tribe of Manasseh. The list presents monthly leaders who rotated oversight of national defense, reflecting the king’s orderly administration. Pedaiah’s son therefore held a position of trust on Israel’s northern frontier, indicating that the family was respected long before the exile. Their inclusion among Manasseh, rather than Judah, shows how the Lord raised faithful servants from across the tribes to support the throne.

Post-Exilic Builders and Reformers (Nehemiah 3:25; 8:4; 11:7; 13:13)

In Nehemiah’s memoirs three (possibly four) references to Pedaiah illuminate the practical work of restoration:

1. Wall reconstruction – “Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh made repairs.” (Nehemiah 3:25). As one of the heads of a returnee family (cf. Ezra 2:3), he exemplifies lay commitment to rebuild Jerusalem’s defenses.
2. Public reading of the Law – When Ezra proclaimed Scripture “to the men and women and all who could listen with understanding,” Pedaiah stood at his left hand (Nehemiah 8:4). His presence beside the scribe points to spiritual leadership, reinforcing that the restored community was founded on God’s word.
3. Genealogical preservation – In the list of Benjamin’s settlers we meet “Joed son of Pedaiah” (Nehemiah 11:7). This demonstrates demographic continuity in the resettled city and the careful maintenance of tribal identities.
4. Stewardship of temple supplies – Nehemiah later testifies, “I appointed … Pedaiah from the Levites … because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the portions to their brothers.” (Nehemiah 13:13). The Levite Pedaiah ensured that tithes reached their rightful recipients, countering earlier neglect and safeguarding proper worship.

Whether these references describe one Pedaiah serving multiple functions or several men sharing the same name, the traits highlighted—diligence, reliability, and reverence—remain constant.

Ministry Significance

1. Covenant Continuity: Through Pedaiah the Davidic line persists, linking the throne to the post-exilic hopes ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:12).
2. Faithful Administration: From David’s organized army to Nehemiah’s treasury, men named Pedaiah illustrate how godly oversight sustains both civil order and temple service.
3. Word-Centered Renewal: Standing beside Ezra, Pedaiah models the essential partnership between leadership and Scripture in any revival.
4. Redemption Theme: The underlying meaning of the name (Yahweh redeems) is lived out as God redeems a people from exile, rebuilds ruined walls, and restores worship.

Lessons for Today

• God weaves ordinary yet faithful individuals into His grand narrative; genealogies and administrative lists are testimonies of His meticulous care.
• Leadership in God’s economy is marked by trustworthiness and service rather than prominence; whether guarding storehouses or repairing stones, every task advances His kingdom.
• The preservation of lineage and the public reading of Scripture demonstrate that both heritage and revelation are indispensable for covenant life.

Thus, every appearance of Pedaiah, though brief, underscores the steadfastness of the Lord in preserving His promises and people across generations.

Forms and Transliterations

וּפְדָיָ֖ה וּפְדָיָה֙ ופדיה פְּ֠דָיָה פְּדָיָ֖ה פְּדָיָ֥ה פְּדָיָֽהוּ׃ פְּדָיָה֩ פְדָיָ֔ה פדיה פדיהו׃ fedaYah pə·ḏā·yā·hū pə·ḏā·yāh p̄ə·ḏā·yāh pedaYah pəḏāyāh p̄əḏāyāh pedaYahu pəḏāyāhū ū·p̄ə·ḏā·yāh ufedaYah ūp̄əḏāyāh

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 23:36
HEB: ק) בַת־ פְּדָיָ֖ה מִן־ רוּמָֽה׃
NAS: the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
KJV: the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
INT: Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah at of Rumah

1 Chronicles 3:18
HEB: וּמַלְכִּירָ֥ם וּפְדָיָ֖ה וְשֶׁנְאַצַּ֑ר יְקַמְיָ֥ה
NAS: and Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar,
KJV: Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar,
INT: and Malchiram Pedaiah Shenazzar Jekamiah

1 Chronicles 3:19
HEB: וּבְנֵ֣י פְדָיָ֔ה זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל וְשִׁמְעִ֑י
NAS: The sons of Pedaiah [were] Zerubbabel
KJV: And the sons of Pedaiah [were], Zerubbabel,
INT: the sons of Pedaiah Zerubbabel and Shimei

1 Chronicles 27:20
HEB: יוֹאֵ֖ל בֶּן־ פְּדָיָֽהוּ׃ ס
NAS: Joel the son of Pedaiah;
KJV: Joel the son of Pedaiah:
INT: Joel the son of Pedaiah

Nehemiah 3:25
HEB: הַמַּטָּרָ֑ה אַחֲרָ֖יו פְּדָיָ֥ה בֶן־ פַּרְעֹֽשׁ׃
NAS: After him Pedaiah the son
KJV: After him Pedaiah the son
INT: of the guard After Pedaiah the son of Parosh

Nehemiah 8:4
HEB: יְמִינ֑וֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאל֗וֹ פְּ֠דָיָה וּמִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל וּמַלְכִּיָּ֛ה
NAS: on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael,
KJV: and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael,
INT: his right his left and Pedaiah Mishael Malchijah

Nehemiah 11:7
HEB: יוֹעֵ֡ד בֶּן־ פְּדָיָה֩ בֶן־ ק֨וֹלָיָ֧ה
NAS: the son of Pedaiah, the son
KJV: the son of Pedaiah, the son
INT: of Joed the son of Pedaiah the son of Kolaiah

Nehemiah 13:13
HEB: וְצָד֣וֹק הַסּוֹפֵ֗ר וּפְדָיָה֙ מִן־ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם
NAS: the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites,
KJV: and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them
INT: Zadok the scribe and Pedaiah at of the Levites

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6305
8 Occurrences

p̄ə·ḏā·yāh — 1 Occ.
pə·ḏā·yāh — 4 Occ.
pə·ḏā·yā·hū — 1 Occ.
ū·p̄ə·ḏā·yāh — 2 Occ.