Ethan is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, known for his wisdom and association with the Levitical musicians. His name, meaning "enduring" or "firm," reflects his character and the legacy he left in the biblical narrative.

Lineage and Identity

Ethan is identified as a wise man from the tribe of Levi, specifically from the family of Zerah, a descendant of Judah. In 1 Chronicles 2:6, Ethan is listed among the sons of Zerah: "The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five in all." This lineage places Ethan in a prominent family known for its wisdom and influence.

Wisdom

Ethan's wisdom is highlighted in 1 Kings 4:31, where Solomon's wisdom is compared to that of Ethan and other wise men: "For he was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations." This comparison underscores Ethan's reputation as a man of great understanding and insight, although Solomon's wisdom surpassed even his.

Musical Contributions

Ethan is also associated with the Levitical musicians appointed by King David. In 1 Chronicles 15:17-19, Ethan is mentioned as one of the leaders of the musicians: "So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah." Ethan's role as a musician and leader in the worship of God highlights his dedication to the service of the Lord and his contribution to the spiritual life of Israel.

Psalm 89

Ethan is traditionally credited with the authorship of Psalm 89, as indicated in the superscription: "A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite." This psalm is a profound reflection on God's covenant with David, expressing both praise for God's faithfulness and a lament over the apparent failure of the Davidic line. The psalmist's deep theological insight and poetic expression reveal Ethan's spiritual depth and understanding of God's promises.

Legacy

Ethan's legacy is one of wisdom, musical talent, and spiritual insight. His contributions to the worship and theological reflection of Israel have left a lasting impact on the biblical narrative. As a figure of wisdom, Ethan serves as a reminder of the value of understanding and the importance of using one's gifts in the service of God.Ethan

strong; the gift of the island

Ethan

(enduring).

1. Ethan the Ezrahite, one of the four sons of Mahol, whose wisdom was excelled by Solomon. (1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 2:6) His name is in the title of (Psalms 89:1)
2. Son of Kishi or Kushaiah; a Merarite Levite, head of that family in the time of King David, (1 Chronicles 6:44) and spoken of as a "singer." With Heman and Asaph, the heads of the other two families of Levites, Ethan was appointed to sound with cymbals. (1 Chronicles 15:17,19)
3. A Gershonite Levite, one of the ancestors of Asaph the singer. (1 Chronicles 6:42) Hebr 27. (B.C. 1420.)

Ethan

1. One of four men renowned for wisdom, though excelled by Solomon, 1 Kings 4:31 1 Chronicles 2:6. He appears to have been a son of Zerah or Ezra, and grandson of the patriarch Judah.

2. A Levite, son of Kishi, and one of the three masters of the temple music, 1 Chronicles 6:44 15:17-19. He would seem to be the same as Jeduthun, 1 Chronicles 25:1 2 Chronicles 35:15.

3. A person to whom Psalm 89:1-52 is inscribed.

Firm.

(1.) "The Ezrahite," distinguished for his wisdom (1 Kings 4:31). He is named as the author of the 89th Psalm. He was of the tribe of Levi.

(2.) A Levite of the family of Merari, one of the leaders of the temple music (1 Chronicles 6:44; 15:17, 19). He was probably the same as Jeduthun. He is supposed by some to be the same also as (1).

ETHAN

e'-than ('ethan, "firm," "enduring"; Gaithan):

(1) A wise man with whom Solomon is compared (1 Kings 4:31). Called there "Ethan the Ezrahite," to whom the title of Psalm 89 ascribes the authorship of that poem.

(2) A "son of Kishi," or "Kishaiah," of the Merari branch of the Levites, and, along with Heman and Asaph, placed by David over the service of song (1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 15:17, 19).

See JEDUTHUN.

(3) An ancestor of Asaph of the Gershomite branch of the Levites (1 Chronicles 6:42).

387. Ethan -- "permanence," an Israelite name
... 386, 387. Ethan. 388 . "permanence," an Israelite name. Transliteration:
Ethan Phonetic Spelling: (ay-thawn') Short Definition: Ethan. ...
/hebrew/387.htm - 6k

386. ethan -- perennial, ever-flowing, permanence
... 385, 386. ethan. 387 . perennial, ever-flowing, permanence. Transliteration:
ethan Phonetic Spelling: (ay-thawn') Short Definition: enduring. ... ethan. 387 . ...
/hebrew/386.htm - 6k

388. Ethanim -- (month of) "steady flowings," the seventh month in ...
... Word Origin pl. of ethan Definition (month of) "steady flowings," the seventh month
in the Jewish calendar NASB Word Usage Ethanim (1). Ethanim. ...
/hebrew/388.htm - 6k

3497. Yithnan -- a city in the desert of Judah
... Definition: Ithnan. Word Origin from the same as ethan Definition a city in
the desert of Judah NASB Word Usage Ithnan (1). Ithnan. From ...
/hebrew/3497.htm - 6k

The Kingdom Undivided
... 7. History. V. Leading Authors: Heman, author of the 88th; Ethan, 89; Moses, 90;
Solomon, 72 and 127. The sons of Korah (who were they?) wrote eleven. ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/iv the kingdom undivided.htm

David's Choristers
... fulfilled their office. We get a picture of the ranked files gathered round
their three leaders, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan. These three ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/davids choristers.htm

The Great Gain of Godliness
... wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the
wisdom of Egypt.31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the great gain of godliness.htm

Psalm 89
... Psalm 89. Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. 8,6,8,6. ^1God's mercies I will ever sing;
and with my mouth I shall. Thy faithfulness make to be known. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 89.htm

How Like the Prophecy About Christ in the 89Th Psalm is to the ...
... Wherefore also in the 89th Psalm, of which the title is, "An instruction for himself
by Ethan the Israelite," mention is made of the promises God made to king ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 9 how like the prophecy.htm

To Whose Person the Entreaty for the Promises is to be Understood ...
... [1068] This certainly was spoken or written in the time of Ethan, from whose name
this psalm gets its title, and that was the same as the time of David's reign ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 12 to whose person the.htm

Fall of Israel.
... Where are the dews that fed thee On Ethan's barren shore? That fire from heaven
that led thee Now lights thy path no more! 2 Lord, thou didst love Jerusalem! ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/976 fall of israel.htm

Psalms and Proverbs.
... authorship of 50. The authors named for others are David, Asaph, the sons
of Korah, Herman, Ethan, Moses and Solomon. Of the 100 ...
/.../chapter xiii psalms and proverbs.htm

The Ascension of Isaiah.
... are written in Psalms: in the Parables of David the son of Jesse, and in the Proverbs
of Solomon his son, and in the words of Kore, and Ethan the Israelite ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the ascension of isaiah.htm

Concerning the Wife of Solomon; Concerning his Wisdom and Riches ...
... excelled and distinguished himself in wisdom above those who were most eminent among
the Hebrews at that time for shrewdness; those I mean were Ethan, and Heman ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 concerning the wife.htm

Ethan (9 Occurrences)
...ETHAN. e'-than ('ethan, "firm," "enduring"; Gaithan): (1) A wise man with whom
Solomon is compared (1 Kings 4:31). ...Ethan (9 Occurrences). ...
/e/ethan.htm - 10k

Zar'ethan (1 Occurrence)
Zar'ethan. Zarethan, Zar'ethan. Zarethshahar . Multi-Version
Concordance Zar'ethan (1 Occurrence). Joshua 3:16 that ...
/z/zar'ethan.htm - 6k

Ethan's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Ethan's (1 Occurrence). 1 Chronicles
2:8 And the sons of Ethan: Azariah. (See RSV). ...
/e/ethan's.htm - 6k

Ezrahite (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A title given to Ethan (1 Kings 4:31; Psalm 89, title)
and Heman (Psalm 88, title). They were both sons of Zerah (1 Chronicles 2:6). ...
/e/ezrahite.htm - 9k

Calcol (2 Occurrences)
... 6. In the former passage, Calcol is the son of Mahol, while in the latter he is
called the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, and a brother of Heman and Ethan...
/c/calcol.htm - 7k

Asaph (47 Occurrences)
... He was one of David's three chief musicians, the other two being Heman, and Ethan
or Jeduthun, and we first hear of him when the ark was taken to Jerusalem (1 ...
/a/asaph.htm - 24k

Korahites (7 Occurrences)
... to Gershom the son of Levi; and then says, "and on the left hand their brethren
the sons of Merari." Of these the principal leader is Ethan (otherwise called ...
/k/korahites.htm - 20k

Sons (2429 Occurrences)
... to Gershom the son of Levi; and then says, "and on the left hand their brethren
the sons of Merari." Of these the principal leader is Ethan (otherwise called ...
/s/sons.htm - 65k

Heman (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 4:31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman,
and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations ...
/h/heman.htm - 14k

Kishi (1 Occurrence)
... kish'i (qishi, "snarer," "fowler"): Father of Ethan, one of the singers David "set
over the service of song" in the house of the Lord (1 Chronicles 6:31); the ...
/k/kishi.htm - 7k

Who was Ethan the Ezrahite in the Psalms? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Jeduthun in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Heman the Ezrahite in the Psalms? | GotQuestions.org

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