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זְבַדְיָה

𐤆𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤄

Zevadeyah

H2069 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זבד to endow, bestow, give as a gift

Definition

Zebadyah is a masculine personal name meaning 'Yahweh has given' or 'Yahweh is gift.' The form appears as a theophoric name, incorporating the divine element 'Yah' (a shortened form of the Tetragrammaton). In the Hebrew Bible, Zebadyah refers to several distinct individuals, chiefly Israelites associated with various tribal and social contexts, primarily in monarchic and early post-exilic periods. The name is constructed from the verb 'to give' and the shortened divine name, indicating one given by or gifted from Yahweh. In narrative, genealogical, and administrative texts, it identifies multiple persons of some local or minor prominence.

Semantic Range

personal name meaning 'Yahweh has given'; identification for various male Israelites; can be presented with longer (-yahu) or shorter (-yah) suffix forms referencing Yahweh

Root / Etymology

From the root זבד (z-b-d), meaning 'to bestow, give,' plus the theophoric suffix יָהּ (Yah), a short form for the Israelite deity's name (Yahweh). The name merges these elements, forming the meaning 'Yahweh has given' or 'gift of Yahweh.' Both primary forms, זְבַדְיָה and זְבַדְיָהוּ (the latter with an extended suffix), derive from this root construction. The Semitic root z-b-d occurs in other Northwest Semitic personal names, often as 'to endow, to gift.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name Zebadyah appears for multiple figures, including Levitical gatekeepers (1 Chr 26:2), officers serving under Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 17:8), and others in the post-exilic return. The use of 'Yah' in theophoric names was common throughout the monarchic period, becoming more explicit in later books (especially after the exile). The -yahu suffix (as in זְבַדְיָהוּ) reflects an older or more formal spelling, gradually becoming less frequent in later periods, sometimes replaced by shorter -yah. Standard English translations traditionally render the name as 'Zebadiah,' obscuring the theophoric sense. The term 'Jew' is not appropriate for these individuals; Zebadyah refers to Israelites, some of whom may have been Judahites or Levitical, depending on the context. No evidence suggests the word ever described non-personal concepts or titles.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or זְבַדְיָהוּ; from זָבַד and יָהּ; Jah has given; Zebadjah, the name of nine Israelites; Zebadiah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זבד (z-b-d) — to endow, bestow, give as a gift

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2064 זָבַד he has endowed me
H2065 זֶבֶד bestowed gift
H2066 זָבָד And Zabad
H2067 זַבְדִּי and My-Gift
H2068 זַבְדִּיאֵל El-has-given

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2069-01 וּ/זְבַדְיָֽה uzevadeyah HC/Np and Zebadiah And Yah has given and Zevadeyah 5
H2069-02 וּ/זְבַדְיָ֡הוּ uzevadeyahu HC/Np and Zebadiah And Yahweh-has-bestowed and Zevadeyah 2
H2069-03 זְבַדְיָ֖ה zevadeyah HNp Zebadiah Yah Has Bestowed Zevadeyah 1
H2069-04 זְבַדְיָ֨הוּ֙ zevadeyahu HNp Zebadiah Yahweh has given Zevadeyah 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2069-03 Ezra 8:8 זְבַדְיָ֖ה zevadeyah HNp Zebadiah Yah Has Bestowed Zevadeyah
H2069-01 Ezra 10:20 וּ/זְבַדְיָֽה uzevadeyah HC/Np and Zebadiah And Yah has given and Zevadeyah
H2069-01 1 Chronicles 8:15 וּ/זְבַדְיָ֥ה uzevadeyah HC/Np and Zebadiah And Yah has given and Zevadeyah
H2069-01 1 Chronicles 8:17 וּ/זְבַדְיָ֥ה uzevadeyah HC/Np and Zebadiah And Yah has given and Zevadeyah
H2069-01 1 Chronicles 12:8 וּ/זְבַדְיָ֛ה uzevadeyah HC/Np and Zebadiah And Yah has given and Zevadeyah
H2069-04 1 Chronicles 26:2 זְבַדְיָ֨הוּ֙ zevadeyahu HNp Zebadiah Yahweh has given Zevadeyah
H2069-01 1 Chronicles 27:7 וּ/זְבַדְיָ֥ה uzevadeyah HC/Np and Zebadiah And Yah has given and Zevadeyah
H2069-02 2 Chronicles 17:8 וּ/זְבַדְיָ֡הוּ uzevadeyahu HC/Np and-Zebadiah And Yahweh-has-bestowed and Zevadeyah
H2069-02 2 Chronicles 19:11 וּ/זְבַדְיָ֨הוּ uzevadeyahu HC/Np and Zebadiah And Yahweh-has-bestowed and Zevadeyah
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