טוֹב אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ
𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤀𐤃𐤍𐤉𐤄𐤅
Tov Adoniyahu
H2899 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Tôb-Adonijah is a personal name of an Israelite figure, meaning 'the goodness of Adonijah' or 'good is Adonijah.' The name combines the adjectival element 'tôb' ('good') with the theophoric name Adonijah, itself meaning 'Yahweh is lord.' As a proper name, it does not function as a common noun but signifies an individual's character or familial aspirations (i.e., 'Adonijah is good' or 'Adonijah's goodness').
Semantic Range
(as a proper name) 'the goodness of Adonijah,' 'good is Adonijah,' personal/familial aspiration; component elements: 'good,' 'my lord is Yahweh' (Adonijah); name of a post-exilic Israelite
Root / Etymology
Compound of טוֹב (tôb, 'good, pleasant, agreeable') and אֲדֹנִיָּה (ʼĂdônîyâ, 'Yahweh is lord'). The first element, tòb, is the common adjective for 'good' in Biblical Hebrew. The second element, Adonijah, contains the theophoric suffix -yahu referring to Yahweh. Together, the name is best understood as an expression extolling the goodness or favor of Adonijah.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Tôb-Adonijah appears as a personal name in post-exilic genealogies (Nehemiah 10:25). The formation reflects the common Biblical Hebrew naming pattern of combining positive qualities with theophoric elements or well-known names. The phrase may be interpreted idiomatically as 'Good is Adonijah,' highlighting either the moral character of the individual or evoking the hope that Adonijah (here, likely an ancestor or familial namesake) will be regarded with favor. English translations render the name as 'Tob-adonijah' or 'Tob Adonijah,' but often do not convey the semantic nuance of the Hebrew construction. The earlier English term 'Jew' is not appropriate here; rather, the individual designated by this name was likely an Israelite of the Persian-period community in Yehud. This name is only attested in late biblical lists, suggesting it arose or became favored in the post-exilic or Second Temple context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
xlit Ădônîyâhûw corrected to ʼĂdônîyâhûw; from טוֹב and אֲדֹנִיָּה; pleasing (to) Adonijah; Tob-Adonijah, an Israelite; Tob-adonijah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אדן (ʾ-d-n) — lordship, mastery, rule
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H113 | אָדוֹן | master of |
| H114 | אַדּוֹן | lord of |
| H134 | אֶדֶן | his support-bases |
| H135 | אַדָּן | Addan (Firm-Foundation) |
| H136 | אֲדֹנָי | lord |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2899-01 |
אֲדוֹנִיָּ֖ה | adoniyah | HNp |
Adonijah | My Lord is Yah | 1 |
H2899-02 |
וְ/ט֥וֹב | vetov | HC/Np |
and-Tob | and good | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2899-02 |
2 Chronicles 17:8 | וְ/ט֥וֹב | vetov | HC/Np |
and-Tob | and good |
H2899-01 |
2 Chronicles 17:8 | אֲדוֹנִיָּ֖ה | adoniyah | HNp |
Adonijah | My Lord is Yah |