יְדִידְיָה
𐤉𐤃𐤉𐤃𐤉𐤄
Yedideyah
H3041 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'beloved of Yahweh.' Used as an epithet given by the prophet Nathan to Solomon, signifying favor or affection from Yahweh. The name underscores the recipient's special status or divine approval, particularly in literary or narrative contexts emphasizing Yahweh's relationship with David's successor. Its usage is restricted in the Hebrew Bible to the figure of Solomon and does not become a broader theophoric name in later Israelite tradition.
Semantic Range
personal name meaning 'beloved of Yahweh'; designation for Solomon; denoting one favored or loved by Yahweh
Root / Etymology
Compound of יְדִיד (yᵉdîd, 'beloved, dear') and יָהּ (Yah, a short form of the divine name Yahweh). The root י-ד-ד (y-d-d) means 'to love, to be loved, to befriend', while Yah is a theophoric element referencing the Israelite deity. The formation follows a common biblical pattern of theophoric names expressing relationship or attribute with the divine.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name יְדִידְיָה appears exclusively in 2 Samuel 12:25, where the prophet Nathan names Solomon with this epithet after his birth, denoting divine favor. This theophoric construction is distinct from other terms for affection or divine relationship in the Hebrew Bible. While some English translations use 'Jedidiah,' the actual Hebrew form contains the short divine element Yah rather than the full 'Yahu'. The name is not used elsewhere in the biblical text nor does it develop into a broader ethnonym or religious identity. The translation 'beloved of the LORD' reflects the Hebrew meaning but introduces the later title 'Lord' for Yahweh, which can obscure the personal nature of the theophoric element in early Israelite context. The name is functionally distinct from descriptors like 'chosen by Yahweh' (בָּחִיר יָהּ) or 'remembered by Yahweh' (זְכַרְיָה), which suggest other forms of relationship.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יְדִיד and יָהּ; beloved of Jah; Jedidejah, a name of Solomon; Jedidiah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ידד (y-d-d) — to love, to be loved, to befriend
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3032 | יָדַד | they cast lots |
| H3033 | יְדִדוּת | belovedness of |
| H3039 | יְדִיד | to my beloved one |
| H3040 | יְדִידָה | Beloved woman |
| H4312 | מֵידָד | Affectionate One |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3041-01 |
יְדִ֣ידְיָ֑הּ | yedideyah | HNp |
Jedidiah | Beloved of Yah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3041-01 |
2 Samuel 12:25 | יְדִ֣ידְיָ֑הּ | yedideyah | HNp |
Jedidiah | Beloved of Yah |