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יוֹנָדָב

𐤉𐤅𐤍𐤃𐤁

Yonadav

H3122 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A personal name meaning 'Yahweh has been generous' or 'Yahweh is noble.' Primarily used as the name of two figures in the Hebrew Bible: a son of Shimeah (David’s brother) and a prominent Rechabite, son of Rechab, known for founding the ascetic Rechabite tradition. The name may carry associations of divine favor, generosity, or nobility as reflected in its etymological elements, though its function is primarily onomastic (a proper name).

Semantic Range

Personal name; one who is generous (in the sense of nobility or willingness); denotes association with the deity Yahweh in onomastic use (i.e., Yahweh has given generously; Yahweh is noble); proper name for an Israelite and a Rechabite leader

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root יָנַב (uncertain meaning; not a standard root), as a shortened form of יְהוֹנָדָב (Jehonadab), which itself is composed of Yahweh (יְהוֹ) and nadav (נָדָב, 'to be willing,' 'to give generously,' 'to incite nobly'). Thus, יוֹנָדָב is a theophoric personal name: 'Yahweh has been generous' or 'Yahweh is noble.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יוֹנָדָב is the proper name of (1) a son of Shimeah (also spelled Shammah), David’s nephew, who played a role in the narrative concerning Amnon and Tamar (2 Samuel 13); and (2) a Rechabite, son of Rechab, notable for initiating the Rechabite tradition of abstaining from wine, agriculture, and settled life, referenced in Jeremiah 35. English translations often render the name as 'Jonadab,' which may obscure the name's integration of the divine element (Yahweh) and its underlying meaning. The name illustrates typical Israelite theophoric naming practice combining Yahweh with a quality or act (here, 'generosity' or 'nobility'). In later textual traditions (e.g., Septuagint, Vulgate), the name is often transliterated, sometimes conflated with 'Jehonadab.' The two usages are distinct in their biblical contexts and periods, the first appearing in the united monarchy (time of David), the second in the later monarchic/early exilic period of Jeremiah. 'Rechabite' identifies a particular religious and social tradition in ancient Israel, distinguished from broader Israelite society.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a form of יְהוֹנָדָב; Jonadab, the name of an Israelite and of a Rechabite; Jonadab.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

נדב (n-d-b) — to give freely, to volunteer, to act nobly

Root נדב to give freely, to volunteer, to incite or prompt nobly
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5068 נָדַב in volunteering oneself
H5069 נְדַב they volunteered themselves
H5070 נָדָב Willing-One
H5071 נְדָבָה with a voluntary offering
H5072 נְדַבְיָה and Yah-gives-freely

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3122-03 יֽוֹנָדָ֔ב yonadav HNp Jonadab Yahweh-is-generous Yonadav 5
H3122-01 לְ/יוֹנָדָ֧ב leyonadav HR/Np to Jonadab to Yahweh-is-generous to Yonadav 1
H3122-02 וְ/י֣וֹנָדָ֔ב veyonadav HC/Np and Jonadab and Yahweh-is-Generous and Yonadav 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3122-03 2 Samuel 13:3 יֽוֹנָדָ֔ב yonadav HNp Jonadab Yahweh-is-generous Yonadav
H3122-02 2 Samuel 13:3 וְ/י֣וֹנָדָ֔ב veyonadav HC/Np and Jonadab and Yahweh-is-Generous and Yonadav
H3122-03 2 Samuel 13:32 יוֹנָדָ֣ב yonadav HNp Jonadab Yahweh-is-generous Yonadav
H3122-03 2 Samuel 13:35 יֽוֹנָדָב֙ yonadav HNp Jonadab Yahweh-is-generous Yonadav
H3122-03 Jeremiah 35:6 יוֹנָדָ֨ב yonadav HNp Jonadab Yahweh-is-generous Yonadav
H3122-03 Jeremiah 35:10 יוֹנָדָ֥ב yonadav HNp Jonadab Yahweh-is-generous Yonadav
H3122-01 Jeremiah 35:19 לְ/יוֹנָדָ֧ב leyonadav HR/Np to Jonadab to Yahweh-is-generous to Yonadav
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