Lexical Summary
Hodiyyah: Hodiah
Original Word:הוֹדִיָּה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Howdiyah
Pronunciation:ho-dee-YAH
Phonetic Spelling:(ho-dee-yaw')
KJV: Hodijah
NASB:Hodiah
Word Origin:[a form ofH1938 (הוֹדַויָה - Hodaviah)]
1. Hodijah, the name of three Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Hodijah
A form ofHowdavyah; Hodijah, the name of three Israelites -- Hodijah.
see HEBREWHowdavyah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
hod and from
YahDefinition"my splendor is Yah," the name of several Isr.
NASB TranslationHodiah (6).
Topical Lexicon
Name and MeaningHodiyah is a Levite whose very name (“Yahweh is my praise”) reflects the spirit of thanksgiving and confession that marks the post-exilic revival under Ezra and Nehemiah. The recurrence of the name in two closely linked scenes underscores how the Lord raised up men whose identity and vocation were inseparable from public worship and instruction in the Law.
Biblical Occurrences
Nehemiah 8:7 – “Also the Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as the people stood in their places.”
Nehemiah 9:5 – “And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said: ‘Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting…’”
Historical Setting
The dates fall shortly after 444 B.C., when the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt and the nation gathered for covenant renewal (Nehemiah 8–10). The people, recently returned from exile, were spiritually hungry but biblically illiterate. The Levites became the God-ordained bridge between the freshly read Torah and the eager assembly. Hodiyah belonged to this cadre of men who translated, explained, and applied Scripture “so that the people could understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8).
Liturgical and Teaching Ministry
1. Pedagogical Role (Nehemiah 8:7)
• Hodiyah’s inclusion among the instructors highlights the Levitical mandate ofDeuteronomy 33:10, “They shall teach Jacob Your ordinances.”
• The ministry model was expository: the Law was read publicly, then broken down into understandable portions, producing conviction and worship.
2. Call to Worship (Nehemiah 9:5)
• Hodiyah next appears leading a corporate doxology that extols God’s eternality and covenant faithfulness.
• The sequence—teaching, then praise—reveals a biblical pattern: truth fuels worship (cf.Psalm 119:7;Romans 12:1–2).
Theological Implications
• Word-Centered Renewal
The Lord re-establishes His people not merely by physical restoration (walls) but by spiritual reformation (Word). Hodiyah personifies this priority.
• Corporate Responsibility
Instruction was communal; Hodiyah stood “with” fellow Levites, modeling team ministry and mutual accountability (compare1 Corinthians 3:9).
• Continuity of Covenant
The Levites’ blessing inNehemiah 9:5 draws on earlier liturgical formulas (Psalm 41:13), affirming that the post-exilic community shared the same covenant account as their forefathers.
Lessons for Contemporary Ministry
1. Exposition and Explanation
Faithful teaching requires both the public reading of Scripture and patient clarification. Congregations thrive when leaders follow Hodiyah’s pattern of linguistic clarity and doctrinal precision.
2. Worship Springing from the Word
Worship services ought to unite instruction and praise, ensuring that emotional response is anchored in revealed truth.
3. Team Leadership
The plural “Levites” reminds modern servants that ministry is healthiest when shared; spiritual gifts complement one another, preventing celebrity culture in the church.
4. Identity Shaped by Praise
Bearing a name that exalts Yahweh, Hodiyah teaches believers to root identity in thanksgiving rather than status, echoingColossians 3:17.
Summary
Hodiyah’s brief appearance packs enduring significance: he is a model Levite whose life illustrates that revitalization in any generation is wrought by Scripture-driven instruction leading to heartfelt, corporate worship.
Forms and Transliterations
הֽוֹדִיָּ֡ה הֽוֹדִיָּה֙ הודיה hodiYah
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
