Lexical Summary
Yehoyada: Jehoiada
Original Word:יְהוֹיָדָע
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Yhowyada`
Pronunciation:yeh-ho-yaw-DAW
Phonetic Spelling:(yeh-ho-yaw-daw')
KJV: Jehoiada
NASB:Jehoiada, Joiada
Word Origin:[fromH3068 (יְהוֹוָה - LORD) andH3045 (יָדַע - know)]
1. Jehovah-known
2. Jehojada, the name of three Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jehoiada
FromYhovah andyada'; Jehovah-known; Jehojada, the name of three Israelites -- Jehoiada. CompareYowyada'.
see HEBREWYhovah
see HEBREWyada'
see HEBREWYowyada'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
Yhvh and
yadaDefinition"the LORD knows," the name of several Isr.
NASB TranslationJehoiada (51), Joiada (5).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, (
knoweth; compare , & references, ) —
; usually , A sometimes (2 Samuel 23:30 + ),L (2 Samuel 20:23 ), father of Benaiah (David's time), in combination2 Samuel 8:18;2 Samuel 20:23;2 Samuel 23:20,22;1 Kings 1:8,26,32,36,38,44;1 Kings 2:25,29,34,35,46;1 Kings 4:4;1 Chronicles 11:22,24;1 Chronicles 18:17;1 Chronicles 27:5;1 Chronicles 27:34 is probably erroneous inversion of the usual order; alone only1 Chronicles 12:28 (where called ).
, usually A sometimes etc., (chief) priest at Jerusalem in time of Joash2 Kings 11:4,9 (twice in verse);2 Kings 11:15,17;2 Kings 12:3;2 Kings 12:8;2 Kings 12:10; 2Chronicles 22:11; 23:1,8 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 23:9,11,14,16,18; 24:2,3,6,12,14 (twice in verse); 2Chron 24:15; 24:17; 24:20; 24:22; 24:25;Jeremiah 29:26.
a builder at wall of Jerusalem, with Nehemiah,Nehemiah 3:6 ( , , etc.)
son of high priest EliashibNehemiah 12:10,11,22;Nehemiah 13:28 ( , , ).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewJehoiada (“Yahweh knows”) designates several godly leaders whose faithfulness safeguarded Israel’s worship, advanced righteous government, and foreshadowed the coming of the ultimate Priest-King. Approximately fifty-one Old Testament references cluster around four individuals:
1. Jehoiada the high priest who overthrew Athaliah and guided King Joash (2 Kings 11–12;2 Chronicles 22–24).
2. Jehoiada the father of Benaiah, one of David’s Thirty and later commander of Solomon’s army (2 Samuel 8:18;2 Samuel 23:20-23).
3. Jehoiada the chief priest who served shortly before the Babylonian exile, mentioned in a prophetic letter (Jeremiah 29:26).
4. Jehoiada the leader of the priests in the days of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 12:10,Nehemiah 12:22).
Jehoiada the High Priest of Judah
Historical setting
After the death of Ahaziah, Athaliah seized the throne of Judah and “destroyed the whole royal family” (2 Kings 11:1). Jehoiada and his wife Jehosheba hid the infant Joash for six years within the temple precincts, preserving the Davidic line in fulfillment of the divine promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
Preservation of the Davidic line
In the seventh year Jehoiada convened the captains of the Carites and the Levites, revealed Joash, and bound them by oath. “Here is the king’s son! He must reign, just as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David” (2 Chronicles 23:3). By strategic placement of armed guards in and around the temple, he presented Joash, crowned him, and anointed him as king (2 Kings 11:12).
Overthrow of Athaliah
Athaliah’s cry, “Treason! Treason!” (2 Kings 11:14), met swift justice. Jehoiada ordered her execution outside the temple to keep the sanctuary undefiled (2 Kings 11:15). Her downfall ended the only recorded attempt to extinguish the Davidic dynasty.
Covenant renewal
Jehoiada immediately “made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, that they would be the LORD’s people” (2 Kings 11:17). The nation demolished the temple of Baal, broke its altars and images, and slew Mattan its priest (2 Kings 11:18). Thus he restored exclusive devotion to the LORD.
Temple repairs and financial stewardship
Years later, noticing the neglected temple, Jehoiada devised a chest to receive freewill offerings. “The high priest Jehoiada took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar” (2 Kings 12:9). Funds collected repaired structural damage, paying masons, carpenters, and metalworkers (2 Kings 12:11-13). His transparent handling of money set a pattern for responsible stewardship.
Spiritual influence on Joash
“Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:2). Jehoiada’s mentoring restrained royal waywardness. After his death Joash tolerated idolatry, proving the high priest’s unique moral influence (2 Chronicles 24:17-18).
Zechariah son of Jehoiada
When apostasy spread, “the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:20). His rebuke cost him his life—stoned by the king’s command in the temple court (2 Chronicles 24:21). Jehoiada’s household thus bore prophetic witness even after the patriarch’s passing.
Death and burial
“He was buried in the City of David with the kings, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and His temple” (2 Chronicles 24:16). His interment among royalty honors the priest who protected the throne, purified worship, and upheld covenant fidelity.
Legacy
Jehoiada’s statesmanship illustrates the union of priestly and royal concerns that ultimately converge in the Messiah, the perfect Priest-King (Psalm 110:4;Hebrews 5:5-6).
Jehoiada Father of Benaiah
Military prominence
Benaiah “son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel” gained fame for slaying “two champions of Moab,” a lion in a pit, and an Egyptian giant (2 Samuel 23:20-21). David set him over his bodyguard (2 Samuel 23:23). Jehoiada’s legacy therefore includes nurturing a son whose courage and loyalty fortified the kingdom.
Transition to Solomon
Near David’s death Benaiah supported Solomon against Adonijah (1 Kings 1:36-38). Subsequently Solomon appointed Benaiah commander over the army in place of Joab (1 Kings 2:35). Though Scripture gives no details of Jehoiada’s own service, the repeated phrase “Benaiah son of Jehoiada” (thirty-six times) preserves the father’s name in Israel’s martial annals.
Jehoiada in Jeremiah’s Day
Shemaiah the Nehelamite rebuked Zephaniah the priest for not restraining Jeremiah: “The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be overseer in the house of the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:26). The reference suggests Jehoiada had formerly exercised authority among the priests shortly before the Babylonian exile. His tenure apparently represented a standard of fidelity that Shemaiah twisted for his own ends.
Jehoiada in Post-exilic Times
A Jehoiada appears in the high-priestly genealogy bridging the eras of Jeshua and Jaddua (Nehemiah 12:10-11,Nehemiah 12:22). His inclusion testifies to ongoing priestly continuity after the exile.
Theological Observations
1. God preserves His redemptive line—Jehoiada’s rescue of Joash secured the messianic promise.
2. Covenant renewal requires decisive action against idolatry and institutional corruption.
3. Faithful leadership influences civil authority for righteousness; its absence invites decay.
4. The righteous may suffer (Zechariah) even within religious institutions, prefiguring Christ’s rejection (Matthew 23:35).
5. The priestly and royal roles, coordinated in Jehoiada’s ministry, find ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Practical Lessons for Believers
• Guard the sanctity of worship by resisting cultural syncretism.
• Exercise transparent stewardship of resources dedicated to God.
• Mentor emerging leaders; Jehoiada’s influence on Joash and on his own son shaped national destiny.
• Stand for truth even at personal cost, as did Zechariah.
• Remember that God honors those who honor Him; Jehoiada’s burial among kings foreshadows the eternal reward of faithful servants.
Forms and Transliterations
וִֽיהוֹיָדָ֗ע וִֽיהוֹיָדָ֜ע וִיהוֹיָדָ֖ע ויהוידע יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע יְהֽוֹיָדָ֛ע יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע יְהוֹיָדָ֖ע יְהוֹיָדָ֗ע יְהוֹיָדָ֛ע יְהוֹיָדָ֜ע יְהוֹיָדָ֣ע יְהוֹיָדָ֤ע יְהוֹיָדָ֥ע יְהוֹיָדָ֧ע יְהוֹיָדָ֨ע יְהוֹיָדָֽע׃ יְהוֹיָדָע֙ יהוידע יהוידע׃ לִֽיהוֹיָדָ֣ע לִיהוֹיָדָ֤ע ליהוידע lî·hō·w·yā·ḏā‘ lîhōwyāḏā‘ lihoyaDa vihoyaDa wî·hō·w·yā·ḏā‘ wîhōwyāḏā‘ yə·hō·w·yā·ḏā‘ yəhōwyāḏā‘ yeHoyaDa
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