Lexical Summary
Ithiel: Ithiel
Original Word:אִיתִיאֵל
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Iythiy'el
Pronunciation:ee-thee-EL
Phonetic Spelling:(eeth-ee-ale')
KJV: Ithiel
NASB:this, Ithiel
Word Origin:[perhaps fromH837 (אוֹשֶׁר - happy) andH410 (אֵל - God)]
1. God has arrived
2. Ithiel, the name of an Israelite, also of a symbolical person
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ithiel
Perhaps from'osher and'el; God has arrived; Ithiel, the name of an Israelite, also of a symbolical person -- Ithiel.
see HEBREW'osher
see HEBREW'el
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originperhaps from
eth and
elDefinition"with me is God," an Isr. name
NASB TranslationIthiel (3), this (193).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, see
with.
see below I. .
, see .
Proverbs 30:1 (twice in verse) , in MT. (probablywith me is God: see Ol§ 82 c) usually taken as name of a son or pupil of Agur; but most moderns readI have wearied myself (see ),O God, I have wearied myself, O God, and am consumed.
Nehemiah 11:7.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and theological resonance of the nameThe name carries the idea “God is with me.” Its very phrasing echoes the covenant promise of divine presence that runs fromGenesis 28:15 throughMatthew 28:20. Thus, every mention of Ithiel quietly reinforces the foundational truth that the Lord does not abandon His people but remains present among them for guidance, protection, and sanctification.
Occurrences in Scripture
1.Nehemiah 11:7 places Ithiel in the post-exilic register of Benjaminite heads of families resettled in Jerusalem: “These are the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah”.
2–3.Proverbs 30:1 twice repeats the name as the audience of Agur’s inspired oracle: “The words of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle: The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal”. The duplication of the name within the verse heightens its rhetorical weight, suggesting earnest direct address.
Historical setting
Nehemiah’s list records the restoration of worship and civic life in Jerusalem after the exile. The inclusion of Ithiel in a seventh-generation genealogy displays God’s faithfulness in preserving tribal identities. For the post-exilic community, every resurrected family line testified that “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases” (Lamentations 3:22).
Proverbs 30, by contrast, belongs to Wisdom literature composed during the monarchy but preserved and canonized in the post-exilic period. The text envisions a circle of learners; Ithiel (and Ucal) likely represent disciples receiving instruction. The juxtaposition of name-meaning (“God is with me”) with Agur’s humility (“Surely I am the most ignorant of men,”Proverbs 30:2) teaches that true wisdom depends on God’s abiding presence rather than human brilliance.
Theological themes
1. Divine Presence: The name itself proclaims the nearness of God, reinforcing the Immanuel motif that culminates in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:23).
2. Covenant Continuity: Genealogical appearance in Nehemiah ties the post-exilic remnant to pre-exilic Israel, emphasizing unbroken covenant lineage.
3. Discipleship and Instruction: InProverbs 30 the repeated vocative “to Ithiel” frames the chapter as teaching delivered within a mentor-disciple relationship. Scripture here models intergenerational transmission of truth—a pattern later embodied by Jesus discipling the Twelve and Paul instructing Timothy (2 Timothy 2:2).
4. Humility before Revelation: Agur’s confession of limited understanding, addressed to Ithiel, underlines that divine presence is the remedy for human insufficiency.
Ministry applications
• Encouragement for leaders: Ithiel’s placement in the Nehemiah record urges pastors and elders to see themselves as links in a chain God sovereignly preserves; He is with them as He was with post-exilic heads of families.
• Framework for discipleship:Proverbs 30 presents a template—personal, name-specific exhortation rooted in God’s presence. Small-group and one-to-one ministries can adopt this intentional, relational pattern.
• Assurance in exile-like seasons: Believers facing displacement or cultural marginalization may draw comfort from Ithiel’s story; the same God who preserved a remnant and dwelt among them abides with His church today (Hebrews 13:5).
• Christological reflection: The semantic link between Ithiel (“God is with me”) and Jesus as Emmanuel invites evangelistic use, showing that Old Testament names foreshadow the incarnation’s fulfillment.
Summary
Though occurring only three times, Ithiel knits together key biblical motifs: God’s unwavering presence, the continuity of His covenant people, and the humility that welcomes divine wisdom. For the student of Scripture and the servant of Christ, Ithiel stands as a quiet but potent reminder that every generation, whether rebuilding walls or seeking wisdom, can confidently affirm, “God is with me.”
Forms and Transliterations
אִֽיתִיאֵ֖ל איתיאל לְאִ֖יתִיאֵ֣ל לְאִֽיתִיאֵ֑ל לאיתיאל ’î·ṯî·’êl ’îṯî’êl itiEl lə’îṯî’êl lə·’î·ṯî·’êl leitiEl
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