Lexical Summary
Tsadoq: Zadok
Original Word:צָדוֹק
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Tsadowq
Pronunciation:tsaw-doke'
Phonetic Spelling:(tsaw-doke')
KJV: Zadok
NASB:Zadok, Zadok's
Word Origin:[fromH6663 (צָּדַק - righteous)]
1. just
2. Tsadok, the name of eight or nine Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Zadok
Fromtsadaq; just; Tsadok, the name of eight or nine Israelites -- Zadok.
see HEBREWtsadaq
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
tsedeqDefinitionthe name of several Isr.
NASB TranslationZadok (52), Zadok's (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, and (1 Kings 1:26)
54 (just, righteous; compare Sabean proper name CISiv, No. 287, 1.2.11.15 etc., DHMHof Museum, No. 32); — (compare LagBN 225 ff.); —
48 priests:
2 Samuel 8:17 =1 Chronicles 18:16;2 Samuel 15:24,25 23t. Samuel Kings Chronicles, + (Solomon's time)1 Kings 2:35 =1 Chronicles 29:22;1 Kings 4:2,4; ancestor ofEzekiel 40:46;Ezekiel 44:15;Ezekiel 48:11,Ezekiel 43:19, 2Chronicles 31:10; descendant of Eleazar1 Chronicles 5:34 (twice in verse) + 5t. Chronicles.
1 Chronicles 5:38 (twice in verse), possibly =
1 Chronicles 9:11;Nehemiah 11:11.
2 Kings 15:33 2Chron 27:11.
Nehemiah 3:4.
Nehemiah 3:29; perhaps =
Nehemiah 10:22, and
Nehemiah 13:13.
Topical Lexicon
Name and Basic IdentityZadok (צָדוֹק, Strong’s 6659) is best known as the faithful priest who served during the reigns of King David and King Solomon and whose descendants formed the legitimate high-priestly line in Jerusalem. Altogether the Old Testament refers to persons named “Zadok” about fifty-three times.
Major Figure: Zadok son of Ahitub
• Genealogy: A descendant of Eleazar son of Aaron (1 Chronicles 24:1–3), tracing through “Ahitub, the father of Zadok” (1 Chronicles 6:8).
• Early Service: First mentioned as one of David’s chief priests with “Ahimelech son of Abiathar” (2 Samuel 8:17).
• Loyal in Crisis: When Absalom rebelled, Zadok and the Levites carried the ark out of Jerusalem but obeyed David’s command to return it and serve as intelligence agents through their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan (2 Samuel 15:24–36; 17:15–16).
• Anointing Solomon: While Abiathar supported Adonijah, Zadok remained true to David’s expressed will. At Gihon, “Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king” (1 Kings 1:45; cf.1 Kings 1:32–39).
• Exclusive High Priest: Solomon later “dismissed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord … so Solomon appointed Zadok the priest in his place” (1 Kings 2:27, 35). From that point forward the high-priestly office in Jerusalem belonged to his line.
High-Priestly Line of Zadok
• Immediate Descendants: Ahimaaz (2 Samuel 15:27); Azariah who “served as priest in the temple that Solomon built” (1 Kings 4:2); further successors Johanan, another Azariah, and Seraiah (1 Chronicles 6:9–15).
• Faithful Legacy: After the exile “Jeshua son of Jozadak” (Ezra 3:2) continued this line, and in later generations the legitimate high priest was still reckoned through “the household of Zadok” (Nehemiah 11:11).
• Prophetic Endorsement: Ezekiel foresaw the future temple being served by “the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray” (Ezekiel 44:15; cf. 40:46; 43:19; 48:11). The prophecy reinforces that the true priesthood is characterized by covenant loyalty.
Faithfulness under David
Zadok’s repeated obedience in moments of tension—returning the ark (2 Samuel 15:25), providing counsel (2 Samuel 19:11), and standing with the rightful heir—marks him as a model of steadfast service whose priority was the Lord’s revealed will rather than personal advancement.
Priestly Ministry under Solomon
As sole high priest, Zadok officiated at Solomon’s dedication of the temple. Though the narrative does not detail this role explicitly, his appointment (1 Kings 4:4) implies he supervised the establishment of regular sacrifices and temple order, fulfilling promises concerning a “faithful priest” (cf.1 Samuel 2:35).
Prophetic Recognition: Sons of Zadok
Ezekiel’s vision credits Zadok’s descendants with covenant fidelity, allowing them unique access to the inner court (Ezekiel 44:15–16). In post-exilic Judaism this lineage became a touchstone for priestly legitimacy, and even the sectarian community at Qumran styled its leaders “sons of Zadok,” reflecting the enduring reputation of the house.
Other Individuals Named Zadok
1. A military officer who joined David at Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:28).
2. A Levite appointed as treasurer under King Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:12–13).
3. Father of Jerusha, mother of King Jotham of Judah (2 Kings 15:33;2 Chronicles 27:1).
4. One of the covenant signatories in the days of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:21).
5. A leader who helped dedicate Jerusalem’s wall (Nehemiah 12:27, 33).
These occurrences show that the name remained popular, likely because it commemorated the renowned high priest.
Theological and Christological Implications
The figure of Zadok illustrates how covenant faithfulness is honored by God: his line receives enduring priesthood, his sons are affirmed in prophetic vision, and his loyalty safeguards the Davidic dynasty.Hebrews 7 contrasts the provisional Levitical priesthood with the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ, yet the Zadok lineage underscores that within the historical system God preserved a faithful remnant as a type pointing forward to the perfect, righteous Priest-King.
Key References
2 Samuel 8:17; 15:24–36; 19:11; 20:25
1 Kings 1:8, 32–39, 44–45; 2:27, 35; 4:2, 4
1 Chronicles 6:4–15; 9:11; 12:28
Ezekiel 40:46; 43:19; 44:15–16; 48:11
Nehemiah 11:11; 12:33
Forms and Transliterations
וְצָד֖וֹק וְצָד֣וֹק וְצָד֥וֹק וְצָד֧וֹק וְצָדוֹק֙ וּלְצָד֖וֹק וּלְצָדֹ֨ק ולצדוק ולצדק וצדוק לְצָד֔וֹק לְצָד֤וֹק לְצָד֥וֹק לצדוק צָד֑וֹק צָד֔וֹק צָד֖וֹק צָד֗וֹק צָד֜וֹק צָד֣וֹק צָד֤וֹק צָד֥וֹק צָד֧וֹק צָד֨וֹק צָדֽוֹק׃ צָדוֹק֙ צדוק צדוק׃ lə·ṣā·ḏō·wq ləṣāḏōwq letzaDok ṣā·ḏō·wq ṣāḏōwq tzaDok ū·lə·ṣā·ḏō·wq ū·lə·ṣā·ḏōq ūləṣāḏōq ūləṣāḏōwq uletzaDok vetzaDok wə·ṣā·ḏō·wq wəṣāḏōwq
Links
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