The Hebrew name Hôwdᵉvâh, represented by H1937, is defined as Hodevah (or Hodevjah), an Israelite. It is noted as a form of הוֹדַוְיָה. This name appears just 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, indicating its very specific and limited use.
The sole appearance of H1937 is in Nehemiah 7:43, which is part of a genealogical record. It identifies a specific ancestral line within the tribe of Levi. The verse lists "the children of Hodevah" alongside the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel as part of a group of seventy-four Levites who were accounted for. This placement establishes Hodevah as the progenitor of a specific Levitical family within the post-exilic community.
Several related words appear in the immediate context of H1937, clarifying its role in the biblical narrative:
- H3881 Lêvîyîy (a Levite or descendant of Levi): This term defines the tribe to which the descendants of Hodevah belong. The Levites were tasked with specific religious duties within Israel Nehemiah 9:5.
- H1121 bên (a son): Used to denote descendants, this word establishes the lineage being counted. The phrase "children of Hodevah" signifies a family line traced back to this individual Nehemiah 7:43.
- H3442 Yêshûwaʻ (he will save; Jeshua, the name of ten Israelites): Jeshua is the head of another Levitical family listed in the same verse, highlighting the shared context of Levitical families returning to Jerusalem Nehemiah 7:43.
- H6934 Qadmîyʼêl (presence of God; Kadmiel, the name of three Israelites): Kadmiel is also named as the head of a Levitical family, reinforcing the passage's focus on the careful documentation of the priestly and Levitical lines Nehemiah 7:43.
The significance of H1937 is rooted entirely in its genealogical function.
- Genealogical Identity: The mention of Hodevah underscores the critical importance of lineage for re-establishing order and assigning roles in the community returning from exile. Identifying the "children of Hodevah" was part of the effort to restore the nation's structure Nehemiah 7:43.
- Community Restoration: The counting of Hodevah's descendants illustrates the biblical theme of God preserving a faithful remnant. This specific enumeration of Levites was essential for reconstituting temple worship and the teaching of the law Nehemiah 8:9.
- Levitical Role: By being included in this list, the family of Hodevah is confirmed in its role as Levites H3881, a tribe set apart for sacred service and supported by the community as they had no inheritance of their own Deuteronomy 14:29.
In summary, H1937 Hôwdᵉvâh is a proper name whose importance comes from its single appearance in a specific historical and genealogical record. Its significance lies not in a broad theological definition but in its function to document the remnant of the Levites returning from exile. The name Hodevah serves as a marker for a specific family line, highlighting the themes of preservation, lineage, and the restoration of worship in Jerusalem Nehemiah 7:43.
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