The Hebrew name Yôwthâm, represented by H3147, means Jehovah (is) perfect, derived from H3068 and תָּם. It appears 24 times across 24 unique verses and is the name given to three distinct Israelites.
In the biblical narrative, the name H3147 identifies three men. The first is the youngest son H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378. He alone was left H3498 after his brother H251 Abimelech H40 slew H2026 his seventy brethren H251 Judges 9:5. He then stood on mount H2022 Gerizim H1630 to pronounce a curse H7045 on the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 before fleeing H5127 to Beer H876 (Judges 9:7, Judges 9:21). The most prominent is Jotham H3147, king H4428 of Judah H3063. He was the son H1121 of Uzziah H5818 and acted as regent, judging H8199 the people H5971 of the land H776, after his father became a leper H6879 2 Kings 15:5. His reign H4427 is a key chronological marker for the ministries of prophets Isaiah H3470, Hosea H1954, and Micah H4318 (Isaiah 1:1, Hosea 1:1, Micah 1:1). A third Jotham H3147 is mentioned in the genealogies as a son H1121 of Jahdai H3056 1 Chronicles 2:47.
Several related words provide context for the lives of the men named Jotham:
- H1121 bên (a son): This word defines lineage and is central to each Jotham's identity, identifying them as the son of Jerubbaal H3378 Judges 9:5, the son of Uzziah H5818 2 Kings 15:32, and the son of Jahdai H3056 1 Chronicles 2:47.
- H4428 melek (a king): This title is essential to understanding the most referenced Jotham H3147, who was a king of Judah H3063 and whose reign is a significant historical period Micah 1:1.
- H1272 bârach (to flee suddenly): This verb captures the pivotal action of Jotham H3147, son of Jerubbaal, who had to flee Judges 9:21 for his life after confronting Abimelech H40, preserving himself as a witness.
The theological weight of H3147 is demonstrated through the lives of these individuals.
- Divine Preservation and Witness: The story of Jotham H3147, son of Jerubbaal H3378, illustrates God's ability to preserve a witness. As the one who was left H3498 after a massacre, he delivers a divine judgment, a curse H7045 that later came H935 upon the heads H7218 of the men of Shechem, showing that God's word against evil prevails (Judges 9:5, Judges 9:57).
- Righteous Leadership: King Jotham H3147 is portrayed as a model of righteous rule. The scripture notes that he became mighty H2388, because he prepared H3559 his ways H1870 before H6440 the LORD H3068 his God H430 2 Chronicles 27:6. His faithful reign stands as a period of stability during which God sent prophets like Isaiah and Micah to Judah (Isaiah 1:1, Micah 1:1).
- Covenantal Record: The name Jotham serves as a key marker in the historical and genealogical record of Israel. Genealogies were reckoned H3187 in the days H3117 of Jotham H3147 king H4428 of Judah H3063 1 Chronicles 5:17, underscoring his importance in the continuity of God's people.
In summary, the name Yôwthâm H3147 is attached to three different figures whose lives illustrate key biblical themes. From the lone survivor who pronounced a fulfilled curse, to the righteous king who prepared his ways before the LORD, to a link in the preserved genealogies of Israel, the name Jotham is more than a historical label. It embodies its own definition, "Jehovah (is) perfect," reflecting God's perfect justice, His blessing on righteous leadership, and His faithful preservation of His people throughout history.
TRV