The Hebrew name Yᵉrîybay, represented by H3403, means contentious. It is the name of an Israelite, Jeribai. This name is exceptionally rare in scripture, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse.
The sole appearance of H3403 is in a list found in 1 Chronicles 11:46. In this passage, Jeribai is named alongside his brother Joshaviah as one of "the sons of Elnaam." He is mentioned in a catalogue of men that also includes Eliel the Mahavite and Ithmah the Moabite. The context is purely genealogical, identifying Jeribai by his paternal lineage.
Several other names and terms in the immediate context help establish Jeribai's identity:
- H1121 bên (son): This term, defined as "a son (as a builder of the family name)," is used to establish Jeribai's direct lineage from his father 1 Chronicles 11:46.
- H3145 Yôwshavyâh (Joshaviah): Meaning "Jehovah-set," this is the name of the individual listed with Jeribai as a son of Elnaam, identifying him as Jeribai's brother 1 Chronicles 11:46.
- H493 ʼElnaʻam (Elnaam): Meaning "God (is his) delight," this is the name of the father of both Jeribai and Joshaviah 1 Chronicles 11:46.
- H447 ʼĔlîyʼêl (Eliel): Meaning "God of (his) God," this is the name of another individual, the Mahavite, listed in the same verse, providing context to the group 1 Chronicles 11:46.
The significance of H3403 is not found in a broad theological concept but in its specific role within the biblical record.
- Historical Preservation: The inclusion of Jeribai in the list at 1 Chronicles 11:46 demonstrates the value placed on preserving the names and identities of individuals within Israel's history.
- Defined by Lineage: Jeribai's identity is inextricably linked to his family. He is introduced not as an isolated figure, but as one of the sons H1121 of Elnaam H493, alongside his brother Joshaviah H3145. This highlights the biblical emphasis on genealogy and paternal heritage.
- Name Etymology: The name Yᵉrîybay is defined as "contentious." While the text offers no further narrative about his life, the preservation of this meaning is itself a point of data in the scriptural record.
In summary, H3403 Yᵉrîybay is a name whose importance lies in its singular appearance within a specific historical list. Meaning "contentious," the name belongs to an Israelite listed in 1 Chronicles 11:46, where his identity is secured by his familial connections to his father, Elnaam, and his brother, Joshaviah. The mention of Jeribai illustrates how even the briefest entries in scripture contribute to the detailed tapestry of biblical genealogy and history.
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