The Hebrew word Mᵉshôwbâb, represented by H4877, is the name of an Israelite. Its base definition is returned. This name appears only 1 time in a single verse in the entire Bible.
The sole appearance of H4877 is within a genealogical record in the book of 1 Chronicles. The verse lists Meshobab alongside Jamlech and Joshah, with Joshah being identified as the son of Amaziah 1 Chronicles 4:34. This context places Meshobab as an individual within the lineage of the tribes of Israel, recorded as part of their ancestral history.
Several individuals are named in the immediate context of Meshobab's only mention:
- H3230 Yamlêk (Jamlech): This name, meaning "he will make king," identifies another Israelite listed alongside Meshobab 1 Chronicles 4:34.
- H3144 Yôwshâh (Joshah): An Israelite whose name is a form of "יוֹשַׁוְיָה" and is also listed in the same verse 1 Chronicles 4:34.
- H1121 bên (son): This crucial term for lineage, meaning "a son (as a builder of the family name)," establishes the relationship between Joshah and his father, Amaziah 1 Chronicles 4:34.
- H558 ʼĂmatsyâh (Amaziah): Defined as "strength of Jah," this is the name of Joshah's father 1 Chronicles 4:34.
The significance of H4877 is primarily historical and genealogical rather than directly theological.
- Preservation of Lineage: The inclusion of the name Meshobab in 1 Chronicles is part of the extensive effort by the biblical authors to record and preserve the ancestral lines of the tribes of Israel.
- Individual Identity: It serves to identify a specific individual, Meshobab, ensuring his place in the historical record of his people 1 Chronicles 4:34.
- Root Meaning: The name's root meaning, returned, is provided in its definition, though the biblical text offers no further details to elaborate on its significance for this specific individual.
In summary, Mᵉshôwbâb H4877 is a proper name identifying an Israelite. Its singular appearance in scripture is confined to a genealogical list in 1 Chronicles. While the name itself carries the meaning of returned, its primary function in the biblical text is to contribute to the detailed ancestral records that are foundational to the identity and history of Israel.
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