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Zabdi

biblical_person theological_term standard

Zabdi is a Hebrew personal name borne by more than one Old Testament individual, including an ancestor of Achan in Joshua 7 and a royal official in David's administration.

At a Glance

Old Testament personal name.

Key Points

Description

Zabdi is not a theological term but a biblical personal name used for more than one Old Testament individual. In Joshua 7, Zabdi appears in the genealogy of Achan: Achan is identified as the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah. In 1 Chronicles 27:27, a Zabdi is listed among the officials responsible for agricultural administration under David. Because the name is borne by more than one person, entries and cross-references should distinguish the relevant individual by context rather than assuming all occurrences refer to the same man.

Biblical Context

In Joshua 7, Zabdi belongs to the family line associated with Achan's covenant violation and Israel's defeat at Ai. The name also appears in a separate administrative list in 1 Chronicles 27, showing that the same personal name could belong to different individuals in Israel's history.

Historical Context

Names were often repeated in ancient Israel, so contextual markers such as tribe, family line, and office are needed to identify the correct person. David's administrative lists in 1 Chronicles reflect organized stewardship over royal resources.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Genealogies and official rosters were important in ancient Israel for identity, inheritance, tribal connection, and administration. A repeated name like Zabdi would normally be distinguished by family or office.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew personal name, commonly linked with the root zabad, meaning to bestow or endow; the exact nuance is not certain in every source.

Theological Significance

Zabdi itself is not a doctrine, but the passages connected with the name highlight family identity, covenant accountability, and the seriousness of hidden sin in Joshua 7.

Philosophical Explanation

The entry illustrates how proper names in Scripture function historically rather than conceptually. A single name can refer to multiple people, so interpretation depends on context, not on abstract definition.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not merge all references to Zabdi into one individual without textual support. The Joshua 7 Zabdi and the 1 Chronicles 27 Zabdi are distinct unless a passage clearly indicates otherwise.

Major Views

Most readers and reference works treat Zabdi as a Hebrew personal name attached to more than one man in the Old Testament. The main interpretive issue is identification, not doctrine.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should remain a historical and lexical identification. It should not be expanded into doctrinal speculation or typology beyond what the text supports.

Practical Significance

The entry helps readers track biblical genealogies and administrative lists accurately and prevents confusion when the same name appears in different contexts.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Zabdi

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