Ἰωσαφάτ (Iōsaphat)
Iōsaphat
Jehoshaphat
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Iōsaphat is the Greek form of the Hebrew Jehoshaphat, meaning "whom Jehovah judges." In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Matthew 1:8, as part of Jesus’ genealogy. It identifies a specific king of Judah, the son of Asa and father of Joram.
While the name itself carries no unique theological weight in this context, its inclusion highlights the continuity of Israel’s royal line leading to Christ. The sources note that he is listed simply as an ancestor, connecting the reign of his father Asa with that of his son Joram. Translators retain the traditional form "Jehoshaphat" or "Josaphat" to preserve this historical link.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Jehoshaphat means "whom Jehovah judges," a reminder that God’s justice is active throughout history. In Matthew’s genealogy, this king appears as a link between Asa and Joram, showing how God preserves His people through generations of rulers.
Even when leaders fail or succeed, the line continues toward Christ. This connection encourages us to trust in God’s faithful plan, knowing that every generation plays a part in His story. We can find hope in knowing that God works through real people, with all their strengths and weaknesses, to bring about His purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jehoshaphat;1×
- Jehoshaphat1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἰωσαφάτ·1×
- Ἰωσαφὰτ1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 1:8
Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.
This verse places Jehoshaphat in the royal lineage, showing how God’s judgment and faithfulness connect generations toward Christ.