אֶלְיָדָע (el.ya.da)
el.ya.da
Eliada
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Eliyada is a Hebrew personal name meaning "God knows," appearing in only four verses across Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. The sources identify three distinct individuals who share this name during the United Monarchy period. One is a son of King David, listed among his children in Jerusalem alongside brothers such as Absalom and Solomon (2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Chronicles 14:7).
A second Eliyada served as a chief warrior from the tribe of Benjamin during the reign of King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:17). A third individual, also named Eliyada, was an Aramean and the father of Rezon, who became an adversary to Solomon (1 Kings 11:23). The variation in spelling between Eliyada and Beeliada reflects different textual traditions for the same family name.
The recurrence of this name among David’s sons highlights a common naming pattern that affirmed divine awareness. While the individuals themselves are minor figures in the biblical narrative, their inclusion in genealogical records underscores the historical context of Israel’s monarchy. The name serves as a linguistic marker connecting different generations and tribal groups within the scriptural account.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Eliyada carries the simple, profound meaning of "God knows." In a world where we often feel overlooked or misunderstood, this linguistic marker offers a quiet comfort. It reminds us that our lives are perceived and known by the Creator, even when our names appear only briefly in historical records.
While figures like Eliyada, son of David, or the warrior from Benjamin do not drive the main narrative, their inclusion shows that God’s attention extends to every generation and tribe. Whether listed among royal sons or recorded as a mighty man of valor, these individuals were part of a larger story where divine awareness was central to identity.
This word invites us to rest in the fact that we are known completely by God. It is not about our public impact, but about being seen and remembered by Him. This assurance grounds our faith in something stable and enduring, beyond the fleeting nature of human recognition.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Eliada2×
- Eliada2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֶלְיָדָ֑ע2×
- וְ/אֶלְיָדָ֛ע1×
- וְ/אֶלְיָדָ֖ע1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 5:16
Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
This verse places Eliyada directly among King David’s sons, highlighting his presence in the royal lineage during the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital.
-
I Kings 11:23
God raised up an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord, Hadadezer king of Zobah.
Here, the name identifies the father of Rezon, an adversary raised up against Solomon, showing how the name appears in the context of political turmoil and judgment.
-
II Chronicles 17:17
From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
This occurrence lists Eliyada as a chief warrior from Benjamin, emphasizing military strength and tribal loyalty during Jehoshaphat’s reign.