יְהוּדִי (ye.hu.di)
ye.hu.di
Jehudi
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Yehudi appears in the Hebrew Bible as a personal name rather than an ethnic label, referring specifically to Jehudi, son of Nethaniah. He served as an officer under King Jehoiakim during the final years of Judah’s monarchy. The sources identify him first in Jeremiah 36:14, where he is sent by the king’s officials to retrieve the scroll containing Jeremiah’s prophecies.
Although modern English often translates the root word as "Jew," its original usage here is strictly a proper noun for this individual servant. The name itself means "Judean" or "of Judah," reflecting his regional identity rather than a broader religious community designation. This distinction highlights how language evolves, as the term later expands to describe the people of Judah generally, but in this specific historical context, it identifies a single court official involved in the tense political climate before Jerusalem’s fall.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Jehudi appears only three times in Scripture, marking a specific man who served King Jehoiakim during Judah’s final days. His story is not about grand theological statements but about the tension between hearing truth and choosing comfort. When the royal officials asked him to retrieve Jeremiah’s scroll, they were seeking information; when the king ordered it burned, he was rejecting the warning.
This narrative invites us to consider our own response to difficult messages. Jehudi acted as a bridge, carrying the words from the prophet to the throne room. Yet his presence highlights how easily truth can be dismissed by those in power who prefer silence over correction. The word itself means 'Judean,' grounding this event in a specific historical moment of national crisis.
For your faith today, this reminds us that hearing God’s word requires more than just receiving it; it demands a heart willing to listen even when the message challenges our status or comfort. In times of uncertainty, we are called to value truth above convenience, trusting that God’s word endures even when human institutions try to destroy it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jehudi4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְהוּדִ֗י2×
- יְהוּדִי֙1×
- יְהוּדִ֡י1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 36:14
Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, “Take in your hand the scroll in which you have read in the ears of the people, and come.” So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand, and came to them.
This verse establishes Jehudi as the official sent by the princes to retrieve the scroll, showing his role as a messenger of political concern rather than spiritual repentance.
-
Jeremiah 36:21
So the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the room of Elishama the scribe. Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king, and in the hearing of all the princes who stood beside the king.
Here Jehudi physically removes the scroll from the scribe’s room and reads it before the king, acting as the direct conduit through which the prophetic warning reached the monarch.
-
Jeremiah 36:23
When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.
This occurrence captures the climax of Jehudi’s involvement, where his reading is interrupted by the king’s violent rejection of the scroll, highlighting the danger of speaking truth to power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Jehudi mean?
Is Jehudi the same as the word for 'Jew'?
Why does Jehudi appear in Jeremiah 36?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Jeremiah 3 verses
Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying,…
Jeremiah 36:21So the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the room of Elishama the scribe. Jehudi read it in the…
Jeremiah 36:23When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in…