יוֹחָנָן (yo.cha.nan)
yo.cha.nan
Johanan
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Yôḥānān means "Jehovah has graced" or "whom Jehovah bestowed." It is a shortened form of the more common Yĕhôḥānān, sharing the same divine root but dropping the initial syllable for brevity. This contraction appears frequently in biblical texts as a personal name for various men across different eras of Israel’s history.
Twenty verses mention individuals named Johanan, reflecting its popularity among ancient Israelites. The sources identify several distinct figures: two mighty warriors serving under King David (1 Chronicles 12:4, 12), the eldest son of King Josiah (1 Chronicles 3:15), and a Jewish captain who remained active after the fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 40:8). Others include priests returning with Zerubbabel and post-exilic princes of David’s line.
Though not a theological term, the name’s recurrence highlights how families preserved devotion to Yahweh through nomenclature. Translators consistently render it as "Johanan," maintaining its identity across diverse contexts—from royal genealogies to military leadership and priestly service.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Johanan carries the quiet weight of divine favor, meaning "Jehovah has graced." In the biblical record, this is not a title for a single hero but a common name shared by priests, warriors, and royal descendants. Its presence in genealogies and historical narratives reminds us that God’s grace is woven into the ordinary lives of families across generations. It reflects a culture where parents named their children to acknowledge God’s ongoing provision.
One striking instance appears in Jeremiah 40:15, where Johanan son of Kareah acts with protective zeal for his leader Gedaliah. His willingness to intervene against a threat shows how individuals responded to crisis with loyalty and courage. This name does not promise safety from danger, but it points to a people who trusted God even when their world was falling apart.
For readers today, the recurrence of this name offers comfort. It suggests that faithfulness is often found in the details of daily life and family lineage. Whether in times of peace or upheaval, the acknowledgment of God’s grace remains a constant thread. This heritage invites us to recognize our own place within a larger story of divine care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Johanan12×
- and/ Johanan8×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/יוֹחָנָ֣ן4×
- יוֹחָנָ֨ן2×
- יוֹחָנָ֣ן2×
- יֽוֹחָנָן֙2×
- וְ/יֽוֹחָנָן֙2×
- יוֹחָנָ֤ן1×
- יוֹחָנָ֖ן1×
- יוֹחָנָ֔ן1×
- יֽוֹחָנָ֥ן1×
- יֽוֹחָנָ֖ן1×
- יֽוֹחָנָ֑ן1×
- וְ/יוֹחָנָן֙1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 3:15
The sons of Josiah: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, and the fourth Shallum.
This verse identifies Johanan as the firstborn son of King Josiah, anchoring the name within the royal Davidic line and highlighting its significance in Israel's leadership history.
-
Jeremiah 40:8
then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men came to Gedaliah to Mizpah.
Here Johanan is listed among the captains who seek refuge with Gedaliah, showing his role as a military leader during the fragile period after Jerusalem's fall.
-
Jeremiah 40:15
Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it. Why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?”
In this verse, Johanan privately urges Gedaliah to eliminate Ishmael, revealing his active concern for the safety of the remaining Jewish community.
-
Nehemiah 12:23
The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’ households, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.
This reference marks the end of the recorded Levitical lineage under Johanan son of Eliashib, serving as a chronological marker for post-exilic priestly service.