יוֹתָם (yo.tam)
yo.tam
Jotham
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Yotham means "Jehovah is perfect" or "Jehovah is upright." It appears twenty-four times in the Hebrew Bible, referring to three distinct men across different eras of Israel's history. The most prominent figure is the king of Judah, son of Uzziah, who reigned for sixteen years and was a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah.
A second Yotham was the youngest son of Gideon. He famously escaped the massacre of his brothers by Abimelech and later addressed the citizens of Shechem from a mountaintop (Judges 9:7). A third individual with this name is listed as a descendant of Caleb in the genealogies of Chronicles.
The name combines the divine name Yahweh with the root tam, meaning complete or upright. This etymology highlights a theological emphasis on God's integrity. While the king Yotham is noted for doing what was right in the Lord, the narrative focus often remains on his father’s leprosy and the political instability that followed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Yotham carries a quiet strength, meaning "Jehovah is perfect" or upright. It appears in the Bible through three different men, reminding us that God’s integrity endures even when human leadership falters. Most readers know Jotham, the son of Uzziah, who ruled Judah while his father suffered from leprosy. Though the biblical record notes he did what was right in the Lord, the narrative often highlights the instability of his reign rather than his personal piety.
Another Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, offers a striking example of wisdom under threat. When his brother Abimelech murdered their seventy relatives to seize power, this Jotham escaped and spoke a sobering warning from Mount Gerizim. His story shows that truth can be spoken even in the shadow of violence.
These accounts invite us to trust God’s ultimate justice. While human schemes may rise and fall, and while we may face times of uncertainty or hidden danger, the character of God remains complete. We find comfort knowing that He sees the upright heart and will bring about His perfect purposes in due time.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jotham19×
- and/ Jotham3×
- to/ Jotham1×
- of/ Jotham1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יוֹתָ֥ם5×
- יוֹתָ֛ם3×
- יוֹתָם֙2×
- יוֹתָ֣ם2×
- יוֹתָ֖ם2×
- יוֹתָ֔ם2×
- וְ/יוֹתָ֤ם2×
- לְ/יוֹתָ֗ם1×
- לְ/יוֹתָ֖ם1×
- יוֹתָ֨ם1×
- יוֹתָ֧ם1×
- יוֹתָ֑ם1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 9:7
When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
This verse captures Jotham’s courageous act of standing on Mount Gerizim to deliver a prophetic warning against the people of Shechem, highlighting his role as a voice of truth amidst political corruption.
-
II Kings 15:32
In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign.
This reference marks the beginning of King Jotham’s reign in Judah, situating him within the broader historical timeline of Israel’s monarchy and his contemporary relationship with the prophet Isaiah.
-
II Chronicles 27:6
So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God.
Here the text explicitly states that Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord, providing a rare direct commendation of his personal faithfulness during a turbulent period.
-
Judges 9:57
and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.
This verse concludes the narrative of Abimelech by noting that God repaid the wickedness of Shechem, fulfilling the curse spoken earlier by Jotham and demonstrating divine justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Yotham mean?
How many different people named Yotham are in the Bible?
Why is Jotham, the son of Gideon, significant?
What does the Bible say about King Jotham’s reign?
Every Occurrence (24 verses across 7 books)
Judges 4 verses
He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one…
Judges 9:7When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said…
Judges 9:21Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Judges 9:57and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal…