מְהֵיטַבְאֵל (me.he.tav.el)
me.he.tav.el
Mehetabel
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name Mehetabel, meaning "favoured of God," appears in Scripture as a rare female proper noun. It identifies an Editean princess, the daughter of Matred and wife of King Hadad, who is recorded in Genesis 36:39. This usage highlights her royal lineage within the Edomite genealogies that trace back to Esau.
Later biblical tradition connects this same name to a different historical figure. In Nehemiah 6:10, Mehetabel is named as the father of Shemaiah, a prophet who was hired by Tobiah and Sanballat to oppose Nehemiah’s rebuilding efforts. This second reference shifts the context from the patriarchal era to the post-exilic period, linking the name to political conflict in Jerusalem.
The recurrence of this name across such distinct eras suggests it was a recognized title or family designation rather than a unique personal identifier. While the Edomite princess represents ancient royal heritage, her descendant Shemaiah appears in a narrative of religious and civic resistance. The sources do not indicate any theological significance beyond these historical identities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Mehetabel carries a gentle meaning: "favoured of God." In Genesis, it belongs to an Edomite princess, a woman whose life is recorded simply as part of a royal lineage. Her story reminds us that names in Scripture often point to identity and heritage rather than individual deeds. She appears in the genealogies of Esau, showing how God’s record-keeping extends to all peoples, even those outside the immediate line of promise.
Centuries later, the name reappears in Nehemiah, attached to a man named Mehetabel, father of a prophet involved in political intrigue. This shift from a peaceful royal lineage to a tense moment of civic resistance shows how names can travel through history, carrying different weights in different contexts. We might wonder if there is a deeper connection, but the text presents two distinct figures separated by time and circumstance.
What remains constant is the presence of God’s favour, whether in the quiet dignity of a princess or the chaos of Jerusalem’s rebuilding. The Bible does not shy away from recording complex histories, including those with ambiguous moral tones. We are invited to trust that God sees and records every life, regardless of its prominence or obscurity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] Mehetabel2×
- Mehetabel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְהֵיטַבְאֵל֙1×
- מְהֵֽיטַבְאֵל֙1×
- מְהֵֽיטַבְאֵ֖ל1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 36:39
Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
This verse identifies Mehetabel as the wife of King Hadad, anchoring her in the Edomite royal line and highlighting her maternal lineage through Matred.
-
I Chronicles 1:50
Baal Hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pai. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
The Chronicler repeats this genealogical detail, confirming the consistency of the record regarding Hadad’s wife and her family background.
-
Nehemiah 6:10
I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in God’s house, within the temple, and let’s shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night they will come to kill you.”
Here the name appears as a patronymic for Shemaiah’s father, linking the name to a prophet who attempted to dissuade Nehemiah from his rebuilding work.