עִדּוֹ (id.do)
id.do
Iddo
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Iddo, meaning "his witness," appears nine times in Scripture, primarily within Chronicles, Nehemiah, and Zechariah. It is not a single individual but a shared name for several distinct men across different eras of Israel’s history. This reflects how common the name was among those who valued God as their ultimate witness.
The most prominent figure bearing this name is the seer during King Jeroboam’s reign, mentioned in 2 Chronicles 9:29 and 13:22. He recorded the deeds of prophets and kings, providing a historical record that later writers relied upon. Another Iddo served as a priest under Nehemiah, helping to restore worship after the exile.
Other bearers of the name include an official in Solomon’s court (1 Kings 4:14) and ancestors of Levites and priests. The recurrence of this name underscores the importance of bearing witness to God’s actions throughout Israel’s story, from the united monarchy through the post-exilic restoration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Iddo carries a simple but profound meaning: "his witness." In Scripture, this is not just a label for one person, but a reflection of a life lived in testimony to God’s faithfulness. Several individuals bore this name across different eras, from the court of Solomon to the post-exilic restoration under Nehemiah and Ezra. Each Iddo played a role in preserving or proclaiming God’s actions, whether as a royal official, a priest, or a seer recording the history of kings.
One of the most notable figures is the prophet Zechariah, son of Iddo, who encouraged the returned exiles to rebuild the temple. His message was not about human strength but about God’s presence and promise. When we encounter this name, it reminds us that our lives are also called to be a witness—to speak truth, preserve memory, and point others to the Lord who remains faithful through every generation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Iddo7×
- of/ Iddo1×
- and/ Iddo1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עִדּ֥וֹא2×
- עִדּוֹא֙1×
- עִדּֽוֹ\׃1×
- עִדֹּ֖א1×
- עִדּ֥וֹ1×
- עִדּ֑וֹא1×
- לְ/עִדּ֥וֹא1×
- וְ/עִדּ֥וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 13:22
The rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways, and his sayings are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo.
This verse highlights Iddo’s role as a seer who recorded the sayings of King Abijah, showing how his witness preserved prophetic history for future generations.
-
Ezra 5:1
Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the God of Israel.
Here, Zechariah the son of Iddo is mentioned alongside Haggai as a prophet whose words stirred the people to rebuild the temple after the exile.
-
Zechariah 1:1
In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, Yahweh’s word came to the prophet Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying,
This opening verse identifies Zechariah as the son of Iddo, grounding his prophetic authority in a lineage that valued God’s witness.