עַדְלָ֑י (ad.lay)
ad.lay
Adlai
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Adlai appears only once in Scripture, recorded in 1 Chronicles 27:29 as the father of Shaphat, who served as the overseer of David’s herds. This brief mention places him within the administrative structure of King David’s kingdom, linking a specific family line to the management of royal livestock.
Linguistically, Adlai is a theophoric name meaning “justice of Jehovah.” It combines the element for justice or righteousness with the divine name Yahweh. Such names were common in ancient Israel, serving as constant reminders of God’s character and expectations for His people, even in the details of daily governance.
While Adlai himself is not a central figure in the biblical narrative, his inclusion highlights the thoroughness of the Chronicler’s record. By preserving these minor genealogical links, the text underscores that every aspect of Israel’s life, from spiritual leadership to agricultural management, was acknowledged within the community’s history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Adlai means "justice of Jehovah." It appears only once in Scripture, identifying a man named Shaphat as the son of Adlai. This brief mention places him within King David’s administrative team, responsible for overseeing herds in the valleys. Such names served as constant reminders of God’s character and expectations for His people.
While Adlai himself is not a central figure in the biblical narrative, his inclusion highlights the thoroughness of the Chronicler’s record. By preserving these minor genealogical links, the text underscores that every aspect of Israel’s life was acknowledged within the community’s history. This suggests that faithful stewardship in daily tasks honors God just as much as prominent leadership roles.
When you encounter such details, it can be encouraging to remember that your own work and responsibilities are seen. Whether managing resources or caring for others, doing so with integrity reflects the justice of the Lord. Your contributions, however small they may seem, matter deeply in God’s eyes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Adlai1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַדְלָֽי\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 27:29
Over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.
This verse identifies Shaphat as the son of Adlai, linking the name to his role overseeing royal herds in the valleys.