עַמִּינָדָב (am.mi.na.dav)
am.mi.na.dav
Amminadab
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Amminadab means "my kinsman is willing" or "my people are noble." It appears in the Hebrew Bible as a personal name for several distinct individuals, most notably as an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ. In Exodus 6:23, he is identified as the father of Nahshon, the leader of the tribe of Judah during the wilderness wanderings, and the father-in-law of Aaron.
His lineage connects the patriarchal era to the establishment of Israel’s priesthood and monarchy. The name surfaces again in genealogical records such as Ruth 4:19-20 and 1 Chronicles 2:10, where it anchors the family line leading from Judah to David. This repetition underscores the importance of familial continuity in biblical history.
While the name itself carries a positive connotation of noble kinship, its primary significance lies in its placement within sacred genealogies rather than in any specific narrative action attributed to this individual. Translators consistently render it as Amminadab, preserving the phonetic identity across different textual traditions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Amminadab means "my kinsman is willing." This phrase captures a deep truth about God’s people: He does not leave us to navigate life alone. Instead, He provides a community of support and a lineage of faith that connects us to something far greater than ourselves. When we look at the biblical record, we see individuals like Nahshon, son of Amminadab, stepping up as leaders when their people needed direction in the wilderness.
These names are not just historical footnotes; they remind us that our spiritual heritage is built on the faithful steps of those who came before. From the tribes of Israel to the ancestors of King David, this lineage shows how God works through families and communities. It encourages us to value our own connections, knowing that we are part of a continuing story of grace and obedience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Amminadab9×
- and/ Amminadab3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַמִּינָדָֽב\׃3×
- עַמִּינָדָֽב\׃\ \פ1×
- עַמִּינָדָ֣ב1×
- עַמִּינָדָ֛ב1×
- עַמִּינָדָ֖ב1×
- עַמִּינָדָ֑ב1×
- עַמִּֽינָדָֽב\׃1×
- וְ/עַמִּינָדָב֙1×
- וְ/עַמִּינָדָֽב\׃1×
- וְ/עַמִּֽינָדָב֙1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 6:23
Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
This verse establishes Amminadab’s family connection to the priesthood through his daughter Elisheba and brother Nahshon, linking the tribe of Judah directly to Aaron's house.
-
Numbers 1:7
Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Here Amminadab is identified as the father of Nahshon, who serves as the appointed prince of the tribe of Judah during the census in the wilderness.
-
Ruth 4:19
and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab,
This genealogy places Amminadab in the direct line from Judah to David, highlighting his role as a crucial link in the ancestral chain leading to the Messiah.
-
I Chronicles 2:10
Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
The Chronicler repeats this lineage to emphasize Nahshon’s status as prince of Judah, reinforcing the importance of Amminadab’s place in Israel’s royal history.