פְּדָיָהוּ (pe.da.yah)
pe.da.yah
Pedaiah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Pedaiah, meaning "Jehovah has ransomed," appears eight times in the Old Testament, primarily within the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles and Nehemiah. The name identifies a specific historical figure from the late monarchic period of Judah, anchoring his lineage in the era leading up to the Babylonian exile.
He is best known as the father of Zerubbabel, the governor who led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem. While 1 Chronicles 3:19 explicitly names Pedaiah as Zerubbabel’s father, Ezra 3:2 and Haggai 1:1 refer to Shealtiel as his father. This discrepancy suggests that Shealtiel may have died without an heir, prompting Pedaiah’s son to inherit the family line and name in a legal or social sense.
Additionally, 2 Kings 23:36 records Pedaiah as the father of Zebidah, who became the wife of King Josiah. This connection places him within the royal household during a critical time of religious reform. His presence in these texts highlights the importance of family continuity and divine providence in preserving the Davidic line through the exile.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Pedaiah carries a quiet but powerful meaning: "Jehovah has ransomed." In the biblical record, this name appears not as part of a grand speech or a miraculous event, but within the genealogies and repair lists of post-exilic Judah. These records can feel dry at first glance, yet they reveal how God preserves His people through ordinary generations. Pedaiah is remembered as the father of Zerubbabel, who led the first return from Babylon, and as an ancestor in Benjamin whose lineage continued to serve in Jerusalem.
For believers today, this reminds us that faithfulness often happens in the background. Whether rebuilding walls, managing temple treasures, or raising children in the fear of the Lord, these acts matter deeply to God. The continuity of Pedaiah’s line shows that God keeps His promises across generations, even when history seems uncertain. We are part of a larger story where every life contributes to the preservation of hope and worship.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Pedaiah6×
- and/ Pedaiah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פְּדָיָה֩1×
- פְּדָיָֽהוּ\׃\ \ס1×
- פְּדָיָ֥ה1×
- פְּדָיָ֖ה1×
- פְּ֠דָיָה1×
- פְדָיָ֔ה1×
- וּ/פְדָיָה֙1×
- וּ/פְדָיָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 3:19
The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister;
This verse explicitly names Pedaiah as the father of Zerubbabel, anchoring his role in the restoration lineage despite alternative traditions regarding Shealtiel.
-
II Kings 23:36
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
Here Pedaiah is identified as the father of Zebidah, linking him to the royal household during King Josiah’s reforms and highlighting his status in Judah's final days.
-
Nehemiah 13:13
I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.
Pedaiah serves as a faithful treasurer over the treasuries, demonstrating how descendants of this name continued to hold positions of trust and integrity in the restored community.