Lexical Definition

‎אֶלְנָתָן‎ ʼElnâthân (el-naw-thawn') Elnathan ^N:N-M-P
from ‎אֵל‎ and ‎נָתַן‎; God (is the) giver

Elnathan.

• § Elnathan = "God has given"
• Elnathan, the name of four Israelites

1) king Jehoiachin's maternal grandfather
2) three chief men in Ezra's time
3) son of Achbor, a military commander under Jehoiakim

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.16a

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֶלְנָתָן‎ (God has given, compare ‎נְתַנְאֵל‎, & Assyrian Ilu-iddin Dl^{Pr 207, Phoenician} ‎בעליתן‎, ‎יתנבעל‎, Palmyrene ‎עתנתן‎, ‎והבלת‎, Vog^{Pal 30 & p. 31 f}, Nabataean ‎והבאל‎, ‎קסנתן‎ Eut^{Nab 12, 1}, Sabean ‎והבאל‎, ‎אלוהב‎ DHM^{ZMG 1883, 15. 361. 388} CIS^{iv.1,1.2.6, Theodore, Diodate}).
a. the grandfather of Jehoiakim 2Kgs 24:8 compare Jer 26:22; Jer 36:12; Jer 36:25 (?).
b. Levites of the time of Ezra Ezra 8:16 (3 t. in verse).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • A leader sent by Ezra to find Levites.

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Elnathan, a leader, was among those sent by Ezra to find Levites to serve in the Temple (Ezr.8.16).

• A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Ezr.8.16a;
• only referred to as Elnathan אֶלְנָתָן.

Three men with this name occur in the same verse (Ezr.8.16), mentioned among the men sent by Ezra to Casiphia to find Levites for Temple service. This Elnathan is identified as a "leader," distinguishing him from the last Elnathan mentioned in the same verse. The designation of Elnathan as a teacher suggests that he held a position of authority and was recognized for his knowledge and ability to instruct others. Like the other leading men, this Elnathan was entrusted with the task of recruiting Levites to assist in the Temple service. The presence of a teacher among the group sent by Ezra underscores the importance of not only gathering Levites but also ensuring that they were properly educated and prepared for their roles in the Temple.

All entries for Elnathan: אֶלְנָתָן