🔼The name Jahath: Summary
- Meaning
- He Will Snatch Up, He Will Deplete
- Etymology
- From the verb חתה (hata), to snatch up, or חתת (hatat), to deplete of strength or courage.
🔼The name Jahath in the Bible
There are five men named Jahath in the Bible:
- A son of Reaiah, son of Shobal, son of Judah. This Jahath is part of a group called the Zorathites (1 Chronicles 4:2).
- A son of Gershom, son of Levi (1 Chronicles 6:20).
- A son of Shimei, son of Gershon, same son of Levi (this Jahath seems to be the grandson of number 2).
- A son of Shelomoth of the division of Kohath (1 Chronicles 24:22).
- A Levite supervisor of the temple restorations under king Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:12).
🔼Etymology of the name Jahath
The name Jahath looks like it's the name Heth made active: He Will Heth. But that brings us no closer to a meaning of the name Jahath because the meaning of the name Heth itself is debated. But most sources derive Heth and Jahath from the verb חתה (hata), meaning to snatch up, or else the verb חתת (hatat), meaning to be afraid:
חתת
The verb חתת (hatat) means to deplete of strength, courage, willpower or any essential support, which results in a collapse of sorts. Nouns חת (hat), חתת (hatat), חתה (hitta), חתחת (hathat) and חתית (hittit) describe the various nuances of debilitating or paralyzing terror or fear. The identical adjective חת (hat) means shattered or dismayed. Noun מחתה (mehitta) means destruction, ruin or terror.
The verb חתה (hata) means to seize or snatch up, usually of fire or coals. Noun מחתה (mahta), meaning fire pan or censer.
🔼Jahath meaning
For a meaning of the name Jahath, Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads He Will Carry Away or He Will Be Broken. BDB Theological Dictionary offers He (God) Will Snatch Up.