Jehozadakdzhee-HOZ-uh-dak

Jehozadak: Justice of the Lord

Jehozadak appears in Scripture as a significant yet often overlooked figure in Israel's post-exilic history. Understanding how to pronounce Jehozadak correctly—dzhee-HOZ-uh-dak—helps Bible readers engage more fully with the genealogies and historical narratives of the restoration period.

Etymology and Original Meaning

The name Jehozadak derives from Hebrew roots combining two powerful concepts: Yah (Yahweh, the Lord) and zadak (righteousness or justice). When pronouncing Jehozadak correctly, you're essentially speaking a declaration: "the Lord is righteous" or "justice of the Lord." This theophoric name—one that incorporates the divine name—reflects the Hebrew naming tradition of embedding spiritual truths directly into personal identity.

Who Was Jehozadak?

Jehozadak was the father of Joshua (Jeshua), the high priest who led the restoration of temple worship after the Babylonian exile. He himself served as high priest before the exile but was carried away captive to Babylon. The genealogy in 1 Chronicles 6:14-15 lists him as a crucial link in the priestly line, establishing his legitimacy and importance for post-exilic religious authority.

Biblical Significance

Though Jehozadak never returned from captivity himself, his son Joshua became instrumental in rebuilding the temple and restoring Jewish religious practice. The Jehozadak pronunciation matters because his name appears in key historical passages: 1 Chronicles 6:14, Haggai 1:1, Haggai 1:12, and Zechariah 6:11. In these texts, he's referenced as the father of the high priest, anchoring the post-exilic priestly succession in legitimate genealogy.

For Bible students and teachers, recognizing Jehozadak's role illuminates how God preserved the priestly line through exile and restoration. His name itself—Justice of the Lord—reminds readers that even during captivity and displacement, God's righteous purposes continued. The restoration under his son wasn't accidental; it was divinely orchestrated justice working through legitimate succession and divine promise.