Boy Old Testament Rare
Delaiah
the poor of the Lord
דְּלָיָ֫הוּ de.la.yah
Delaiah (Hebrew: דְּלָיָ֫הוּ, de.la.yah) means “the poor of the Lord”, by traditional interpretation. Five men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a priest. In 2025 it was given to 6 children in the United States. Use is rising. Appears with Akkub in 1 Chronicles 3.
Which Delaiah?
Five men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Delaiah
son of Shemaiah
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Delaiah
father of Shemaiah
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Delaiah
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Delaiah
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Delaiah
descendant of David
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 7 across 4 books
- Bearers
- 5 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Return
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 6 | Rising |
| All-time total | 39 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 7 in 2003 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Chronicles 3:24 |
| Last appears | Jeremiah 36:25 |
| Cross-references | 63 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Tobiah co-occurrence Appears with Tobiah in Nehemiah 7.
- Nekoda co-occurrence Appears with Nekoda in Nehemiah 7.
- Hananiah co-occurrence Appears with Hananiah in Jeremiah 36.
- Shemaiah co-occurrence Appears with Shemaiah in Jeremiah 36.
- Mehetabel co-occurrence Appears with Mehetabel in Nehemiah 6.
- Zedekiah co-occurrence Appears with Zedekiah in Jeremiah 36.
- Elnathan co-occurrence Appears with Elnathan in Jeremiah 36.
- Gemariah co-occurrence Appears with Gemariah in Jeremiah 36.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.24.18
§ Dalaiah or Delaiah = "Jehovah has drawn"
1) a priest in the time of David, leader of the 23rd course
2) a son of Shemaiah, a ruler of Judah in the time of Jeremiah in the court of Jehoiakim
3) the head of an exilic family, of uncertain pedigree, claiming to be Israelites in the time of Zerubbabel
4) a descendant of Zerubbabel
5) the son of Mehetabeel and the father of Shemaiah, a contemporary of Nehemiah
Delaiah was a priest appointed by David to be in charge of the twenty-third division of the priestly order.
The biblical story
Delaiah is mentioned in 1Ch.24.18 as a priest who was appointed by King David to oversee the twenty-third division of the priestly order. David, along with Zadok and Ahimelech, organized the priests into twenty-four divisions to ensure a systematic and orderly service in the temple.
Each division was responsible for serving in the temple for a specific period, and the order was determined by casting lots. Delaiah's division was the twenty-third in the order of service.
The organization of the priests into divisions allowed for a fair distribution of duties and responsibilities, ensuring that the temple service ran smoothly and efficiently. This system also allowed the priests to balance their temple duties with their other responsibilities, such as teaching the law and ministering to the people.
Apart from this mention in the context of the priestly divisions, no other details are provided about Delaiah's life or specific role. His inclusion in this list highlights the importance of the priestly order and the organization of the temple service during the reign of King David.
Key verses
Delaiah appears in 1 verse. Here are some of the most notable:
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The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
1 Chronicles 24:18
Show all 1 reference
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 24:18