Boy Old Testament Known
Ithamar
island of the palm-tree
אִיתָמָר i.ta.mar
Ithamar (Hebrew: אִיתָמָר, i.ta.mar) means “island of the palm-tree”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 20 verses across 5 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Abihu in Numbers 3.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Ithamar
son of Aaron
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 20 across 5 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Exodus
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Exodus 6:23 |
| Last appears | Ezra 8:2 |
| Cross-references | 351 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Abihu attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Aaron.
- Nadab attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Aaron.
- Putiel attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Aaron.
- Uzzi attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Aaron.
- Eleazar attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Aaron.
- Abihu co-occurrence Appears with Abihu in Numbers 3.
- Nadab co-occurrence Appears with Nadab in Numbers 3.
- Eleazar co-occurrence Appears with Eleazar in 1 Chronicles 24.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.23;
son of: Aaron (H0175) and Elisheba (H0472);
brother of: Nadab (H5070), Abihu (H0030) and Eleazar (H0499)
§ Ithamar = "coast of palms"
fourth and youngest son of Aaron
Ithamar was the fourth and youngest son of Aaron, who served as a priest alongside his brothers Nadab, Abihu, and Eleazar.
The biblical story
Ithamar was the fourth and youngest son of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel (Exo.6.23). He served as a priest alongside his brothers Nadab, Abihu, and Eleazar (Num.3.2). After the deaths of Nadab and Abihu for offering unauthorized fire before the Lord (Lev.10.1-2), Ithamar and Eleazar were warned not to mourn for them openly (Lev.10.6).
Ithamar assisted his father Aaron and his brother Eleazar in their priestly duties (Exo.28.1; Num.3.4). He was responsible for overseeing the Gershonites and Merarites, two of the Levite clans, in their tabernacle duties (Num.4.28,33). During the dedication of the tabernacle, Ithamar assisted Moses in receiving the offerings from the tribal leaders (Num.7.8).
Ithamar's descendants continued to serve as priests (1Ch.24.1-6). They were divided into divisions for their appointed duties, just as Aaron's other descendants were. One of Ithamar's notable descendants was Eli, who served as high priest and judge in Israel (1Sa.14.3; 1Ki.2.27).
In Ezr.8.2, a descendant of Ithamar named Daniel is mentioned among the priests who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile. This highlights the continuity of Ithamar's lineage in the priesthood.
Key verses
Ithamar appears in 20 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Exodus 6:23 -
And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
Exodus 28:1 -
This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.
Exodus 38:21 -
And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled.
Leviticus 10:6 -
And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:
Leviticus 10:12
Show all 20 references
Exodus (3)
- Exodus 6:23
- Exodus 28:1
- Exodus 38:21
Leviticus (3)
- Leviticus 10:6
- Leviticus 10:12
- Leviticus 10:16
Numbers (6)
- Numbers 3:2
- Numbers 3:4
- Numbers 4:28
- Numbers 4:33
- Numbers 7:8
- Numbers 26:60
1 Chronicles (7)
- 1 Chronicles 6:3
- 1 Chronicles 24:1
- 1 Chronicles 24:2
- 1 Chronicles 24:3
- 1 Chronicles 24:4
- 1 Chronicles 24:5
- 1 Chronicles 24:6
Ezra (1)
- Ezra 8:2