Boy Old Testament Rare
Nadab
free and voluntary gift; prince
נָדָב na.dav
Nadab (Hebrew: נָדָב, na.dav) means “free and voluntary gift; prince”, by traditional interpretation. Four men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Exodus period. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Aaron in Numbers 3.
Which Nadab?
Four men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Nadab
son of Aaron
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Nadab
son of Jeroboam
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Nadab
son of Abiel
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Nadab
son of Shammai
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 20 across 5 books
- Bearers
- 4 distinct people in scripture
- 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 | 1 Chronicles 24:2 |
| Cross-references | 339 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Abdon attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abiel.
- Zur attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abiel.
- Abihu attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Aaron.
- Ithamar 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.
- Ahio attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abiel.
- Baal attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abiel.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.2.28;
son of: Shammai (H8060);
brother of: Abishur (H0051);
father of: Seled (H5540) and Appaim (H0649)
§ Nadab = "generous"
1) eldest son of Aaron by Elisheba; struck dead before the sanctuary in the wilderness for kindling the censers with strange fire
2) son of king Jeroboam I of the northern kingdom of Israel and king of Israel for 2 years before being slain by Baasha
3) a Jerahmeelite, son of Shammai, of the tribe of Judah
4) a son of Gibeon of the tribe of Benjamin
Nadab was a son of Shammai, mentioned in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah.
The biblical story
Nadab is mentioned briefly in 1Ch.2.28 and 1Ch.2.30 as one of the sons of Shammai, a descendant of Judah through his son Jerahmeel. This reference appears in a genealogical record that traces the lineage of the tribe of Judah, providing insight into the family lines within the tribe.
In the genealogy, Shammai is listed as the son of Onam, who was the son of Jerahmeel (1Ch.2.26-28). Nadab is named alongside his brother Abishur as the sons of Shammai (1Ch.2.28).
Apart from being listed as a son of Shammai, no additional information is provided about Nadab's life, character, or role within the tribe of Judah. His mention in the genealogy serves primarily to establish his place within the family line and to contribute to the overall record of the tribe's history and lineage.
The inclusion of Nadab in this genealogical record demonstrates the importance of family heritage and tribal identity in ancient Israelite society. These records helped establish the legitimacy of land claims, leadership roles, and the preservation of the tribe's history and connection to their ancestors.
Key verses
Nadab appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur.
1 Chronicles 2:28 -
And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children.
1 Chronicles 2:30
Show all 2 references
1 Chronicles (2)
- 1 Chronicles 2:28
- 1 Chronicles 2:30