Boy Old Testament Rare
Zadok
just; justified
צָדוֹק tsa.doq
Zadok (Hebrew: צָדוֹק, tsa.doq) means “just; justified”, by traditional interpretation. Ten men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a priest. In 2025 it was given to 21 children in the United States. Use is falling away. Appears with Abiathar in 2 Samuel 15.
Which Zadok?
Ten men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Zadok
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Zadok
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Zadok
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Zadok
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Zadok
father of Jerusha; spouse of King Uzziah
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Zadok
Show all 10 bearers
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Zadok
son of Immer
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Zadok
son of Baana
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Zadok
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Zadok
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 51 across 9 books
- Bearers
- 10 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Both
- Era
- United Monarchy
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 21 | Falling |
| All-time total | 536 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 35 in 2023 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | TX | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 2 Samuel 8:17 |
| Last appears | Matthew 1:14 |
| Cross-references | 764 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Abiathar co-occurrence Appears with Abiathar in 2 Samuel 15.
- Ahimelech co-occurrence Appears with Ahimelech in 1 Chronicles 24.
- Ahimaaz co-occurrence Appears with Ahimaaz in 2 Samuel 18.
- Seraiah co-occurrence Appears with Seraiah in 2 Samuel 8.
- Jerusha co-occurrence Appears with Jerusha in 2 Kings 15.
- Jehoiada co-occurrence Appears with Jehoiada in 1 Kings 1.
- Benaiah co-occurrence Appears with Benaiah in 1 Kings 1.
- Ahitub co-occurrence Appears with Ahitub in 2 Samuel 8.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.12;
son of: Ahitub (H0285I);
father of: Shallum (H7967L)
§ Zadok = "righteous"
1) the high priest, son of Ahitub of the house of Eleazar the son of Aaron, and 11th in descent from Aaron; joined David after Saul's death and supported him against Absalom and Adonijah; anointed Solomon as king
2) a priest, son of Meraioth, father of Meshullam of the house of Ahitub; apparently a nephew of 1
3) father of Jerusha, the wife of king Uzziah and mother of king Jotham of Judah
4) son of Baana and repairer of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah
5) son of Immer and repairer of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah
6) a leader of the people in the time of Nehemiah
7) a scribe appointed by Nehemiah as one of the treasurers over the storehouse
8) a valiant warrior of the tribe of Benjamin who joined David at Hebron. Same as 1?
Zadok was a high priest who served in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
The biblical story
Zadok is mentioned as a high priest who lived and served in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He is listed in the genealogies of the priests in the books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Zadok was a descendant of the earlier high priest Zadok who served during the reigns of David and Solomon. In the postexilic period, Zadok is described as the son of Meraioth and the father of Meshullam. He was part of the priestly lineage that returned to Jerusalem to help rebuild the temple and reestablish the worship of God. The mention of Zadok in these genealogies emphasizes the continuity of the priestly line and the importance of the priesthood in the restoration of Jewish religious life after the exile.
Key verses
Zadok appears in 4 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,
1 Chronicles 6:12 -
And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
1 Chronicles 9:11 -
The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
Ezra 7:2 -
Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.
Nehemiah 11:11
Show all 4 references
1 Chronicles (2)
- 1 Chronicles 6:12
- 1 Chronicles 9:11
Ezra (1)
- Ezra 7:2
Nehemiah (1)
- Nehemiah 11:11