📖 Biblical Definition
High priest of Israel during the late ninth century BC (2 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 22-24). Husband of Jehoshabeath (Jehosheba), daughter of King Joram of Judah, who together hid the infant Joash for six years in the temple from the murderous purge of Athaliah. In the seventh year, Jehoiada orchestrated the boldest priestly coup in Old Testament history: he gathered the captains of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, swore them to an oath in the house of the LORD, showed them the king's son Joash, armed them with the weapons stored in the temple from David's reign, surrounded the king-to-be in the temple courts, brought him out, set the crown upon his head, gave him the testimony (the Mosaic law), anointed him king, and slew Athaliah by the sword. Jehoiada then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they should be the LORD's people, and a covenant between the king and the people; the people went into the house of Baal and broke down the altars and images, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars (2 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 23). Jehoiada served as effective regent during Joash's minority and as the godly mentor throughout his life. As long as Jehoiada lived, Joash served the LORD faithfully. Jehoiada lived to a hundred and thirty years (one of the longest lives recorded in the OT, unusual for any post-patriarchal figure) and was buried among the kings of Judah in the city of David because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house (2 Chronicles 24:16). His son Zechariah was the prophet whom Joash later martyred (2 Chronicles 24:20-22).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
High priest of Israel late ninth century BC (2 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 22-24); rescued the infant Joash from Athaliah; orchestrated the priestly coup that crowned Joash and slew Athaliah; lived to 130 years.
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JEHOIADA, proper n. (high priest of Israel late ninth century BC; 2 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 22-24) Husband of Jehoshabeath, daughter of King Joram. Together with his wife, hid the infant Joash in the temple for six years from Athaliah's murderous purge. In the seventh year, orchestrated the priestly coup: gathered captains and guards, swore them by oath in the house of the LORD, showed them the king's son, armed them with weapons from David's reign, crowned Joash, slew Athaliah. Made covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people. Effective regent during Joash's minority; godly mentor throughout his life. Lived to a hundred and thirty years (one of the longest lives post-patriarchally recorded); buried among the kings of Judah in the city of David because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house (2 Chronicles 24:16). Father of Zechariah, the prophet whom Joash later martyred.
📖 Key Scripture
2 Chronicles 23:1-3 — "And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds... And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah... And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David."
2 Chronicles 23:16-17 — "And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people. Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces."
2 Chronicles 24:15-16 — "But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house."
2 Chronicles 24:2 — "And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. Jehoiada is rightly honored as the great rescuer and king-maker; the pastoral lesson is the influence of a godly mentor and the tragedy of dependent faithfulness when the mentor dies.
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Jehoiada as a proper name does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal pastoral lesson is the integrated narrative of Jehoiada and Joash. Jehoiada lived to 130 years, rescued the infant Joash, crowned him king at seven, mentored him into faithful kingship, and watched him do right in the LORD's sight throughout Jehoiada's life. Then Jehoiada died; the princes of Judah came and bowed down to Joash; Joash hearkened unto them and forsook the LORD; Joash murdered Zechariah the son of Jehoiada for prophesying against him. The pattern teaches the immense weight of the godly mentor in the formation of a leader's faithfulness, and the sobering reality that derivative faithfulness wholly dependent on a single mentor's living presence is not yet the believer's own faithfulness. The Christian father, pastor, and elder labors to form the next generation's own personal faith, not merely their dependent compliance under his presence.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
High priest late ninth century BC; rescued and crowned Joash; orchestrated coup against Athaliah; 130-year life.
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['Hebrew', 'H3077', 'Yehoyada', 'Yahweh knows']
['Hebrew', 'H3090', "Yehoshav'at", "Jehoshabeath, Jehoiada's wife"]
['Hebrew', 'H6271', 'Athaliah', "the wicked queen-grandmother slain at Jehoiada's command"]
Usage
"High priest who rescued the infant Joash from Athaliah's purge."
"Orchestrated the priestly coup that crowned Joash at age seven."
"Lived to 130 years; buried among the kings of Judah for his goodness toward God and His house."