Zebudah

Zebudah is a variant spelling of Zebidah found in some versions of the Old Testament, including the King James Version. The name itself is derived from the Hebrew root (zavaḏ) meaning "to give," reflecting the cultural significance of naming as a expression of blessing or devotion.

Biblical Appearance

In the Old Testament, Zebudah (also spelled Zebidah) appears as a wife of King Josiah of Judah and the mother of Jehoiakim. Her story is recorded in 2 Kings 23:36 and 24:18. King Josiah was a righteous ruler known for his religious reforms, and his reign is noted in Hebrew history. Zebudah is a minor figure; the biblical text provides only her name and family connections, leaving modern readers to infer her character from context.

Linguistic and Historical Context

The early Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible (Septuagint) rendered the name Zebidah, while Latin and English versions show variation. The King James Version maintains the form Zebudah, while other translations use Zebidah. In Hebrew, the name is possibly related to zebed ("gift"), fitting a thematic pattern in which many biblical names carry a meaning of divine blessing or providence.

Notable Bearers and Significance

Due to her role as the mother of Jehoiakim, a king who faced the early stages of the Babylonian exile, Zebudah has minimal prominence in biblical narratives; no other named descendants appear in the text. Her son Jehoiakim's reign is noteworthy for the tumultuous political circumstances of the late 7th century BCE, but Zebudah herself is referenced only as a familial detail.

• Meaning: Variant of Zebidah, from Hebrew "to give"
• Origin: Hebrew, via the Old Testament
• Type: Given name (female)
• Usage regions: English translations of the Bible (specifically King James Version)