5714. Iddo
Lexical Summary
Iddo: Iddo

Original Word: עִדּוֹ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Iddow
Pronunciation: ID-doh
Phonetic Spelling: (id-do')
KJV: Iddo
NASB: Iddo
Word Origin: [from H5710 (עָדָה - To pass on)]

1. timely
2. Iddo (or Iddi), the name of five Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Iddo

Or iiddowo {id-do'}; or tiddiy {id-dee'}; from adah; timely; Iddo (or Iddi), the name of five Israelites -- Iddo. Compare Yiddow, y'diy.

see HEBREW adah

see HEBREW Yiddow

see HEBREW y'diy

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as iddah
Definition
"timely," the name of several Isr.
NASB Translation
Iddo (10).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עִדּוֺ, עִדֹּא, עִדּוֺא

proper name, masculine Iddo; —

1 father of an officer of Solomon עִדֹּא 1 Kings 4:14; ᵐ5 Αχελ, A Σαδωκ, ᵐ5L Αχιαβ

2 grandfather of prophet Zechariah עִדּוֺ Zechariah 1:1, עִדּוֺא Zechariah 1:7; ᵐ5 Αδδω.

3 a Levite עִדּוֺ 1 Chronicles 6:6; ᵐ5 Αδει, ᵐ5L Αδδω.

4 a priestly name עִדּוֺא van d. H. Ginsb (Baer עִדּוֺ) Nehemiah 12:4; ᵐ5 א etc. Αδαιας; also עדיא Nehemiah 12:16 Kt (עֲדָיָא?), Qr עִדּוֺא; ᵐ5 א τῷ Αδδαι, ᵐ5L τῳ Αδαια.

5 a seer עִדּוֺ הַחֹזֶה2Chronicles 12:15 = הַנָּכִיא עִדּוֺ2Chronicles 13:22, ᵐ5 Αδ(δ)ω; = יֶעְדּוֺ2Chronicles 9:29, Ιωηλ(δ).

עֹדֵד see עוד.

Topical Lexicon
Occurrences in Scripture

The name “Iddo” is borne by at least five distinct individuals who appear a combined ten times in the Old Testament (1 Kings 4:14; 1 Chronicles 6:21; 2 Chronicles 12:15; 2 Chronicles 13:22; Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14; Nehemiah 12:4; Nehemiah 12:16; Zechariah 1:1; Zechariah 1:7). These references span the united monarchy, divided monarchy, exile, and post-exilic eras, revealing an enduring lineage of service to the covenant community.

Iddo the Seer in Judah

Twice in Chronicles a prophet or “seer” named Iddo is cited as a contemporary source for royal history:
• “Now the acts of Rehoboam… are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies?” (2 Chronicles 12:15).
• “As for the rest of the acts of Abijah… they are written in the treatise of the prophet Iddo” (2 Chronicles 13:22).

This Iddo served during the earliest days of the divided monarchy (circa tenth–ninth centuries B.C.). His prophetic writings—now lost—were sufficiently authoritative for the Chronicler to cite them as historical sources. The titles “seer” and “prophet” underscore a ministry of insight and proclamation: he both recorded genealogy (thereby preserving covenant identity) and interpreted royal events (thereby upholding covenant faithfulness).

Iddo in the Time of Solomon

In Solomon’s administrative list appears “Ahinadab son of Iddo, in Mahanaim” (1 Kings 4:14). Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, was a strategic frontier district. The mention suggests that this Iddo, though otherwise unknown, had the standing to place his son over royal revenues. The appointment illustrates the breadth of Solomon’s bureaucracy and the prominence of Iddo’s family within it.

Iddo the Levitical Ancestor

A Gershonite lineage records: “Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son” (1 Chronicles 6:21), where some manuscripts read “Zerah (or Zehraiah) his son of Iddo.” Here Iddo is an early Levitical forebear, reinforcing the tribe’s hereditary temple service. The chronicling of his name situates him within the sacred duties prescribed for Levi, and preserves continuity between pre-exilic worship and the post-exilic restoration chronicled later in Ezra–Nehemiah.

Iddo and the Post-Exilic Priesthood

When Zerubbabel returned from Babylon, one priestly house was headed by Iddo (Nehemiah 12:4). In the generational lists compiled by Nehemiah, Zechariah appears as the chief of that house in the next generation: “of Iddo, Zechariah” (Nehemiah 12:16). The priestly family sustained its identity through exile and into temple reconstruction, modeling covenant perseverance.

Iddo and the Prophet Zechariah

Ezra twice identifies “Zechariah son of Iddo” as one of the two prophets who stirred the returned exiles to resume building the Second Temple (Ezra 5:1; 6:14). Zechariah himself writes, “The word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo” (Zechariah 1:1, 1:7). In this case Iddo is likely the grandfather, Berechiah being Zechariah’s father. Whether Iddo lived to return from exile or remained in Babylon, his spiritual legacy is evident: his grandson becomes a major voice calling post-exilic Judah to covenant renewal and Messianic hope.

Literary Contributions and Lost Works

Scripture explicitly credits the seer Iddo with written records—“the records… concerning genealogies” and “the treatise.” While the texts themselves are not extant, their citation testifies to Israel’s prophetic historiography, in which inspired messengers documented God’s dealings with His people. That inspired canonical authors could reference them confident of their reliability demonstrates the Spirit’s superintendence over both the spoken and written word.

Theological and Ministry Significance

1. Continuity of Prophetic Witness: From the united monarchy through the post-exilic era, the various bearers of the name illustrate how God raises successive generations to guard the covenant.
2. Preservation of Covenant Identity: Whether compiling genealogies, managing royal districts, or leading priestly houses, each Iddo contributed to the ordered life of the people of God.
3. Authority of the Written Word: The Chronicler’s appeal to Iddo’s writings underlines the enduring principle that prophetic documentation carries weight equal to oral proclamation.
4. Intergenerational Faithfulness: The line culminating in Zechariah exemplifies how spiritual heritage can shape future ministry, encouraging contemporary believers to cultivate legacies that outlive them.

Lessons for Today

• The prominence of otherwise little-known servants like Iddo reminds the Church that faithfulness, not fame, marks true significance in God’s economy.
• Prophetic insight is meant to be preserved and transmitted. Christians are stewards of divine revelation already given in Scripture and called to guard it against neglect.
• Genealogical and administrative details—often skimmed over—bear witness to God’s meticulous care for His people’s history and identity, assuring believers that no act of service is overlooked by the Lord who records all (Malachi 3:16).

Forms and Transliterations
וְעִדּ֥וֹ ועדו לְעִדֹּ֥וא לעדוא עִדֹּ֖א עִדּ֑וֹא עִדּ֣וֹ עִדּ֥וֹ עִדּ֥וֹא עִדּֽוֹ׃ עִדּוֹא֙ עדא עדו עדו׃ עדוא ‘id·dō ‘id·dō·w ‘id·dōw ‘iddō ‘iddōw idDo lə‘iddōw lə·‘id·dō·w leidDo veidDo wə‘iddōw wə·‘id·dōw
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Kings 4:14
HEB: אֲחִֽינָדָ֥ב בֶּן־ עִדֹּ֖א מַחֲנָֽיְמָה׃
NAS: the son of Iddo, [in] Mahanaim;
KJV: the son of Iddo [had] Mahanaim:
INT: Ahinadab the son of Iddo Mahanaim

1 Chronicles 6:21
HEB: יוֹאָ֤ח בְּנוֹ֙ עִדּ֣וֹ בְנ֔וֹ זֶ֥רַח
NAS: Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah
KJV: Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah
INT: Joah his son Iddo his son Zerah

2 Chronicles 12:15
HEB: שְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה הַנָּבִ֛יא וְעִדּ֥וֹ הַחֹזֶ֖ה לְהִתְיַחֵ֑שׂ
NAS: the prophet and of Iddo the seer,
KJV: the prophet, and of Iddo the seer
INT: of Shemaiah the prophet Iddo the seer to genealogical

2 Chronicles 13:22
HEB: בְּמִדְרַ֖שׁ הַנָּבִ֥יא עִדּֽוֹ׃
NAS: in the treatise of the prophet Iddo.
KJV: in the story of the prophet Iddo.
INT: the treatise of the prophet Iddo

Ezra 5:1
HEB: וּזְכַרְיָ֤ה בַר־ עִדּוֹא֙ [נְבִיאַיָּא כ]
NAS: the son of Iddo, prophesied
KJV: the son of Iddo, prophesied
INT: and Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied was over

Ezra 6:14
HEB: וּזְכַרְיָ֖ה בַּר־ עִדּ֑וֹא וּבְנ֣וֹ וְשַׁכְלִ֗לוּ
NAS: the son of Iddo. And they finished
KJV: the son of Iddo. And they builded,
INT: and Zechariah the son of Iddo building finished

Nehemiah 12:4
HEB: עִדּ֥וֹא גִנְּת֖וֹי אֲבִיָּֽה׃
NAS: Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
KJV: Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,
INT: Iddo Ginnethoi Abijah

Nehemiah 12:16
HEB: [לַעֲדָיָא כ] (לְעִדֹּ֥וא ק) זְכַרְיָ֖ה
NAS: of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon,
KJV: Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon,
INT: Iddo Zechariah of Ginnethon

Zechariah 1:1
HEB: בֶּ֣רֶכְיָ֔ה בֶּן־ עִדּ֥וֹ הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר׃
NAS: of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying,
KJV: the son of Iddo the prophet,
INT: of Berechiah the son of Iddo the prophet saying

Zechariah 1:7
HEB: בֶּ֣רֶכְיָ֔הוּ בֶּן־ עִדּ֥וֹא הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר׃
NAS: the son of Iddo, as follows:
KJV: the son of Iddo the prophet,
INT: of Berechiah the son of Iddo the prophet follows

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5714
10 Occurrences


‘id·dō — 8 Occ.
lə·‘id·dō·w — 1 Occ.
wə·‘id·dōw — 1 Occ.

5713c
Top of Page
Top of Page