Jedidiah

Biblical Text and Content

Jedidiah is a name found in 2 Samuel 12:24–25. David was rebuked by the prophet Nathan for his sin with Bathsheba, and afterward the first child Bathsheba bore him died. David then comforted Bathsheba, and she bore a son whom he named Solomon. According to the New Korean Revised Version, at that time "the LORD loved him" and sent Nathan to name him Jedidiah, and the reason given is "because the LORD loved him." The name appears nowhere else in the Bible.

Background and Meaning of the Word

The Hebrew Yedidyah combines yadid, meaning "beloved," with Yah, a shortened form of the divine name the LORD (Yahweh). It is therefore commonly rendered "beloved of the LORD." The name Solomon is generally understood to be related to shalom, meaning "peace." The son thus received two names: Solomon, the name David gave him, and Jedidiah, the name conveyed through Nathan.

Significance in the Wider Bible

The expression "beloved of the LORD" also appears in Deuteronomy 33:12, in Moses' blessing on the tribe of Benjamin. Psalm 127:2, "for so he giveth his beloved sleep," uses a word from the same root. Because Psalm 127 bears the superscription "A Song of degrees for Solomon," some interpreters read this verse in connection with the name Jedidiah.

In the New Testament context, the name is sometimes read alongside the words heard from heaven at the baptism of Jesus, "my beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17), and alongside Paul's description of Christians as "beloved of God" (Romans 1:7). These readings, however, group texts by common theme; the New Testament nowhere directly cites Jedidiah.

Interpretations and Issues

• A sign of grace: Many interpreters see the name as a token of grace given after David's sin and the death of his first child. Some also read it as confirmation that the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) would continue through Solomon.
• Who sent Nathan?: The Hebrew sentence leaves room for interpretation as to whether David or the LORD sent Nathan. The New Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Standard Version render it as the LORD sending him.
• Why the name was not used: Thereafter Scripture consistently calls him only Solomon. The text gives no reason for this. Scholars have offered various conjectures as to which was his personal name and which his royal name, but there is no consensus.
• Explanations beyond the text: Nor does the text explain why Solomon was loved. Explanations such as "a reward given because David repented" are additions made in preaching and interpretation.

In the Korean Church

In preaching, the passage is frequently used to speak of God's love given anew after sin and loss. The name is also reportedly used as a given name for children in Christian families and as a name for church groups and worship teams.