Original Word: אֹהֶל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ohel
Pronunciation: OH-hel
Phonetic Spelling: (o'-hel)
KJV: Ohel
NASB: Ohel
Word Origin: [the same as H168 (אוֹהֶל - tent)]

1. Ohel, an Israelite

Ohel

The same as 'ohel; Ohel, an Israelite -- Ohel.

see HEBREW 'ohel

Word Origin
from the same as ohel
Definition
an Isr.
NASB Translation
Ohel (1).

Name and Meaning

Ohel (Strong’s Hebrew 169) is a masculine proper name whose root sense is “tent.” The image of the tent in Scripture speaks of dwelling, pilgrimage, and God’s gracious presence among His people, themes that echo faintly in the brief appearance of this otherwise obscure descendant of the royal house of David.

Biblical Occurrence

Ohel is mentioned once, in the post-exilic genealogy preserved in 1 Chronicles 3:20:

“Hathush, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed—five.”

Genealogical Context

1 Chronicles 3 traces the family of King David down through the Babylonian captivity. Verses 17–19 list the sons of Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) and his grandson Zerubbabel, the governor who led the first return from exile (Ezra 3:2; Haggai 1:1). Verse 20 then records five of Zerubbabel’s further descendants, including Ohel. Thus, the line runs:

David → Solomon → Jeconiah (the exiled king) → Pedaiah or Shealtiel → Zerubbabel → Ohel (and his four brothers)

Though the Chronicler gives no additional details about Ohel’s life, his placement in the genealogy confirms the continuity of the royal lineage even during Judah’s most vulnerable era.

Historical Background

The Chronicler compiled his record after the exile, when the nation was scattered and the monarchy seemingly lost. By listing sons and grandsons of Zerubbabel, he demonstrates that the covenant promise to David had not failed (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Every name, no matter how briefly noted, testifies that the line endured beyond the fall of Jerusalem and the seventy years in Babylon.

Role within the Davidic Line

1. Preservation of Promise: Ohel’s inclusion verifies that God kept a remnant of David’s house alive.
2. Bridge to the New Testament: Matthew 1 traces the royal genealogy through Zerubbabel to Joseph, legal father of Jesus Christ. Although Matthew does not mention Ohel (he follows a shortened royal line through Abiud), the Chronicler’s fuller roster underlines that multiple branches survived, reinforcing the reliability of the Davidic pedigree.
3. Quiet Witness: Scripture often highlights prominent leaders, yet also cherishes “hidden” heirs like Ohel. Their mere existence satisfies prophetic expectation that the scepter would not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10) and that a “shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1).

Theological Significance

• Covenant Fidelity: Even when kingship ceased and Israel lived under foreign powers, God’s oath to David stood unbroken.
• Hope in Exile: Names such as Ohel remind later generations that exile did not sever God’s purposes. The Chronicler’s audience, small and discouraged, could look at these lists and see tangible proof of divine faithfulness.
• Foreshadowing the Incarnation: Maintaining the royal genealogy prepared the way for the Messiah, “born of a woman, born under the Law” (Galatians 4:4). Every preserved name becomes another thread in the tapestry culminating in Jesus Christ.

Practical and Ministry Insights

1. Value of Genealogies: Modern readers may skim past lists, yet God recorded them for instruction (Romans 15:4). They authenticate history, guard doctrine, and magnify covenant grace.
2. Encouragement for the Unknown Believer: Ohel never led an army, built a temple, or penned a psalm, yet his faith-line position mattered. Likewise, countless believers serve quietly, their obedience integral to God’s unfolding plan.
3. Teaching Children the Faithfulness of God: In family devotions, pointing to Ohel illustrates how God remembers names history forgets, assuring the next generation that faithfulness counts even when unseen.

Key Reference

1 Chronicles 3:20.

וָ֠אֹהֶל ואהל Vaohel wā’ōhel wā·’ō·helInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts