Original Word: דּוֹדוֹ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Dowdow
Pronunciation: doh-DOH
Phonetic Spelling: (do-do')
KJV: Dodo
NASB: Dodo
Word Origin: [from H1730 (דּוֹד דּוֹד - beloved)]

1. loving
2. Dodo, the name of three Israelites

Dodo

From dowd; loving; Dodo, the name of three Israelites -- Dodo.

see HEBREW dowd

Word Origin
from the same as dod
Definition
"his beloved," three Isr.
NASB Translation
Dodo (5).

דדי Kt see דּוֺדוֺ below דוד.

דּוֺדוֺ proper name, masculine (his beloved, compare דודוהו; or compare דודה proper name, of divinity MI¹², compare דָּוִד infra) —

1 man of tribe of Issachar Judges 10:1.

2 דדי Kt 2 Samuel 23:9 ( = דּוֺדַי 1 Chronicles 27:4), דּוֺדוֺ Qr = דּוֺדוֺ 1 Chronicles 11:12.

3 father of אֶלְחָנָן 2 Samuel 23:24 דּוֺדוֺ = 1 Chronicles 11:26.

Dodo (דּוֹדוֹ)

Occurrences and Narrative Settings

The name appears five times, identifying at least three distinct men whose accounts span the period of the Judges and the united monarchy (Judges 10:1; 2 Samuel 23:9, 2 Samuel 23:24; 1 Chronicles 11:12, 1 Chronicles 11:26). Though each reference is brief, together they highlight how God works through faithful families, tribal structures, and courageous warriors to advance His redemptive purposes.

Dodo of Issachar – Roots of Deliverance

Judges 10:1 records, “After Abimelech, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.” Dodo stands two generations before Tola, the sixth judge of Israel. While Scripture says little about Dodo himself, the placement of his name in the genealogy signals covenant continuity. Tola’s leadership in restoring peace after Abimelech’s tyranny reflects the spiritual heritage passed down by his grandfather. Issachar’s territory bordered Philistine‐threatened regions, so Dodo’s family likely knew the cost of compromise and the need for faithful obedience—values that shaped Tola’s later ministry.

Dodo the Ahohite – Father of Eleazar, One of the Three

In the roster of David’s elite warriors we read, “Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they defied the Philistines gathered at Pas-dammim for battle; and the men of Israel retreated” (2 Samuel 23:9). Parallel wording appears in 1 Chronicles 11:12. The clan designation “Ahohite” links this Dodo to Ahoah, a Benjamite ancestor (1 Chronicles 8:4). From Benjamin’s valleys came a man whose son would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with David when others fled. Eleazar’s legendary endurance—striking the Philistines until his hand clung to the sword—testifies to a father who inculcated courage and covenant loyalty. Dodo’s legacy is therefore embedded in Israel’s collective memory of battlefield faithfulness.

Dodo of Bethlehem – Patriarch among the Thirty

A separate warrior line emerges in the list of “the Thirty”: “Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem” (2 Samuel 23:24; 1 Chronicles 11:26). Bethlehem, though ­small, produced figures of outsized influence—from Boaz to David to, ultimately, the Messiah. The mention of Dodo of Bethlehem situates Elhanan within Judah’s royal town, hinting at early connections between David’s personal guard and his native region. Some scholars propose that the Ahohite and Bethlehemite Dodos may be the same person, but the tribal designations (Benjamin versus Judah) favor viewing them as distinct; either way, Scripture showcases two fathers named Dodo whose sons helped secure David’s throne.

Shared Themes

• Generational Faithfulness

Whether in Issachar, Benjamin, or Judah, each Dodo is remembered not for personal exploits but for the fruit borne through his offspring. The pattern underscores the biblical priority of handing down faith (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). In every era, God raises deliverers and defenders through ordinary families that revere His word.

• Covenant Courage

Both Eleazar and Elhanan fought Philistines—Israel’s archetypal enemy in the early monarchy. Their valor fulfills Israel’s mandate to possess the land promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21). Behind their bravery stands paternal influence that modeled trust in the Lord of hosts.

• Tribal Unity under the Anointed King

Issachar, Benjamin, and Judah each contribute to national deliverance, illustrating that every tribe has a role in God’s plan. The three Dodos thus form quiet threads tying disparate clans to a single, Spirit-anointed leader—first in Tola’s judgeship, later in David’s reign, and ultimately in the greater Son of David.

Ministry Significance

1. Parents as Kingdom Stewards

The record invites modern believers to view parenting and mentoring as frontline ministry. Dodo of Issachar bequeathed spiritual resilience; the Ahohite and the Bethlehemite nurtured warriors of renown. Churches likewise advance the gospel when fathers and mothers invest in the next generation’s faith and calling (2 Timothy 1:5).

2. Hidden Yet Essential Service

Though the text supplies no feats of Dodo himself, his name survives because he enabled others. Scripture thus honors unseen faithfulness—reminding leaders that lasting influence often comes through those we prepare rather than through accolades we receive (Matthew 25:21).

3. Courage in Spiritual Warfare

Eleazar’s grip that “froze to the sword” (2 Samuel 23:10) foreshadows believers who cling to “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). The example points to steadfastness amid today’s cultural and spiritual battles.

Foreshadowing Christ

Bethlehemite lineage and covenant heroism converge in the name Dodo. From Bethlehem will come David’s greater Son (Micah 5:2), who conquers the ultimate enemy. The obscure fathers named Dodo, therefore, stand in the long procession leading to Jesus Christ, whose own courage and deliverance embody every virtue their sons displayed in part.

Practical Reflections

• Build legacies of faith—obscurity in the present can yield kingdom impact for generations.
• Strengthen spiritual stamina; battles are won when God’s people refuse to let go of His word.
• Rejoice in Scripture’s cohesion: even seemingly peripheral names trace the consistent thread of redemption from Judges to the monarchy and on to the Messiah.

דֹּד֖וֹ דֹּדֹ֖ו דּוֹד֖וֹ דדו דודו dō·ḏōw dō·w·ḏōw doDo dōḏōw dōwḏōwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts