Original Word: חֲבַצַּנְיָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Chabatstsanyah
Pronunciation: khab-ats-tsan-yaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (khab-ats-tsan-yaw')
KJV: Habazaniah
NASB: Habazziniah
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Chabatstsanjah, a Rechabite

Habazaniah

Of uncertain derivation; Chabatstsanjah, a Rechabite -- Habazaniah.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a Rechabite
NASB Translation
Habazziniah (1).

חֲבַצִּנְיָה proper name, masculine a Rechabite Jeremiah 35:3, ᵐ5 Ξαβας(ε)ιν.

Name and Identity

Habazziniah is mentioned once in Scripture as the grandfather of Jaazaniah, a leading figure among the Rechabites in the days of the prophet Jeremiah.

Biblical Occurrence

Jeremiah 35:3 records: “So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, his brothers, and all his sons—the whole house of the Rechabites—”.

Genealogical and Historical Context

1. Lineage. Habazziniah stands in the genealogical line of the Rechabites, a clan descended from Jonadab son of Rechab (2 Kings 10:15, 2 Kings 10:23).
2. Timeframe. His family is introduced during the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah (circa 609-598 BC), roughly a generation before Jerusalem’s fall.
3. Rechabite Tradition. Jonadab had commanded his descendants to avoid settled living, wine consumption, and agricultural pursuits (Jeremiah 35:6-7). Habazziniah belongs to this transgenerational commitment to covenantal obedience.

Character and Significance

• Representative of Fidelity. Though nothing is said about Habazziniah’s personal deeds, his inclusion underlines the Rechabites’ integrity across generations. His grandson Jaazaniah appears before Jeremiah because earlier patriarchs—Habazziniah included—successfully transmitted Jonadab’s instructions.
• Silent Testimony. The brevity of his mention heightens the narrative contrast: an obscure clan preserves obedience while the nation, with its prophets and priests, resists the word of the Lord.
• Reminder of Legacy. Habazziniah’s place in the text underscores how faithfulness—or lack thereof—can reverberate through a family line (compare Exodus 20:6; 2 Timothy 1:5).

Theological and Practical Lessons

1. Generational Discipleship. The Rechabite account demonstrates that wholehearted obedience can be cultivated and safeguarded across centuries. Spiritual habits established by one generation (Jonadab) are maintained by later ones (Habazziniah, Jaazaniah).
2. Obedience over Prominence. Habazziniah is otherwise unknown, yet his quiet obedience contributes to a prophetic object lesson for Judah (Jeremiah 35:12-19). God values righteousness even when it attracts no earthly acclaim.
3. Covenant Faithfulness Illustrated. The Rechabites’ loyalty to a mere human command rebukes Judah’s failure to heed divine revelation. Habazziniah’s lineage therefore becomes a living parable highlighting the justice of impending judgment upon the nation.

Relevance for Ministry Today

• Parental and Grandparental Influence. Christian families are reminded that unseen faithfulness—teaching, example, prayer—shapes children and grandchildren for decades (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
• Corporate Witness. Congregations, like the Rechabite household, can serve as models of countercultural obedience, offering a stark contrast to societal norms.
• Encouragement to the Obscure. Believers whose names never reach headlines should take heart: Habazziniah’s single biblical appearance shows that God notices every faithful participant in His redemptive story.

Habazziniah, though shadowed by anonymity, embodies the enduring power of covenantal loyalty, urging every generation to preserve and transmit unswerving obedience to the Lord.

חֲבַצִּנְיָ֔ה חבצניה chavatztzinYah ḥă·ḇaṣ·ṣin·yāh ḥăḇaṣṣinyāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts