Original Word: אֲדֹנִיָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Adoniyah
Pronunciation: ah-do-nee-YAH-hoo
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-o-nee-yaw')
KJV: Adonijah
NASB: Adonijah
Word Origin: [from H113 (אָדוֹן אָדוֹן - lord) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. lord (i.e. worshipper) of Jah
2. Adonijah, the name of three Israelites

Adonijah

Original (prolonged) dadoniyahuw {ad-o-nee- yaw'-hoo}; from 'adown and Yahh; lord (i.e. Worshipper) of Jah; Adonijah, the name of three Israelites -- Adonijah.

see HEBREW 'adown

see HEBREW Yahh

Word Origin
from adon and Yah
Definition
"my Lord is Yahweh," the name of several Isr.
NASB Translation
Adonijah (26).

(אֲדֹיִּנָה) אֲדֹנִיָּ֫הוּ proper name, masculine (my Lord is Yahweh, compare Phoenician אדנאשמן, אדנבעל, אדנשמש etc., in Assyrian Aduniba' al Schr^{KB II, 172})

1 fourth son of David 1 Kings 1:8 11t., 1 Kings 2:13 5t. (= אֲדֹנִיָּה 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Kings 1:5,7,18; 1 Kings 2:28; 1 Chronicles 3:2).

2 a Levite2Chronicles 17:8.

3 a chief of the people Nehemiah 10:17 (= אֲדֹנִיקָם Nehemiah 7:18; Ezra 2:13; compare Ezra 8:13).

Overview

The name Adonijah appears about twenty-six times in Scripture, designating four distinct individuals. The most prominent is the fourth son of King David; the others include a Levitical teacher in Judah and two post-exilic priests. The various contexts in which the name occurs provide a rich study in leadership, submission to divine appointment, covenant fidelity, and the peril of presumptuous ambition.

Adonijah, Son of King David

1. Birth and Position
• Listed among David’s offspring born in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:4), Adonijah was the eldest surviving son after the deaths of Amnon and Absalom.
2. Attempted Usurpation
• As David’s health declined, “Adonijah … exalted himself, saying, ‘I will be king’” (1 Kings 1:5). His self-promotion involved strategic alliances—chiefly Joab and Abiathar—and a sacrificial feast at En-rogel that excluded those loyal to Solomon.
• Nathan and Bathsheba alerted David, resulting in Solomon’s anointing at Gihon (1 Kings 1:32-40). Adonijah’s guests “trembled and dispersed” (1 Kings 1:49), leaving him to seek asylum by grasping the horns of the altar. Solomon spared him conditionally: “If he is upright, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground” (1 Kings 1:52).
3. Final Downfall
• Adonijah later asked for Abishag the Shunammite, a request interpreted as a second bid for the throne (1 Kings 2:13-22). Solomon responded, “Surely Adonijah will be put to death today” (1 Kings 2:24). Benaiah executed the sentence (1 Kings 2:25).
4. Theological Themes
• Illegitimate Ambition: Adonijah’s self-exaltation illustrates the folly of pursuing position without divine sanction (cf. Proverbs 16:18).
• Divine Choice Over Human Expectation: Despite birth order and political maneuvering, the throne passed to Solomon in keeping with the Lord’s promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12-13).
• Sanctity of Oaths: Solomon’s initial pardon shows mercy tempered by accountability; the later execution underscores the seriousness of covenant violation.
• Typological Contrast: Adonijah’s grasping of royal prerogatives provides a foil to Jesus Christ, the true Son of David who “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6).

Adonijah the Levite Teacher (2 Chronicles 17:8)

During King Jehoshaphat’s reform, Adonijah was among the Levites sent to teach the Law throughout Judah. This mission advanced covenant knowledge, fulfilling the Deuteronomic ideal that leaders foster nationwide obedience. His inclusion in the teaching team contrasts sharply with David’s son: one bore the name in service to God’s word, the other in defiance of God’s decree.

Adonijah the Covenant Signatory (Nehemiah 10:16)

Post-exilic leaders renewed allegiance to the Law. Adonijah’s seal on the covenant indicates a priestly or Levitical role, highlighting personal responsibility in communal restoration. His willingness to bind himself publicly to scriptural obedience models corporate repentance after national judgment.

Adonijah in the Priestly Order (Nehemiah 12:13)

A later priest named Adonijah appears among the heads of courses in the days of Joiakim. The organized rotation of priests safeguarded orderly worship after exile, demonstrating that faithful service persists across generations bearing the same name.

Distribution of References

• 2 Samuel: 1 occurrence
• 1 Kings: 20+ occurrences (chiefly chapters 1–2)
• 2 Chronicles: 1 occurrence
• Nehemiah: 2 occurrences

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Discernment in Leadership Succession: Churches and ministries must yield to God’s revealed will rather than human politicking.
2. Accountability of Vows: Like Solomon with Adonijah, leaders balance mercy with upholding covenant boundaries.
3. Teaching the Word: The Levite Adonijah reminds believers that lasting reform arises from Scripture-centered instruction.
4. Covenant Renewal: Post-exilic Adonijahs encourage periodic recommitment to biblical standards within the community of faith.

Christological Reflections

Adonijah’s narrative accentuates the legitimacy of the God-appointed king. His failure underscores the inevitability of the Messianic line culminating in Jesus, who secures the throne without intrigue and reigns forever (Luke 1:32-33). Where Adonijah seized royal symbols, Christ receives them from the Father; where Adonijah was executed for rebellion, Christ was crucified for sinners yet raised in vindication.

Summary

Across the Old Testament the name Adonijah embodies both peril and promise. David’s son warns against self-promotion that defies divine purpose, while the Levite and priest demonstrate humble service to the revealed Word. Together, the occurrences reinforce the overarching biblical themes of rightful kingship, covenant fidelity, and the blessedness of aligning one’s life and ministry with the sovereign choices of God.

אֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ אֲדֹנִיָּ֑הוּ אֲדֹנִיָּ֔ה אֲדֹנִיָּ֖ה אֲדֹנִיָּ֖הוּ אֲדֹנִיָּ֗הוּ אֲדֹנִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֲדֹנִיָּ֣ה אֲדֹנִיָּ֣הוּ אֲדֹנִיָּ֥ה אֲדֹנִיָּֽה׃ אֲדֹנִיָּֽהוּ׃ אֲדֹנִיָֽהוּ׃ אדניה אדניה׃ אדניהו אדניהו׃ וַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ וַאֲדֹ֨נִיָּ֧הוּ וַאֲדֹנִיָּ֧ה ואדניה ואדניהו לַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ לַאֲדֹנִיָּ֑הוּ לַאֲדֹנִיָּ֥הוּ לאדניהו ’ă·ḏō·ni·yā·hū ’ă·ḏō·nî·yā·hū ’ă·ḏō·nî·yāh ’ăḏōnîyāh ’ăḏōniyāhū ’ăḏōnîyāhū adoniYah adoniYahu la’ăḏōnîyāhū la·’ă·ḏō·nî·yā·hū laadoniYahu vaadoniYah vaaDoniYahu wa’ăḏōnîyāh wa’ăḏōnîyāhū wa·’ă·ḏō·nî·yā·hū wa·’ă·ḏō·nî·yāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts