Original Word: הוֹדִיָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Howdiyah
Pronunciation: ho-dee-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ho-dee-yaw')
KJV: Hodiah
Word Origin: [a form for the feminine of H3064 (יְהוּדִי - Jews)]

1. a Jewess

Hodiah

A form for the feminine of Yhuwdiy; a Jewess -- Hodiah.

see HEBREW Yhuwdiy

Word Origin
the same as Hodiyyah, q.v.

הוֺדִיָּה proper name, masculine (my splendour is Yah) —

1 a man of Judah 1 Chronicles 4:19.

2 Levites

a. Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 9:5; Nehemiah 10:11;

b. Nehemiah 10:14.

3 a chief of the people Nehemiah 10:19.

Name Significance

Hodiah is a Hebrew personal name whose structure combines an element of praise with the covenant name of God, conveying honor rendered to the LORD. The appearance of the name in genealogical and covenant contexts highlights how Israelite families often embedded their confession of faith in the names they bestowed.

Occurrences and Contexts

1. 1 Chronicles 4:19 – The Chronicler lists Hodiah within the genealogies of Judah. Here Hodiah is associated with a clan linked to Caleb’s line. The verse ties Hodiah to the families of Keilah and Eshtemoa, demonstrating how Judean settlements preserved tribal identity in the post-exilic period.
2. Nehemiah 10:10, 13, 18 – Three distinct Levites named Hodiah (or Hodijah) sign the renewed covenant under Nehemiah. Their placement among priestly and Levitical leaders underscores the broad participation of Israel’s spiritual servants in recommitting the nation to Mosaic obedience.

Lineage and Tribal Associations

• Judah – In 1 Chronicles the name is lodged in Judah’s extensive tribal record, emphasizing the breadth of that tribe’s descendants after the exile.
• Levi – In Nehemiah the bearers are Levites: ministers responsible for temple worship, instruction in the Law, and the safeguarding of ritual purity. Their inclusion reflects the Levites’ leadership role in reform movements from the time of Hezekiah to the era of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Role in Post-Exilic Covenant Renewal

Nehemiah 10 details a formal covenant in which leaders “bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God” (Nehemiah 10:29). Hodiah is thrice recorded among these signatories, testifying to a shared resolve to restore holiness in community life—observing Sabbath regulations, honoring sabbatical years, and supporting temple service. By publicly attaching their names, the Levites named Hodiah function as witnesses and guarantors of national fidelity.

Spiritual Lessons and Theological Themes

• Covenant Accountability – The repeated appearance of Hodiah in Nehemiah 10 illustrates that true reform binds individuals personally to corporate obedience.
• Intergenerational Faithfulness – From Judah’s genealogies to the Levites’ signatures, Hodiah threads through Israel’s story, reminding modern readers that God works through both ancestry and personal decision.
• Praise-Filled Identity – A name that celebrates the LORD encourages believers to embody worship in daily life; identity and vocation cannot be severed from devotion.

Christological and Ecclesial Implications

The Levites’ readiness to pledge obedience foreshadows the New Covenant community’s call to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). As the Levites mediated worship, so Christ, the ultimate High Priest, mediates a better covenant. The church, “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), carries forward Hodiah’s legacy by bearing God-honoring names and living in covenant faithfulness through Christ’s enabling grace.

Application for Believers Today

• Commit publicly to God’s standards, recognizing that personal vows can strengthen communal holiness.
• Cherish genealogies and church history as testimonies of God’s sustained faithfulness.
• Embed praise in speech, naming, and vocation, ensuring that every aspect of life points to the majesty of the LORD, just as the name Hodiah does.

הֽוֹדִיָּ֔ה הֽוֹדִיָּ֛ה הוֹדִיָּ֥ה הודיה hō·w·ḏî·yāh hodiYah hōwḏîyāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts