Original Word: יוֹנָדָב
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yawnadab
Pronunciation: yo-naw-dawb'
Phonetic Spelling: (yo-naw-dawb')
KJV: Jonadab
Word Origin: [a form of H3082 (יְהוֹנָדָב - Jonadab)]

1. Jonadab, the name of an Israelite and of a Rechabite

Jonadab

A form of Yhownadab; Jonadab, the name of an Israelite and of a Rechabite -- Jonadab.

see HEBREW Yhownadab

Word Origin
the same as Yehonadab, q.v.

Name and Meaning

Jonadab, “Yahweh has been generous,” epitomizes influence—either toward sin or toward steadfast obedience—depending on the bearer of the name.

Jonadab son of Shimeah (2 Samuel 13)

• Lineage. Nephew of King David, cousin to Amnon and Absalom.
• Reputation. “Jonadab was a very shrewd man” (2 Samuel 13:3). His sagacity, however, was amoral; he used insight to devise a scheme that enabled Amnon to violate Tamar (2 Samuel 13:5).
• Role in the Crisis. After Amnon’s murder Jonadab calmed David with selective information: “Only Amnon is dead… by the command of Absalom” (2 Samuel 13:32). He then facilitated Absalom’s flight by alerting the king to the approaching survivors (2 Samuel 13:35).
• Character Assessment. Scripture offers no repentance or rebuke for Jonadab; his cleverness served self-interest, illustrating that intellectual gift detached from covenant loyalty corrupts community life and dishonors God.

Jonadab son of Rechab (Jeremiah 35)

• Historical Setting. A contemporary of Jehu (see parallel form Jehonadab in 2 Kings 10), he established a rule of life for his clan during the tumultuous ninth century B.C.
• Rule for the Rechabites. Abstention from wine, permanent nomadism, and avoidance of agriculture (Jeremiah 35:6–10). These commands fostered separation from apostate culture and mobility for God-directed service.
• Divine Commendation. Centuries later the clan’s obedience became an object lesson: “The words of Jonadab son of Rechab have been carried out… but this people has not obeyed Me” (Jeremiah 35:16). Their fidelity elicited a perpetual promise: “Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to stand before Me” (Jeremiah 35:19).
• Typological Significance. The Rechabites’ submission to an earthly father highlighted Judah’s refusal to heed the heavenly Father, prefiguring New Covenant calls to radical discipleship (compare Ephesians 6:1, Hebrews 12:9).

Comparison of the Two Jonadabs

1. Sphere of Influence: one within the royal court, the other within a clan.
2. Use of Wisdom: manipulative counsel that facilitated sexual sin versus prescriptive counsel that preserved covenant purity.
3. Legacy: chaos and fratricide versus generational blessing. The contrast accentuates that influence, not intellect, determines whether a name is remembered for ruin or righteousness.

Theological and Ministry Implications

• Moral Neutrality of Skill. Intellectual acuity must submit to God’s moral order (James 3:13–17).
• Generational Leadership. Faithful commands, when grounded in reverence for God, mold enduring holiness in descendants (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).
• Prophetic Illustration. God employs obedient minorities to expose majority disobedience; small acts of fidelity can sustain a witness through centuries.
• Personal Application. Believers must choose whether their counsel steers others toward fleshly desire or covenant obedience; the two Jonadabs warn and inspire accordingly.

Legacy

Jonadab son of Shimeah shows the tragedy of misdirected wisdom within God’s people, while Jonadab son of Rechab embodies the blessing that flows from whole-hearted submission. Together they frame a biblical axiom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).

וְי֣וֹנָדָ֔ב ויונדב יֽוֹנָדָ֔ב יֽוֹנָדָב֙ יוֹנָדָ֣ב ׀ יוֹנָדָ֥ב יוֹנָדָ֨ב יונדב לְיוֹנָדָ֧ב ליונדב lə·yō·w·nā·ḏāḇ leyonaDav ləyōwnāḏāḇ veYonaDav wə·yō·w·nā·ḏāḇ wəyōwnāḏāḇ yō·w·nā·ḏāḇ yonaDav yōwnāḏāḇInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts