Original Word: אֶלְדָּעָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Elda`ah
Pronunciation: el-daw-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (el-daw-aw')
KJV: Eldaah
NASB: Eldaah
Word Origin: [from H410 (אֵל - God) and H3045 (יָדַע - know)]

1. God of knowledge
2. Eldaah, a son of Midian

Eldaah

From 'el and yada'; God of knowledge; Eldaah, a son of Midian -- Eldaah.

see HEBREW 'el

see HEBREW yada'

Word Origin
from el and yada
Definition
"God has called," a son of Midian
NASB Translation
Eldaah (2).

אֶלְדָּעָה proper name, masculine (God has called? compare Arabic) son of Midian Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33.

Biblical Occurrences

Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33

Genealogical Setting

Eldadah is listed among the five sons of Midian, who himself was a son of Abraham by Keturah. Thus Eldadah is a great-grandson of Abraham. The two parallel genealogies (Genesis 25:1-4 and 1 Chronicles 1:32-33) preserve the same order of names, underscoring the careful transmission of Israel’s ancestral records. Through these terse notices Scripture confirms that the covenant-bearing patriarch fathered other lines in addition to Isaac, and that their descendants also became nations in fulfillment of the promise, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants like the stars of the sky” (Genesis 22:17).

Historical Footprint

While Eldadah himself is never mentioned outside the genealogies, the clan that carried his name would eventually be absorbed into the wider Midianite confederation. Midianite caravans appear in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 37:28), and Midian becomes the place where Moses spends forty years in exile, marrying Zipporah, daughter of Jethro the priest of Midian (Exodus 2–3). Later, Midian turns hostile during Israel’s wilderness journey (Numbers 22–25; Judges 6–8). These shifting relationships illustrate how distant relatives of Abraham could become either allies or adversaries, depending upon their response to the Lord’s unfolding purposes.

Covenantal and Redemptive Significance

1. Proof of Divine Faithfulness: Eldadah’s inclusion demonstrates that every branch of Abraham’s house benefited from God’s pledge to multiply his seed. Even those outside the chosen line of Isaac are not lost to the biblical record.
2. Foreshadowing of Gentile Inclusion: The very existence of Midianite worshippers of the true God (for example, Jethro in Exodus 18) hints at the later ingathering of the nations through the Messiah.
3. Moral Warning: Midian’s eventual opposition to Israel warns that physical descent from Abraham is no guarantee of covenant loyalty. As John the Baptist later declares, “God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham” (Matthew 3:9).

Connections within the Biblical Narrative

• Moses’ Midianite sojourn allowed him to receive formative instruction in wilderness living—training essential for leading Israel out of Egypt. Thus Eldadah’s line indirectly serves the Exodus.
• Gideon’s victory over Midian (Judges 6–8) typifies God’s power to save through weakness, a pattern ultimately consummated in the cross of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
• Isaiah 60:6 foretells that “the camels of Midian and Ephah” will bring gifts to Zion, portraying an eschatological reversal in which descendants of Eldadah will honor the Lord in the age to come.

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

1. Value the Genealogies: They certify God’s accuracy and faithfulness; what may appear incidental is actually integral to redemptive history.
2. Recognize God’s Sovereign Reach: The account of Midian—from Eldadah to Jethro to Gideon—shows that God weaves even distant relatives of the covenant family into His saving plan.
3. Guard Covenant Fidelity: The Midianites’ later hostility cautions believers to remain steadfast, lest privilege become presumption.
4. Expect Future Fulfillment: Prophecies of Midian’s eventual homage encourage global mission, anticipating the day when “nations shall come to your light” (Isaiah 60:3).

Summary

Eldadah stands as a small but instructive node in the vast network of Abraham’s offspring. His brief mention secures a place for Midian within the biblical chronicle, attesting that God’s promises are both particular—favoring the line of the Messiah—and expansive, reaching families and nations beyond Israel.

וְאֶלְדָּעָ֑ה ואלדעה veeldaAh wə’eldā‘āh wə·’el·dā·‘āhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts