Hasadiah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Hasadiah was a son of Zerubbabel, a descendant of King David and the governor of Judah after the Babylonian exile. He appears in the genealogical record of David’s line found in 1 Chronicles 3, a chapter that traces the royal lineage from David through the period of the exile and into the restoration community. Zerubbabel is a significant figure in this record, named among those who returned from Babylon to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Hasadiah is listed among his sons, placing him in the generation that followed the return from captivity.
The passage in which his name appears is brief and purely genealogical: “And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five” (1 Chronicles 3:20). This single verse names Hasadiah alongside four brothers, and the text notes that these five were sons of Zerubbabel. No further narrative is attached to him. Scripture records nothing of his deeds, his character, his occupation, or the length of his life. He is known only through his place in the family line.
What Scripture does say of Hasadiah is simply that he belonged to the house of David and to the generation of the restoration. His inclusion in this genealogy testifies that the Davidic line continued after the exile, preserved through Zerubbabel and his sons. For the original readers of Chronicles, such records affirmed that God had not abandoned His covenant with David, even though the monarchy had fallen and the people had been carried away. Hasadiah’s name, like those of his brothers, stands as a small but real link in that chain of promise.
The Name
The Hebrew name Hasadiah (also rendered Hasadiah) is generally understood to mean “Yahweh has been gracious” or “the LORD has shown kindness,” from the Hebrew root *ḥasad* (“to be kind, gracious”) joined with the divine name *Yah*. This meaning is widely recognized among scholars of biblical names, though the precise nuance can vary slightly depending on how the components are read. The related name Hasadiah appears elsewhere in the post-exilic records, and its meaning fits the pattern of thanksgiving and hope common among names given in that era. The meaning is reasonably well established, though as with many Hebrew names, certainty is not absolute.
A Closing Thought
Hasadiah never speaks, never acts, and never appears again after a single verse. Yet his name itself preaches: “Yahweh has been gracious.” Given to a child born into a restored but humble community, it was a quiet confession that God had shown kindness to His people. Most of us will live lives that seem, by the world’s measure, unremarkable—no monuments, no headlines. But a name, a faithful life, and a place in God’s family are not small things. The Lord’s graciousness is enough to make even the unnoticed life meaningful.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 3:20 — And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five.