Jehalelel is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Jehalelel was a descendant of Judah, mentioned in the genealogies of the tribe in 1 Chronicles. The genealogical records of Judah trace the families that made up this prominent tribe, and Jehalelel appears within that lineage as part of the generations recorded for posterity. These lists, though often passed over by modern readers, were important to ancient Israel because they established tribal identity, inheritance rights, and the continuity of God’s covenant people from generation to generation.
Jehalelel is mentioned by name only once in the King James Version, in 2 Chronicles 29:12. There we read that “Azariah the son of Jehalelel” was among the Levites who arose at the command of King Hezekiah. The setting is the great religious reform under Hezekiah, when the king reopened the doors of the temple, repaired them, and called the priests and Levites to consecrate themselves and cleanse the house of the LORD. This was a time of national repentance and restoration after years of neglect and idolatry.
Though Jehalelel himself is not described as acting in the passage, his son Azariah is named among the faithful Levites who answered the king’s call. The text says these men “gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.” So Jehalelel is remembered chiefly through his son, who stood among those who restored true worship in Judah. Scripture records nothing else of Jehalelel’s own life, deeds, or character beyond his place in the genealogy and his connection to Azariah.
The Name
The name Jehalelel is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is not clearly recoverable from the text itself. It appears to be built from elements related to the Hebrew root *halal*, which can carry the sense of praising, shining, or making a clear sound. Some have suggested a meaning along the lines of “he praises God” or “God is praised,” but this is not firmly established, and scholars do not agree with certainty. Because the exact meaning is uncertain, it is best to say plainly that the name’s precise significance is not clearly known rather than to assign it a meaning the text does not confirm.
A Closing Thought
Jehalelel’s story is a quiet one. He never speaks, never acts on the page, and is known only through a single mention of his son. Yet that son stood among the Levites who helped cleanse the temple and restore worship in a dark hour of Judah’s history. It is a reminder that faithfulness often bears fruit we never see in our own lifetime. A parent’s unseen devotion can shape a child who rises to serve God in a crucial moment. Our part may be small and hidden, but God weaves it into something larger than we can measure.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 2 Chronicles 29:12 — Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son…