Joshaviah is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Joshaviah was a man of the tribe of Simeon, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and he is known to us only through a genealogical record in the Old Testament. The source note identifies him as a descendant of Simeon whose name is preserved in the genealogies of that tribe in 1 Chronicles. His single appearance in Scripture comes in a list of names, where he is mentioned alongside other individuals without any narrative of his life, deeds, or character.
In 1 Chronicles 11:46, the text reads: “Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite.” This verse falls within a larger roster of warriors and supporters associated with David’s reign. Joshaviah is named as one of the sons of Elnaam, grouped with his brothers Jeribai and others in this record. The passage does not describe any specific action he took, any battle he fought, or any word he spoke. He appears simply as a name within a family line, a single entry in a longer list.
What Scripture says of Joshaviah, then, is very little by way of narrative detail. He is identified by his father’s name and by his tribal heritage, and he is counted among those recorded in the chronicles of Israel. The brevity of his mention does not diminish the fact that he was a real person whose name was preserved in the sacred record. He stands as one of many individuals whose lives are known to God even when little is known to us.
The Name
The name Joshaviah appears to be a Hebrew compound name, though its precise meaning is not clearly recoverable from the available evidence. It likely contains a shortened form of the divine name, “Yah,” at its end, as is common in many Hebrew personal names. Beyond that general observation, the meaning of the name is not well established, and it would be speculation to assign it a definite translation. Many Hebrew names in the genealogies have meanings that are either uncertain or debated among scholars. The honest position is that the full significance of this name remains unclear, and it should not be given a fabricated meaning for the sake of having one.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered in a chronicle or have our names inscribed in a lasting record. Joshaviah’s life is summed up in a single line, yet he was known to God and included among the people of Israel. This reminds us that significance is not measured by how much is written about us, but by the fact that we belong to the Lord and are seen by Him. Whether our lives are recorded in detail or pass with little notice, faithfulness to God is what matters, and He remembers those who are His.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 11:46 — Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,