Mehetabeel is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Mehetabeel appears in the King James Bible only once, in Nehemiah 6:10, where he is named as the father of Delaiah and the grandfather of Shemaiah: “Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up.” This single mention places him within a genealogy rather than in any narrative of his own actions. He is identified only by his relationship to his son and grandson, and Scripture records nothing of his life, character, or deeds.
The source note identifies Mehetabeel as the wife of King Hadad, mentioned in the genealogies of the kings of Edom in Genesis. This connection is not made in the Nehemiah passage itself, and the Bible text as given does not elaborate on it. What the scriptural record does show is that Mehetabeel belonged to a line that continued into the post-exilic period, for his grandson Shemaiah was among those encountered by Nehemiah during the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall.
The setting of the verse is the opposition Nehemiah faced while laboring to restore the city. Shemaiah, described as “shut up” in his house, urged Nehemiah to meet him inside the temple and shut its doors, claiming that assassins would come by night to kill him. Nehemiah recognized the counsel as a trap and refused. Mehetabeel himself remains entirely in the background—a name in a lineage, remembered because his grandson was used as an instrument of intimidation against a faithful leader.
The Name
The name Mehetabeel is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is generally understood to be “God is good” or “God does good,” from elements meaning “good” and “God.” This is a widely recognized and well-established sense of the name. It is worth noting that the same name appears elsewhere in Scripture in a feminine form, but in this entry the source note specifies Mehetabeel as male.
A Closing Thought
Mehetabeel never speaks, never acts, and never appears outside a single genealogical line. Yet his name, “God is good,” stands quietly over a story of opposition and fear. His grandson tried to lure Nehemiah into a trap, but God’s goodness protected His servant and the work continued. Most of us will never be remembered for great deeds, but we can leave behind a name—and a life—that testifies that God is good. That witness, passed down through generations, is no small legacy.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Nehemiah 6:10 — Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, i…