A royal official during the reign of King Jehoiakim.
Elnathan
Named in 3 verses of Jeremiah, first in Jeremiah 26:22.
אֶלְנָתָןElnathan
The name means “God hath given; the gift of God.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
- Father
- Achbor
About Elnathan Written by AI
Elnathan, the son of Achbor, was a prominent royal official during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah. He is first mentioned in Jeremiah 26:22, where King Jehoiakim sent him, along with other officials, to Egypt to capture the prophet Uriah, who had prophesied against Judah. Elnathan and the other officials brought Uriah back to Jehoiakim, who had him executed. Later, in Jeremiah 36, Elnathan is present when the scroll containing Jeremiah's prophecies is read before the king. When Jehoiakim cuts up the scroll and burns it, Elnathan and two other officials plead with the king not to do so, showing their respect for the prophetic word (Jeremiah 36:12). Despite their efforts, Jehoiakim refuses to listen and continues to reject Jeremiah's warnings. Elnathan's actions reveal his role as a trusted advisor to the king and his involvement in significant events during Jehoiakim's reign. However, his ultimate loyalty appears to be to the king rather than to the prophetic message.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Elnathan, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Whom God has given. (1.) An inhabitant of Jerusalem, the father of Nehushta, who was the mother of king Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:8). Probably the same who tried to prevent Jehoiakim from burning the roll of Jeremiah’s prophecies (Jer. 26:22; 36:12). (2.) Ezra 8:16.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Jeremiah 26:22
Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor along with some other men.
- Jeremiah 36:12
he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
- Jeremiah 36:25
Even though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.