Nadab meaning

Meaning

Willing, Volunteer, Generous

Etymology

From the verb נדב (nadab), to willingly give.

Related names

• Via נדב (nadab): Abinadab, Ahinadab, Amminadab, Ben-abinadab, Jonadab, Nedabiah, Nodab

There are four men named Nadab in the Bible:

• The eldest of four sons of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and Elisheba the daughter of Amminadab (Exodus 6:23). Nadab and his brother Abihu received the astounding honor of being among the 74 men invited to approach and behold YHWH on the mountain (Exodus 24:1). Aaron and all four of his sons were inaugurated as the first priests of Israel (Exodus 28:1), but Nadab and Abihu famously offered "strange fire" to the Lord, which apparently was a crime so severe that they were to perish before they could have sired children (Exodus 10:1-2, Numbers 3:4). Much has been said about this execution, but it seems to be on a par with the deaths of Adam and Eve and that of Uzzah, who touched the Ark with the best intentions (1 Kings 6:7). It seems that some of us are born into a situation that brings us very close to the machinery of God's plan of salvation. If God would allow that machinery to be thwarted, we'd all die. The rule is simple: when God says: "don't disrespect it, or you'll die," and you do it anyway, you'll die. There's really nothing unfair about that.
• The son and successor of king Jeroboam of Israel (1 Kings 14:20). King Nadab was an evil king, who reigned over Israel for two years, until he came to his untimely demise by the hand of Baasha, the son of Ahijah of Issachar, who slew him during the siege of Gibbethon (1 Kings 15:27).
• A son of Shammai, son of Onam of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:28).
• One of the sons of Jeiel, who lived in Gibeon of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:30).

The name Nadab comes from the verb נדב (nadab), meaning to willingly give, incite or impel:

There are quite a few ways to go about the name Nadab. For a meaning of the name Nadab, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads Willing, Liberal. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Volunteer, and adds: "i.e. willing". BDB Theological Dictionary has Generous, Noble.