"gift of God"
Zabdiel
A rare Hebrew gift-of-God name from King David's army
Meaning & Origin
"God has given"
The Story of Zabdiel
Zabdiel is an ancient Hebrew name meaning 'gift of God' or 'God has given,' composed of 'Zabdi' (gift, portion) and 'El' (God). It appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of a military officer in King David's army, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 27:2 as the father of Jashobeam, head of one of David's elite warrior groups. The name belongs to the tradition of Hebrew theophoric names expressing gratitude for divine blessing.
Zabdiel remains extremely rare in modern usage, appealing primarily to Christian families seeking deeply biblical, uncommon names from the Hebrew scriptures. Its rarity is its appeal — parents choosing Zabdiel are making a strong statement about valuing ancient heritage over trendy familiarity.
In the Hebrew Bible, Zabdiel appears in the Chronicles as part of King David's military hierarchy, giving the name a royal and martial biblical pedigree. The name also appeared in early American history with Zabdiel Boylston, the Boston physician who introduced smallpox inoculation to America in 1721.
Fun Facts
- Zabdiel Boylston (1679-1766) was the first American to inoculate patients against smallpox, saving hundreds of lives during Boston's 1721 epidemic
- In 1 Chronicles 27, King David organized his army into 12 divisions of 24,000 men each — Zabdiel's son Jashobeam led the first division
Zabdiel in Other Languages
Famous People Named Zabdiel
Zabdiel Adams
Religious
1739
American Congregationalist minister and cousin of US President John Adams
Zabdiel Boylston
Scientist
1679
Boston physician who performed the first smallpox inoculations in the Americas in 1721, saving hundreds during a deadly ...
Boston physician who performed the first smallpox inoculations in the Americas in 1721, saving hundreds during a deadly epidemic
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #1,505
- Total SSA Count
- 119
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew Christian American
- Pronunciation
- Hard
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Low
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Zabdiel
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About the Name Zabdiel
Zabdiel is a boy name with Hebrew, Christian, and American origins . The name means "gift of God" in Hebrew .
Zabdiel is currently ranked #1,505 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Zabdiel has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Zabdiel include Zab, Zabi, and Diel. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.