Meaning of NATHAN

"he (God) has given."
(a) Son of Atai and father of Zabad, of the house of Jerameel, of the family of Hezron, of the tribe of Judah (1 Chron. 2:36).

(b) Notable prophet who lived in the time of David and Solomon. David submitted the Temple construction project to Nathan.

The prophet gave his consent, but God ordered him to let the king know that he would not be the one to have the honor of erecting the sacred building (2 Sam. 7: 1-17; 1 Chron. 17: 1-15) .

Later Nathan had the mission to reproach David for his adultery and the murder of Uriah the Hittite. To convince the king of sin, the prophet used the parable of the little lamb (2 Sam. 12:1-15; cf. Ps. 51:1, 2).

As a prophet, Nathan gave Solomon the name Jedidiah ("beloved of the Lord") (2 Sam. 12:25). Assisted by Nathan and Gad, David organized the musical sanctuary service (2 Chron. 29:25).

Adonijah, eager to usurp the throne destined for Solomon, did not inform the prophet, realizing that Nathan was extremely faithful to David's will (1 Kings 1:8-10). The man of God advised Bathsheba to immediately notify the king, promising his help.

David then ordered Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, chief of the bodyguard, to proclaim Solomon king (1 Kings 1:11-45). Nathan wrote the history of David's kingdom and recorded a portion of Solomon's acts (1 Chr. 29:29; 2 Chr. 9:29). His book has not reached us.

(c) Father of one of David's mighty men and brother of another hero of this king (2 Sam. 23:36; 1 Chron. 11:38). (See IGAL.)

(d) The third of David's sons who were born in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:14). He, or perhaps the prophet, was the father of Azariah and Zabud, Solomon's official (1 Kings 4:5). His family is mentioned in Zech. 12:12. He figures in the direct line from David to Jesus (Lk. 3:31), while Joseph, Mary's husband, descends from David through Solomon (Mt. 1:6).

(e) One of the princes whom Ezra summoned near the river Ahava (Ezra 8:16).

(f) Son of Bani; Ezra persuaded him to send away his foreign wife (Ezra 10:39).