Bible Name Meaning Tool — Search Any Name (KJV)

Joab

Pronounced JO-ab

boy

✓ In the King James Bible — Yes — Joab appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Samuel 18:14.

Meaning: "The LORD is father"
Origin: Hebrew

Joab means "the LORD is father" in Hebrew. He was David's nephew and the commander of his army — one of the most skilled but morally complex military leaders in Scripture. Joab's loyalty to David was fierce but sometimes expressed through ruthless pragmatism. Joab demonstrated brilliant military strategy in capturing Jerusalem by exploiting its water shaft. He was David's most capable general, winning numerous battles and consolidating the kingdom. Yet he also committed unauthorized murders — killing Abner and Absalom against David's wishes. Joab represents the tension between effectiveness and ethics. His military genius served David well, but his willingness to act outside moral boundaries ultimately led to his downfall. Solomon ordered his execution, fulfilling David's dying instructions.

Spiritual meaning

Joab's story warns that loyalty and competence without moral integrity lead to tragic ends. His name — 'the LORD is father' — ironically points to the divine authority he often circumvented with his own judgment.

Related verses (KJV)

"Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom."
2 Samuel 18:14 (KJV) →
"And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were."
2 Samuel 11:16-17 (KJV) →

Full page for Joab

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