"The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously."
Jehu Meaning in the Bible
Jehu
Jehu means "He is the LORD; The LORD is He", a boy's name of Hebrew origin. Jehu appears in the King James Bible, and 2 Kings 9:20 is the passage most often tied to it. Jehu — 'He is the LORD' — teaches that zealous action without wholehearted devotion is incomplete obedience. Destroying one idol while keeping another is not true faithfulness.
Is Jehu in the Bible?
Yes — Jehu appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Kings 9:20.
Jehu is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "He is the LORD; The LORD is He". Jehu means "He is the LORD" in Hebrew. He was the fiercely zealous king of Israel whom God anointed through the prophet Elisha to destroy the house of Ahab and eradicate Baal worship from Israel.
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What does Jehu mean in the Bible?
Jehu means "He is the LORD; The LORD is He" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Jehu means "He is the LORD" in Hebrew. He was the fiercely zealous king of Israel whom God anointed through the prophet Elisha to destroy the house of Ahab and eradicate Baal worship from Israel.
Jehu was famous for his driving — "the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously." This expression became proverbial for reckless speed. He carried out his mission with devastating efficiency, killing King Joram, Queen Jezebel, seventy sons of Ahab, and all the priests of Baal in a single campaign.
His most dramatic act was the destruction of Baal's temple. Jehu pretended to be a Baal worshipper, gathered all Baal's prophets and priests into the temple for a great sacrifice, then had them all killed and the temple demolished, turning it into "a draught house" (latrine).
Yet Jehu's zeal was incomplete: "Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart." He eliminated Baal worship but kept Jeroboam's golden calves, demonstrating that partial obedience, even when zealous, falls short of God's standard.
Where does Jehu appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Jehu is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with 2 Kings 9:20. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam."
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Which books of the Bible mention Jehu?
Jehu is mentioned across 4 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Jehu?
Jehu — 'He is the LORD' — teaches that zealous action without wholehearted devotion is incomplete obedience. Destroying one idol while keeping another is not true faithfulness.
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Promises connected to the meaning of the name Jehu:
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What names are related to Jehu?
Names like Jehu
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "He is the LORD; The LORD is He" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Jehu
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Jehu
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Jehu name meaning: frequently asked questions
Common questions about the name Jehu
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Jehu?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Jehu?
You can read every verse where Jehu appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.