Hadoram

Joktan's son and descendant of Shem

Also known as: Adoniram

The patriarchsPatriarchc. 2300–2000 BC

Hadoram is a biblical figure mentioned as one of Joktan's sons and thus a descendant of Shem, Noah's son. He is part of the table of nations in Genesis and 1 Chronicles, representing one of the Arab tribes that settled in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The name Hadoram also appears in other contexts in the Bible, notably as an official under King Rehoboam.

Family

Key events

Mentioned in the Table of Nations

Hadoram is listed as one of Joktan's thirteen sons in the Table of Nations in Genesis, which describes the distribution of nations after the flood.

26Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
וְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃ ‬
27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
וְאֶת־הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־אוּזָ֖ל וְאֶת־דִּקְלָֽה׃ ‬

Joktan's Sons and Their Settlements

Joktan's sons, including Hadoram, settled in the mountainous regions to the east, from Mesha toward Sephar. This describes the geographical spread of these tribes.

29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
וְאֶת־אוֹפִ֥ר וְאֶת־חֲוִילָ֖ה וְאֶת־יוֹבָ֑ב כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י יָקְטָֽן׃ ‬
30Their settlements stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, the hill country of the east.
וֽ͏ַיְהִ֥י מוֹשָׁבָ֖ם מִמֵּשָׁ֑א בֹּאֲכָ֥ה סְפָ֖רָה הַ֥ר הַקֶּֽדֶם׃ ‬

Repeated in the Genealogies of Chronicles

Hadoram is mentioned again in the genealogy in 1 Chronicles as part of Shem's descendants through Eber and Joktan, confirming his place in Israel's historical tradition.

21Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
וְאֶת־הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־אוּזָ֖ל וְאֶת־דִּקְלָֽה׃ ‬

Shem's Lineage

Through his father Joktan and grandfather Eber, Hadoram belongs to the Semitic branch of Noah's descendants, which is an important part of the Bible's family history.

21Sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; he was the father of all the sons of Eber.
וּלְשֵׁ֥ם יֻלַּ֖ד גַּם־ה֑וּא אֲבִי֙ כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֵ֔בֶר אֲחִ֖י יֶ֥פֶת הַגָּדֽוֹל׃ ‬
22The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
בְּנֵ֥י שֵׁ֖ם עֵילָ֣ם וְאַשּׁ֑וּר וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד וְל֥וּד וֽ͏ַאֲרָֽם׃ ‬
23The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
וּבְנֵ֖י אֲרָ֑ם ע֥וּץ וְח֖וּל וְגֶ֥תֶר וָמַֽשׁ׃ ‬
24Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber.
וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד יָלַ֣ד אֶת־שָׁ֑לַח וְשֶׁ֖לַח יָלַ֥ד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר׃ ‬
25Two sons were born to Eber. One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided; his brother's name was Joktan.
וּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הֽ͏ָאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן׃ ‬

Joktan's Place in Eber's Line

Eber had two sons: Peleg, through whom Abraham's line continues, and Joktan, who became the father of Hadoram and his brothers. This shows the branching out of the Semitic peoples.

25Two sons were born to Eber. One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided; his brother's name was Joktan.
וּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הֽ͏ָאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן׃ ‬
26Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
וְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (8)