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Zadok

maleUnited Monarchy

Meaning: “Righteous

The faithful priest who stayed loyal to David through Absalom’s revolt and anointed Solomon king; his descendants held the high priesthood for centuries.

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Biography

Zadok was a priest of the line of Eleazar who rose to prominence under David and became the founder of the enduring high-priestly line. He served alongside Abiathar during David's reign (2 Samuel 8:17).

Loyal in crisis

When Absalom rebelled, Zadok remained steadfastly loyal, carrying the ark out with the fleeing David until the king sent it — and Zadok — back into Jerusalem to serve as his eyes and ears (2 Samuel 15:24–29).

Anointing Solomon

At the end of David's life, when Adonijah tried to seize the throne, Zadok sided with Solomon and personally anointed him king (1 Kings 1:39). For his faithfulness, Zadok and his descendants held the high priesthood; Ezekiel's temple vision honors "the sons of Zadok" as those who kept their charge when others went astray (Ezekiel 44:15).

Life Timeline

979 BC

Stays loyal to David, guarding the ark in Absalom's revolt

2 Samuel 15:24
971 BC

Anoints Solomon king

1 Kings 1:39

On the Bible timeline

Zadok belongs to the The United Monarchy era (c. 1050 – 930 BC).

  1. c. 1010 – 970 BCDavid's Reign
  2. c. 966 BCSolomon's Temple Built
  3. c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides

Themes & lessons from Zadok

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Zadok appears.

Solomon11×Ahimaaz6×Civil Service6×Ahitub5×Judah, the Tribe Of5×Officer, Civil4×Throne4×Aaron3×Priests3×Readings, Select3×Scribe3×Scribes3×Seraiah3×Cushi2×Hushai2×Ithamar2×Lot, The2×Shemaiah2×

People they appear with

Abiathar14×
David8×
Nathan6×
Ahimelech5×
Solomon5×
Jonathan2×
Ithamar2×
Absalom1×
Ahithophel1×
Hushai1×
Joab1×
Adonijah1×
Shimei1×
Aaron1×

Places in their story

Gibeon1×

Things in their story

Ark of the Covenant3×

Scripture Appearances

37 verses in 3 books
2 Samuel13 verses

2 Samuel 8:17

And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; scribe: or, secretary

2 Samuel 15:24

And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

2 Samuel 15:25

And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

2 Samuel 15:27

The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

2 Samuel 15:29

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

2 Samuel 15:35

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

2 Samuel 15:36

Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

2 Samuel 17:15

Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

2 Samuel 18:19

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. avenged: Heb. judged him from the hand, etc

2 Samuel 18:22

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? howsoever: Heb. be what may ready: or, convenient

2 Samuel 18:27

And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. Me: Heb. I see the running

2 Samuel 19:11

And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

2 Samuel 20:25

And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

1 Kings11 verses

1 Kings 1:8

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

1 Kings 1:26

But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

1 Kings 1:32

And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

1 Kings 1:34

And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

1 Kings 1:38

So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

1 Kings 1:39

And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

1 Kings 1:44

And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:

1 Kings 1:45

And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.

1 Kings 2:35

And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.

1 Kings 4:2

And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest, priest: or, chief officer

1 Kings 4:4

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

1 Chronicles13 verses

1 Chronicles 6:8

And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,

1 Chronicles 6:12

And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum, Shallum: or, Meshullam

1 Chronicles 6:53

Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

1 Chronicles 9:11

And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;

1 Chronicles 12:28

And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.

1 Chronicles 15:11

And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,

1 Chronicles 16:39

And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,

1 Chronicles 18:16

And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe; Abimelech: called Ahimelech Sam. Shavsha: called Seraiah in Sam. and Shisha, I.King.4.2.

1 Chronicles 24:3

And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.

1 Chronicles 24:6

And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. principal: Heb. house of the father

1 Chronicles 24:31

These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.

1 Chronicles 27:17

Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:

1 Chronicles 29:22

And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.

Frequently asked about Zadok

Who was Zadok in the Bible?

The faithful priest who stayed loyal to David through Absalom’s revolt and anointed Solomon king; his descendants held the high priesthood for centuries.

What does the name Zadok mean?

The name Zadok means “Righteous”.

What did Zadok do in the Bible?

Zadok served as high priest, of the tribe of Levi.

Where does Zadok appear in the Bible?

Zadok is mentioned 37 times across 3 books: 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles.

What can we learn from Zadok?

The story of Zadok touches on themes of solomon, ahimaaz, civil service, ahitub — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Zadok's life.

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