Huldah
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Huldah in the Bible?
Huldah was a prophetess residing in the Mishneh district of Jerusalem during the late 7th century BCE, identified as the wife of Shallum the guardian of the wardrobe. When the Book of the Law was discovered in the Temple, King Josiah, along with high priest Hilkiah and other officials, consulted her to interpret the text, and she delivered a divine oracle confirming the judgment against Judah while promising peace for the king.
SIGNIFICANCE
Huldah's account demonstrates that women held authoritative religious roles in the Judean monarchy, as her prophetic word was accepted as authoritative by the highest levels of the state and priesthood, thereby validating the theological crisis and subsequent reforms triggered by the discovery of the law code.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.