Meaning & Origin
The nephew of King David, and son of Zeruiah
Joab is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God is father' or 'Yahweh is father' — from the Hebrew Jo (a form of Yahweh) and ab (father). In the Hebrew Bible, Joab was the nephew of King David and commander of his armies — a powerful, loyal but sometimes ruthless military leader.
Joab is one of the more unusual biblical names in current use, appealing to parents who have exhausted more common Hebrew names and are drawn to the richness of the less-explored Old Testament roster. Its compact two-syllable sound and the directness of its meaning — God is my father — give it both intimacy and faith-rooted depth.