Bible Figure
Ethan
male human biblical character in 1 Kings 4:31 &c
Ethan was a renowned wise man of Israel, apparently associated with the Ezrahites, and a man of that name is credited in the heading of Psalm 89.
Biography
First Kings 4:31 says Solomon was wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite and several other celebrated wise men, showing Ethan's reputation as a standard of wisdom. The superscription of Psalm 89 attributes that psalm to Ethan the Ezrahite. First Chronicles also contains men named Ethan in Levitical genealogies, and it is not certain that every occurrence refers to the same individual.
Biblical Significance
Ethan is significant as a benchmark for wisdom in the account of Solomon and as the named author in the canonical heading of Psalm 89. Care should be taken not to merge distinct men named Ethan without evidence.