Ὀζίας

Uzziah

Definition

Ὀζίας (Uzziah) refers to a king of Judah who reigned for 52 years, from approximately 785 to 746 B.C. He is also known as Azariah in the Old Testament (2 Kings 15:1-7, 2 Chronicles 26). In the New Testament, his significance is solely genealogical, appearing in the genealogy of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. He is listed as the son of Joram (or Jehoram) and the father of Jotham, continuing the Davidic line (Matthew 1:8-9). His reign is notably marked by initial prosperity and military success, followed by divine judgment for usurping priestly duties, resulting in him being struck with leprosy.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in the Gospel of Matthew, specifically within the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:8 and 1:9. Its usage is strictly as a proper name identifying a specific ancestor in the royal lineage from Abraham to Christ. There is no narrative or theological development around the name itself in the New Testament; it serves a structural, list-making function to establish Jesus's Davidic heritage.

Etymology

The Greek Ὀζίας (Ozias) is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name עֻזִּיָּה (ʿUzziyyāh), meaning 'Yahweh is my strength' or 'my strength is Yahweh.' It is the Greek form of the name more commonly rendered in English as Uzziah. The Hebrew name is a compound of עֹז (ʿoz, 'strength') and יָה (Yah, a shortened form of Yahweh). In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), this king is also sometimes referred to as Αζαριας (Azarias), from the Hebrew עֲזַרְיָה (ʿAzaryāh), 'Yahweh has helped.'

Semantic Range

Uzziah's inclusion in Matthew's genealogy (Matthew 1:8-9) is theologically significant for establishing Jesus's legal right to the Davidic throne, a crucial component of his identity as the Messiah. His story, detailed in 2 Chronicles 26, provides a backdrop of God's covenant faithfulness to David's line despite human failure. Uzziah's pride and subsequent punishment for encroaching on the priestly office (2 Chronicles 26:16-21) serve as a sobering lesson on the dangers of overstepping God-ordained roles and boundaries, contrasting with Jesus's perfect fulfillment of both kingly and priestly offices.

In the original cultural setting, a name like Uzziah, declaring 'Yahweh is my strength,' was a statement of faith and identity within the covenant community of Judah. As a king, his long reign would have been remembered as a period of national strength and prosperity, followed by the cultural stigma and isolation associated with leprosy. His dual naming (Uzziah/Azariah) in different biblical books reflects common ancient Near Eastern practices where kings could have multiple throne names or where scribal traditions varied.

Αζαριας (Azarias, G180) — This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Azariah, which refers to the same king of Judah (Uzziah) in the Old Testament historical books, highlighting the variability in transliteration of Hebrew names into Greek.

Word Details

Scripture References