Who was Neariah in the Bible?

Neariah was a descendant of King David, listed as the son of Shemaiah and the father of three sons: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam. He is mentioned in the genealogical records of the tribe of Judah, specifically in 1 Chronicles 3:22-23.

Why is Neariah's lineage significant?

Neariah's significance lies in his connection to the royal line of David, which was crucial for maintaining the genealogical record of the tribe of Judah. This lineage was important for establishing messianic hope, as the Messiah was prophesied to come from David's line (Isaiah 11:1).

What do we know about Neariah's life and family?

The Bible provides only genealogical details about Neariah, recording him as a son of Shemaiah and the father of Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam. No specific events from his life are recorded, placing him among the many descendants of David who preserved the royal lineage after the exile (1 Chronicles 3:22-24).

Neariah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Neariah, a descendant of King David, was the son of Shemaiah and had three sons: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam.

Neariah

Biography

Neariah, son of Shemaiah, appears in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 3:22-23 as a descendant of the royal Davidic line through King Jeconiah. Living during the period of the divided monarchy and its aftermath, Neariah occupied a significant place in the post-exilic genealogy that traced the house of David through generations of exile and return. He fathered three sons, Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, thereby continuing the Davidic lineage during a period when the throne of Judah lay vacant. Though no narrative accounts describe his deeds or character, his position within the carefully preserved royal genealogy indicates his importance to the chronicler's theological project of demonstrating God's faithfulness to the Davidic covenant even through national catastrophe and displacement.

Significance

Neariah's inclusion in the post-exilic Davidic genealogy of 1 Chronicles 3 serves a profound theological purpose. The meticulous preservation of David's lineage through figures like Neariah demonstrated that God's covenant promise to David, that his throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16), remained intact despite the devastation of exile. Each generation recorded, however obscure, represented a link in the chain leading ultimately to the Messiah. Neariah's three sons ensured the continuation of this sacred bloodline during one of Israel's darkest periods. His presence in the genealogical record reminds readers that God works through ordinary, unnamed faithfulness, preserving his redemptive purposes across generations even when royal power has been stripped away.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherShemaiahChildElioenaiChildHezekiahChildAzrikam

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 3:22 1Chr 3:23

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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