Bible Word Study
אַחְזַי
ʼAchzay · Achzai, an Israelite
אַחְזַי
Achzai, an Israelite
Definition
Achzai (אַחְזַי) is a proper name referring to an Israelite priest mentioned in Nehemiah 11:13. The name is derived from the Hebrew root אָחַז (ʼāḥaz), meaning 'to seize' or 'to grasp,' so the name likely signifies 'seizer' or 'one who takes hold.' In the biblical context, Achzai is identified as the son of Meshillemoth and the father of Amashsai, serving among the priests who resettled Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. This single reference highlights his role within the priestly lineage during the restoration period.
Biblical Usage
This name appears only once in the Old Testament, in Nehemiah 11:13, within a list of priests and Levites who lived in Jerusalem after the return from exile. The context is administrative and genealogical, documenting the repopulation of the city and the reestablishment of religious leadership. No other usage patterns exist, as it is a unique personal name.
Etymology
The name Achzai comes from the Hebrew root אָחַז (H270, ʼāḥaz), which means 'to seize,' 'to grasp,' or 'to take hold.' It is a derivative form, likely functioning as a personal name that conveys an active characteristic, such as 'seizer.' Related names include Ahaz (אָחָז, H271), a king of Judah, sharing the same root concept of grasping or holding.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaningful significance, reflecting attributes, hopes, or divine actions. Achzai, meaning 'seizer,' may have been given to express strength or determination, possibly in a spiritual or physical sense. As a priestly name recorded in Nehemiah, it underscores the importance of genealogical records in maintaining priestly legitimacy and continuity after the exile, a key concern for post-exilic Jewish identity. Ahaz (אָחָז, H271) — A king of Judah, sharing the same root meaning 'he has seized' but used as a different proper name.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]