Bible Word Study
עֻזִּי
ʻUzzîy · Uzzi, the name of six Israelites
עֻזִּי
Uzzi, the name of six Israelites
Definition
Uzzi is a proper masculine name meaning 'my strength' or 'forceful one,' derived from the Hebrew root for strength. It is borne by six distinct individuals in the Old Testament, primarily appearing in genealogical lists. These include a chief priest (1 Chronicles 6:5-6, 51), several tribal leaders from Issachar and Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:2-3, 7; 1 Chronicles 9:8), and an ancestor of Ezra the scribe (Ezra 7:4). The name consistently signifies a person of prominence or leadership within their family or community.
Biblical Usage
The name Uzzi is used exclusively in genealogical and historical records within the books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. It appears in lists detailing priestly lineages (1 Chronicles 6:5-6), tribal genealogies (1 Chronicles 7:2-3, 7), and post-exilic resettlement records (1 Chronicles 9:8; Ezra 7:4; Nehemiah 11:22). The pattern shows it is a name associated with establishing legitimate descent and continuity within Israel's priestly and tribal leadership structures.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root עָזַז (ʿāzaz, H5810), meaning 'to be strong' or 'to prevail.' Uzzi is a short form or hypocoristicon of a longer name, likely meaning 'Yahweh is my strength' (cf. עֻזִּיָּה, Uzziah). It shares this root with words like עֹז (ʿoz, H5797), meaning 'strength' or 'might.'
Semantic Range
As a name meaning 'my strength,' it points to a key theological theme in the Hebrew Bible: that true strength and enduring leadership come from God. When borne by priests and leaders, the name serves as a tacit reminder that their authority and capability are derived from divine empowerment, not personal prowess. This enriches reading by highlighting the implicit faith statements embedded in Israelite names. In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive or theophoric (containing a god's name). Uzzi, as an abbreviated form, reflects a common naming practice. Its meaning, 'my strength,' would have conveyed parental hopes for the child's character and destiny, associating them with resilience and power, desirable traits for community leaders and priests. עֻזִּיָּה (Uzziyyah, H5818) — A longer, more formal variant of the same name, explicitly incorporating the divine name (Yah). עָז (ʿaz, H5794) — A noun meaning 'strong, fierce, powerful,' describing a quality rather than a personal name. עֹז (ʿoz, H5797) — A noun meaning 'strength, might,' often referring to the power of God.
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]