273. Achzay

Lexical Summary

Achzay: Achzai

Original Word: אַחְזַי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Achzay
Pronunciation: ahk-ZAI
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-zah'ee)
KJV: Ahasai
NASB: Ahzai
Word Origin: [from H270 (אָחַז - seized)]

1. seizer
2. Achzai, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Ahasai

From 'achaz; seizer; Achzai, an Israelite -- Ahasai.

see HEBREW 'achaz

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from achaz and Yah
Definition
"Yah has grasped," an Isr. name
NASB Translation
Ahzai (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אֲחַזְיָ֫הוּ, אֲחַזְיָה, אַחְזַי

proper name, masculine (Yah(u) hath grasped; ᵐ5 Ὀχοζ(ε)ιας 1 Kings 22:52 etc., compare Lag^{BN 53}) **compare Arabic VIII, + = adopt, hence perhaps ׳י hath adopted.

1 king of Israel, son of Ahab 1 Kings 22:40,50,52; 2 Kings 1:18; 2Chronicles 20:37 (אֲחַזְיָהוּ); + 2 Kings 1:2; 2Chronicles 20:35 (אֲחַזְיָה).

2 king of Judah, son of Joram 2 Kings 8:24,25; 2 Kings 9:21; 2 Kings 10:13; 2 Kings 11:1; 2 Kings 12:19; 2 Kings 13:1; 2 Kings 14:13; 1 Chronicles 3:11; 1 Chronicles 22:1 15t. 2Kings, 1Chronicles (all אֲחַזְיָהוּ); 2 Kings 9:16,23,27,29; 2 Kings 11:2 (אֲחַזְיָה).

3 אַחְזַי a priest Nehemiah 11:13 (for which יַחְזֵרָה 1 Chronicles 9:12 see Sm^{Listen, Tafel}).

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Setting and Occurrence

Ahzai appears once, in Nehemiah 11:13, within the roster of priests who settled in Jerusalem after the exile. The verse identifies him as an ancestor in the lineage of Amashsai, locating his family within the priestly division of Immer.

Historical Context

Nehemiah 11 records the repopulation of Jerusalem during the Persian period. Families were chosen by lot to reside in the city so that worship and civil life could flourish again at the covenant center. Ahzai’s family is listed among those who willingly embraced this responsibility, reflecting a commitment to restore proper temple ministry in the rebuilt city (Nehemiah 11:1–2).

Priestly Lineage

The genealogy—“Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer” (Nehemiah 11:13)—links Ahzai to the sons of Immer, one of the original priestly houses (1 Chronicles 24:14). Descendants of Immer returned from Babylon (Ezra 2:37; Nehemiah 7:40), and some participated in the reform under Ezra (Ezra 10:20). Ahzai therefore stands in a continuous priestly heritage that survived exile, illustrating God’s preservation of ordained ministry.

Role in Post-Exilic Worship

Though the text is brief, Ahzai’s placement in the record signals several themes:
• Continuity of ordained service—The priesthood did not die in captivity; it re-emerged, enabling sacrifices and teaching to resume (Ezra 3:2–6).
• Covenant fidelity—Priestly families like Ahzai’s authenticated the legitimacy of temple rituals, ensuring that worship conformed to the Law of Moses (Nehemiah 8:1–8).
• Communal leadership—The priests listed in Nehemiah 11 functioned as heads of households, providing spiritual oversight for the residents of Jerusalem.

Theological Significance

1. God safeguards His redemptive structures. By tracing Amashsai back to Ahzai, Scripture demonstrates that God preserves the offices necessary for covenant life (Malachi 2:4–7).
2. Faithfulness in obscurity. Ahzai’s name surfaces only once, yet his obedience influences generations that follow. This illustrates how seemingly minor acts of faithfulness become integral to God’s larger account (Hebrews 6:10).
3. Corporate responsibility. The relocation of priestly families underlines the call for believers to prioritize communal worship over personal comfort (Psalm 122:1).

Implications for Ministry Today

• Uphold ministerial continuity: Churches benefit from honoring doctrinal heritage while serving contemporary needs, just as Ahzai’s line upheld priestly tradition amid new circumstances.
• Value every servant: Hidden contributors sustain the work of God; recognizing them encourages humility and perseverance (1 Corinthians 15:58).
• Embed families in worship life: Ahzai’s household context affirms that spiritual leadership often begins in the home and radiates into the congregation.

Summary

Ahzai, though briefly mentioned, embodies the post-exilic priesthood’s resilience and the Lord’s commitment to maintain worship according to His word. His legacy urges modern believers to cherish faithful lineage, serve sacrificially, and trust that God records every act done for His name.

Forms and Transliterations

אַחְזַ֥י אחזי ’aḥ·zay ’aḥzay achZai

Englishman's Concordance

Nehemiah 11:13
HEB: עֲזַרְאֵ֛ל בֶּן־ אַחְזַ֥י בֶּן־ מְשִׁלֵּמ֖וֹת
NAS: the son of Ahzai, the son
KJV: the son of Ahasai, the son
INT: of Azarel the son of Ahzai the son of Meshillemoth

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 273
1 Occurrence

’aḥ·zay — 1 Occ.