3388. Yerusha or Yerushah
Lexical Summary
Yerusha or Yerushah: Inheritance, possession

Original Word: יְרוּשָׁא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Yruwsha'
Pronunciation: yeh-roo-SHAH
Phonetic Spelling: (yer-oo-shaw')
KJV: Jerusha, Jerushah
NASB: Jerusha, Jerushah
Word Origin: [feminine passive participle of H3423 (יָרַשׁ יָרֵשׁ - possess)]

1. possessed
2. Jerusha or Jerushah, as Israelitess

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jerusha, Jerushah

Or Yaruwshah {yer-oo-shaw'} feminine passive participle of yarash; possessed; Jerusha or Jerushah, as Israelitess -- Jerusha, Jerushah.

see HEBREW yarash

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yarash
Definition
"taken possession of," mother of King Jotham
NASB Translation
Jerusha (1), Jerushah (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
יְרוּשָׁא, יְרוּשָׁה proper name, feminine taken possession of i.e. married?) mother of king Jotham: יְרוּשָׁא 2 Kings 15:33 = יְרוּשָׁה2Chronicles 27:1.

Topical Lexicon
Name and Meaning

Jerusha (alternatively Jerushah) carries the sense of “possession” or “inheritance,” a fitting nuance for a woman whose son inherited the throne of David. The name quietly testifies to God’s covenant promise that the dynasty would remain in Judah until the advent of the Messiah (2 Samuel 7:12–16).

Biblical Occurrences

The name appears twice, each time identifying the mother of King Jotham and the wife of King Uzziah (also called Azariah):
2 Kings 15:33 — “His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.”
2 Chronicles 27:1 — “His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok.”

Historical Setting

Jerusha lived in the mid-eighth century B.C., during a period of relative stability in Judah. Her husband, Uzziah, began well but was later struck with leprosy for usurping priestly privileges (2 Chronicles 26:16–21). Their son Jotham succeeded the throne while his father remained isolated. Prophets such as Isaiah, Hosea, and Amos ministered during or near this era, addressing both the moral failures and future hope of God’s people.

Priestly Lineage and Significance

Jerusha is explicitly called “daughter of Zadok,” linking her to the high-priestly line that traced back to the faithful Zadok of David’s day. This detail highlights a rare convergence of royal and priestly bloodlines in one household. Jotham, therefore, embodied both the kingly and priestly heritage, prefiguring the ultimate union of the two offices in Jesus Christ (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:17).

Spiritual Themes of Inheritance

1. Covenant continuity: Jerusha’s name itself reminds readers that every generation inherits not only land and kingship but also covenant responsibilities (Deuteronomy 6:6–9).
2. Maternal influence: Although Scripture assigns Jerusha no direct speech, her presence in the royal record affirms the formative role mothers play in shaping leaders. Jotham “did what was right in the sight of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 27:2), suggesting a godly upbringing that counterbalanced Uzziah’s later failure.
3. Righteous remnant: In a nation sliding toward idolatry, Jerusha’s Zadokite background underscores God’s preservation of a faithful lineage through which He would advance His redemptive plan.

Ministry Applications

• Discipleship in the home: Jerusha models the quiet yet crucial ministry of nurturing the next generation for faithful service. Parents, and particularly mothers, can draw encouragement from her understated legacy.
• Integrity of leadership: The combination of royal authority and priestly heritage in Jotham illustrates that effective leadership marries governance with holiness. Christian leaders are called to similar wholeness (Titus 1:7–9).
• Hope amid decline: Even when national leaders falter, God raises individuals like Jerusha and Jotham to maintain a testimony of righteousness, assuring believers today that the Lord’s purposes will stand.

Summary

Though mentioned only twice, Jerusha’s strategic placement in the biblical narrative underscores her role in God’s unfolding plan: a woman of priestly descent whose son reigned righteously in Judah. Her life affirms the themes of covenant inheritance, godly parenthood, and the seamless integration of priestly and royal hopes ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
יְרוּשָׁ֖א יְרוּשָׁ֖ה ירושא ירושה yə·rū·šā yə·rū·šāh yərūšā yərūšāh yeruSha yeruShah
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Kings 15:33
HEB: וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ יְרוּשָׁ֖א בַּת־ צָדֽוֹק׃
NAS: name [was] Jerusha the daughter
KJV: name [was] Jerusha, the daughter
INT: name and his mother's Jerusha the daughter of Zadok

2 Chronicles 27:1
HEB: וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ יְרוּשָׁ֖ה בַּת־ צָדֽוֹק׃
NAS: name was Jerushah the daughter
KJV: name also [was] Jerushah, the daughter
INT: name and his mother's was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3388
2 Occurrences


yə·rū·šā — 1 Occ.
yə·rū·šāh — 1 Occ.

3387
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