Lexical Summary Amaryahu or Amaryah: Amariah Original Word: אֲמַרְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Amariah Or prolonged tamaryahuw {am-ar-yaw'-hoo}; from 'amar and Yahh; Jah has said (i.e. Promised); Amarjah, the name of nine Israelites -- Amariah. see HEBREW 'amar see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom amar and Yah Definition "Yah has promised," the name of several Isr. NASB Translation Amariah (16). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲמַרְי֫הוּ אֲמַרְיָה proper name, masculine (Yah(u) hath promised, compare Palmyrene אֶמרשמשא Sabean יתעאמר) long form only 1 Chronicles 24:23; 2Chronicles 19:11; 31:15. 1 a Levite 1 Chronicles 23:19; 1 Chronicles 24:23 (in David's time), compare 1 Chronicles 5:33 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 6:37; Ezra 7:3; see also 2 1 Chronicles 5:37 (twice in verse); also 3 Ezra 10:42. 4 chief priest under Jehosh. 2 Chronicles 19:11. 5 Levite under Hezekiah2Chronicles 31:15. 6 son of Hezekiah & great-grandfather of Zephaniah Zephaniah 1:1. 7 a priest Nehemiah 10:4; Nehemiah 12:2,13. 8 a man of Judah Nehemiah 11:4. Topical Lexicon Overview The name Amariah is borne by several men whose lives and ministries span the pre-exilic, exilic, and post-exilic eras. Together they illustrate the LORD’s preservation of a faithful priestly line, His provision of godly leadership during national reforms, and His grace in restoring worship after the exile. Across sixteen Old Testament occurrences, every Amariah is linked to temple service, judicial oversight, or covenant renewal, so the name forms a narrative thread of priestly faithfulness from the days of Aaron to the generation of Zephaniah. Priestly Lineage and Continuity (1 Chronicles 6; Ezra 7) The Chronicler twice records an Amariah in the high-priestly genealogy: These parallel lines likely reflect successive generations in the house of Zadok, underscoring an unbroken priestly succession through turbulent centuries. Ezra traces his own ancestry through this same Amariah (Ezra 7:3), establishing his credentials to teach the Law and to lead spiritual reform under Artaxerxes. By rooting Ezra’s authority in the faithful service of earlier priests named Amariah, Scripture highlights the covenantal link between past and present leadership. Levites of Hebron: Organization for Temple Service (1 Chronicles 23–24) A second Amariah appears as the “second” son of Hebron (1 Chronicles 23:19; 24:23). Under David’s reforms, the sons of Hebron were assigned oversight of temple treasuries and judicial matters west of the Jordan (1 Chronicles 26:30). The placement of Amariah in this clan ties the name to practical administration and to the safeguarding of holy things. Chief Priest in Jehoshaphat’s Judicial Reforms (2 Chronicles 19) When King Jehoshaphat instituted nationwide courts, he appointed a chief priest named Amariah: “Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all matters concerning the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all matters concerning the king.” (2 Chronicles 19:11) Here Amariah functions as supreme religious judge, ensuring that civil justice rests on God’s revealed law. The verse also displays a balanced theocratic structure—spiritual matters under the priest, civil matters under a princely governor—anticipating New Testament teaching that civic order flourishes when grounded in divine truth. Faithful Stewardship during Hezekiah’s Revival (2 Chronicles 31) A later Amariah aided Hezekiah’s distribution of tithes and offerings: “Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah were faithfully distributing portions to their fellow priests by divisions, both young and old alike.” (2 Chronicles 31:15) Their loyalty safeguarded the resources that sustained temple worship during a sweeping revival. Amariah’s inclusion testifies that effective reform requires trustworthy stewards as well as visionary kings. Post-Exilic Covenant Renewal (Ezra 10; Nehemiah 10–12) • Ezra 10:42 lists an Amariah among those convicted of unlawful marriages. His willingness to repent and dismiss his foreign wife anticipates the renewed covenant sealed in Nehemiah 10:3, where an Amariah signs beside Pashhur and Malchijah. Ancestor of the Prophet Zephaniah (Zephaniah 1:1) “The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah…” (Zephaniah 1:1) By tracing Zephaniah’s lineage through Amariah to King Hezekiah, Scripture underlines a royal-priestly heritage. The union of priestly and royal blood in Zephaniah foreshadows the perfect union of those offices in the Messiah, who is both King and High Priest forever. Themes and Ministry Significance 1. Continuity of Worship: Each Amariah maintains or restores proper worship—whether through genealogical transmission, judicial authority, or logistical service. Practical Reflections • Leadership rooted in Scripture equips both church and society for justice and peace. Thus the various men named Amariah embody a legacy of covenant fidelity that spans Israel’s history, pointing ultimately to the perfect Priest-King who secures everlasting worship and justice. Forms and Transliterations אֲמַרְיָ֑ה אֲמַרְיָ֔ה אֲמַרְיָ֖ה אֲמַרְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֲמַרְיָ֛ה אֲמַרְיָ֣ה אֲמַרְיָ֣הוּ אֲמַרְיָ֥ה אֲמַרְיָ֧הוּ אמריה אמריהו וַאֲמַרְיָ֖ה ואמריה לַאֲמַרְיָ֖ה לאמריה ’ă·mar·yā·hū ’ă·mar·yāh ’ămaryāh ’ămaryāhū amarYah amarYahu la’ămaryāh la·’ă·mar·yāh laamarYah vaamarYah wa’ămaryāh wa·’ă·mar·yāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 6:7 HEB: הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־ אֲמַרְיָ֔ה וַאֲמַרְיָ֖ה הוֹלִ֥יד NAS: the father of Amariah, and Amariah KJV: begat Amariah, and Amariah INT: Meraioth became of Amariah and Amariah the father 1 Chronicles 6:7 1 Chronicles 6:11 1 Chronicles 6:11 1 Chronicles 6:52 1 Chronicles 23:19 1 Chronicles 24:23 2 Chronicles 19:11 2 Chronicles 31:15 Ezra 7:3 Ezra 10:42 Nehemiah 10:3 Nehemiah 11:4 Nehemiah 12:2 Nehemiah 12:13 Zephaniah 1:1 16 Occurrences |
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