6265. Athayah
Lexical Summary
Athayah: Athayah

Original Word: עֲתָיָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Athayah
Pronunciation: ah-thah-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ath-aw-yaw')
KJV: Athaiah
NASB: Athaiah
Word Origin: [from H5790 (עוּת - sustain) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. Jah has helped
2. Athajah, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Athaiah

From uwth and Yahh; Jah has helped; Athajah, an Israelite -- Athaiah.

see HEBREW uwth

see HEBREW Yahh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
an Isr.
NASB Translation
Athaiah (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עֲתָיָה proper name, masculine Nehemiah 11:4, Αθεα, ᵐ5L Αθαρασθας (very dubious); = עוּתַי 1 Chronicles 9:4.

Topical Lexicon
Name Meaning and Significance

Athaiah (Strong’s Hebrew 6265, עֲתָיָה) bears a name that honors the covenant God of Israel and testifies to His gracious arrival in aid of His people. In the restoration era the very mention of such a name served to remind the community that the Lord had indeed “come” to rescue and re-establish them after exile.

Historical Background

The only recorded appearance of Athaiah occurs during the repopulating of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah. After the wall was rebuilt, leaders sought to secure the city’s spiritual and civic future by appointing families to dwell there (Nehemiah 11). Athaiah is singled out among the “sons of Judah” who relocated. His willingness to inhabit Jerusalem illustrates the sacrificial faith of those who embraced responsibility for the sacred center of national life, often at personal cost when many preferred the surrounding countryside.

Position within the Genealogy of Judah

Nehemiah 11:4 lists him as “Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah son of Mahalalel, of the descendants of Perez.” By tracing his line to Perez, the chronicler links Athaiah to the royal house that produced King David (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:3-6). His presence in post-exilic Jerusalem therefore symbolizes the preservation of Judah’s messianic lineage despite the Babylonian captivity.

Contribution to the Restoration Community

1. Physical Presence—The restored city needed inhabitants to defend it and maintain temple worship. Athaiah’s family represented Judah in this strategic assignment.
2. Spiritual Continuity—His Perez ancestry connected temple service and civil governance back to pre-exilic patterns, reinforcing the legitimacy of Judah’s restored leadership.
3. Corporate Encouragement—Each named volunteer served as an example to the wider community that faithfulness to the Lord involves concrete action, not merely sentiment.

Theological and Ministry Insights

• God Preserves a Remnant: Athaiah’s appearance confirms the pattern seen throughout Scripture that the Lord always safeguards a lineage through which His redemptive purposes advance (Isaiah 10:20-22; Romans 11:5).
• Covenant Loyalty Displayed: The volunteer spirit exhibited in Nehemiah 11 foreshadows New Testament exhortations to present our bodies as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). Athaiah’s decision exemplifies willingness to serve where God’s presence dwells, prefiguring the believer’s call to be “built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).
• Jerusalem as Worship Center: By returning to the city chosen for His Name (2 Chronicles 6:6), Athaiah affirms the centrality of corporate worship in covenant life, anticipating the eschatological Jerusalem where God’s people will dwell securely forever (Revelation 21:2-3).

Practical Reflections for the Church Today

• Small Acts, Lasting Impact—Though mentioned only once, Athaiah’s obedience was recorded for all generations. Faithful service in obscurity still matters to God.
• Stewardship of Heritage—Believers inherit a spiritual lineage in Christ; preserving and advancing that heritage requires active participation in the life of the local church.
• Readiness to Relocate—Like Athaiah, modern disciples may be called to uncomfortable places for the sake of kingdom priorities, trusting the Lord who “has come” and will provide.

Related Biblical Themes

Faithful remnant (Ezra 2; Isaiah 37:31), voluntary service (Exodus 35:29; 1 Chronicles 29:6-9), continuity of Judah’s line (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:33), rebuilding and renewal (Haggai 2:4-9; Acts 15:16).

Forms and Transliterations
עֲתָיָ֨ה עתיה ‘ă·ṯā·yāh ‘ăṯāyāh ataYah
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Nehemiah 11:4
HEB: מִבְּנֵ֣י יְ֠הוּדָה עֲתָיָ֨ה בֶן־ עֻזִּיָּ֜ה
NAS: of Judah: Athaiah the son
KJV: of Judah; Athaiah the son
INT: the sons of Judah Athaiah the son of Uzziah

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 6265
1 Occurrence


‘ă·ṯā·yāh — 1 Occ.

6264
Top of Page
Top of Page