Lexical Summary Athayah: Athayah Original Word: עֲתָיָה 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 Originof 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. 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). 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. 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 ataYahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 |
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