Lexical Summary Serayah or Serayahu: Seraiah Original Word: שְׂרָיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Seraiah Or Srayahuw {ser-aw-yaw'-hoo}; from sarah and Yahh; Jah has prevailed; Serajah, the name of nine Israelites -- Seraiah. see HEBREW sarah see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sarah and Yah Definition "Yah persists," the name of a number of Isr. NASB Translation Seraiah (20). Brown-Driver-Briggs שְׂרָיָה(וּׅ proper name, masculine (׳י persisteth DrHast. DB. ii. 530 JACOB); — usually Σαραια(ς); — שְׂרָיָה: 1 secretary of David 2 Samuel 8:17, but ᵐ5B Ασα, "" שיא 2 Samuel 20:25 Kt (שְׁוָא Qr), שַׁוְשָׁא 1 Chronicles 18:16 (in both Ἰησοῦς, ᵐ5L Σουσα), שִׁישָׁא 1 Kings 4:3 (Σαβα, A Σεισα, ᵐ5L Σαφατ); originally in all probably ששא We Dr Klo (Sausa), HPS (שושא), Now (Šoša), Bu. 2 chief priest 2 Kings 25:18 = Jeremiah 52:24. 3 a captain 2 Kings 25:23; Jeremiah 40:8; Jeremiah 51:59 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 51:61. 4. a. son of Kenaz 1 Chronicles 4:13,14. b. name in Simeon 1 Chronicles 4:35. c. Levite name 1 Chronicles 5:40 (twice in verse). 5. a. companion of Zerubbabel Ezra 2:2. b. father of Ezra Ezra 7:1. c. one sealed Nehemiah 10:3. d. priest Nehemiah 11:11; Nehemiah 12:1,12. 6 שְׂרָיָהוּ, officer of king Jehoiakim, Jeremiah 36:26, τῷ Σαρεα. II. שׂרה (√ of following; = rule ? compare שׂרר). Topical Lexicon Meaning of the NameSeraiah (שְׂרָיָה) most likely means “Yahweh has prevailed” or “the LORD is ruler,” a confession of divine kingship reflected in the lives of those who bore the name. Occurrences Twenty references divide among at least nine individuals whose ministries span the monarchy, exile, and restoration periods: • Davidic court – 2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 18:16 Seraiah the High Priest of Zedekiah’s Day “From the city he took the chief priest Seraiah … and Nebuchadnezzar executed them at Riblah” (2 Kings 25:18–21). His death closed the first-temple era, yet 1 Chronicles 6:14 and Ezra 7:1 trace the high-priestly succession through his son Jehozadak to Ezra, underscoring the LORD’s preservation of the Aaronic line. Seraiah the Scribe of King David “And Seraiah was recorder” (2 Samuel 8:17). The recorder kept royal archives and state correspondence, showing the place of written truth in the theocratic kingdom. As David expanded his rule, accurate records ensured justice and memorialized God’s works. Seraiah in the Tribe of Judah “The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah” (1 Chronicles 4:13). His descendants founded Ge-Harashim, “because its people were craftsmen” (4:14). Another Seraiah appears two verses later in the same clan lineage (4:35). These notices display generational skill, industry, and inheritance within Judah. Seraiah Among the First Returnees Ezra 2:2 names a priest Seraiah in the company of Zerubbabel. Nehemiah 12:1 repeats the fact; verse 12 records his house still represented a generation later. The continuity accents God’s restoration of temple worship. Chief Officer of the Post-Exilic Temple “Seraiah son of Hilkiah … was the chief officer of the house of God” (Nehemiah 11:11). He also sealed the renewed covenant (Nehemiah 10:2). Under Persian rule he stewarded temple order and purity, modeling covenant commitment amid foreign oversight. Seraiah Son of Tanhumeth After Jerusalem’s fall, commanders “came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—… Seraiah son of Tanhumeth” (Jeremiah 40:8). His shifting loyalties mirror the instability of the remnant, illustrating the tension between faith and self-preservation in judgment’s aftermath. Seraiah Son of Azriel The king ordered “Seraiah son of Azriel” to arrest Jeremiah and Baruch (Jeremiah 36:26). His complicity in suppressing prophecy warns against opposing revealed truth for political expediency. Seraiah Son of Neriah: Jeremiah’s Envoy “This is the message Jeremiah gave to staff officer Seraiah son of Neriah …” (Jeremiah 51:59). He read the scroll against Babylon, then cast it into the Euphrates (51:61-64), dramatizing God’s irreversible sentence on the empire. His obedience shows courageous faith within an idolatrous court. Theological Themes 1. Divine sovereignty: The name itself proclaims the LORD’s rule, and each narrative confirms His control over Israel, nations, and history. Practical Lessons • God both judges and preserves; the fall of Jerusalem did not cancel His priestly promises. Forms and Transliterations וּשְׂרָיָ֑ה וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה וּשְׂרָיָ֗ה וּשְׂרָיָ֨ה ושריה לִשְׂרָיָ֣ה לשריה שְׂרָיָ֑ה שְׂרָיָ֔ה שְׂרָיָ֖ה שְׂרָיָ֣ה שְׂרָיָ֣הוּ שְׂרָיָ֥ה שְׂרָיָ֨ה שְׂרָיָה֙ שריה שריהו liś·rā·yāh lisraYah liśrāyāh śə·rā·yā·hū śə·rā·yāh seraYah śərāyāh seraYahu śərāyāhū ū·śə·rā·yāh useraYah ūśərāyāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 8:17 HEB: אֶבְיָתָ֖ר כֹּהֲנִ֑ים וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה סוֹפֵֽר׃ NAS: [were] priests, and Seraiah [was] secretary. KJV: [were] the priests; and Seraiah [was] the scribe; INT: of Abiathar priests and Seraiah the scribe 2 Kings 25:18 2 Kings 25:23 1 Chronicles 4:13 1 Chronicles 4:14 1 Chronicles 4:35 1 Chronicles 6:14 1 Chronicles 6:14 Ezra 2:2 Ezra 7:1 Nehemiah 10:2 Nehemiah 11:11 Nehemiah 12:1 Nehemiah 12:12 Jeremiah 36:26 Jeremiah 40:8 Jeremiah 51:59 Jeremiah 51:59 Jeremiah 51:61 Jeremiah 52:24 20 Occurrences |
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