Lexical Definition
אֲבִיָּה ʼĂbîyâh (ab-ee-yaw') Abijah N:N-M-P
or prolonged אֲבִיָּהוּ ʼĂbîyâhûw (abee-yaw'-hoo) ; from אָב and יָהּ; father (i.e. worshipper) of Jah
Abiah, Abijah.
- § Abia or Abiah or Abijah = "Jehovah is (my) father"
- Abijah, the name of several Israelite men and two Israelitesses
1) king of Judah, son and successor of Rehoboam
2) second son of Samuel
3) son of Jeroboam the first, king of Israel
4) son of Becher, a Benjamite
5) head of a priestly house (one of the 24 Levite groups)
6) head of a priestly house (after the exile)
7) wife of Hezron
8) mother of Hezekiah (cf אֲבִי)
See Greek: Ἀβιά
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| אֲבִיָּה֮ | Abijah | 2Chr.13.19 |
| אֲבִיָּה֙ | Abijah | 2Chr.11.20 |
| אֲבִיָּ֥ה | Abijah | 1Chr.3.10 • 2Chr.11.22 • 2Chr.12.16 • 2Chr.13.17 |
| אֲבִיָּ֜ה | Abijah | 2Chr.13.3 • 2Chr.14.1 |
| אֲבִיָּ֗ה | Abijah | 2Chr.13.4 |
| אֲבִיָּ֖ה | Abijah | 2Chr.13.1 • 2Chr.13.2 • 2Chr.13.15 |
| אֲבִיָּ֔הוּ | Abijah | 2Chr.13.21 |
| אֲבִיָּ֔ה | Abijah | 2Chr.13.22 |
| אֲבִיָּ֑הוּ | Abijah | 2Chr.13.20 |
Extended Information
- A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.14.31
- son of: Rehoboam (רְחַבְעָם) and Maacah (מַעֲכָה)
- brother of: Attai (עַתַּי), Ziza (זִיזָא) and Shelomith (שְׁלֹמִית)
- father of: Asa (אָסָא)
- half-brother of: Jeush (יְעוּשׁ), Shemariah (שְׁמַרְיָה) and Zaham (זַהַם); also called Abijam (KJV: Abia) at 1Ki.14.31 15.1, 7, 8
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲבִיָּ֫הוּ proper name, masculine & feminine (Yah(u) is (my) father) — so 2Chr 13:20; 2Chr 13:21 = אֲבִיָּם 1Kgs 14:31; 1Kgs 15:1; 1Kgs 15:7 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 15:8 (ᵐ5 Ἀβιου, Ἀβια); = אֲבִי 2Kgs 18:2 (ᵐ5 Ἀβου, Ἀβουθ); = אֲבִיָּה 1Sam 8:2 + 22 t. —
1. king of Judah, son & successor of Rehoboam 1Kgs 14:31; 1Kgs 15:1; 1Kgs 15:7 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 15:8; 1Chr 3:10; 2Chr 11:20; 2Chr 11:22; 2Chr 12:16; 2Chr 13:1; 2Chr 13:2; 2Chr 13:3; 2Chr 13:4; 2Chr 13:15; 2Chr 13:17; 2Chr 13:19; 2Chr 13:20; 2Chr 13:21; 2Chr 13:22; 2Chr 13:23*.
2. 2nd son of Samuel 1Sam 8:2; 1Chr 6:13*.
3. son of Jerob. I 1Kgs 14:1.
4. son of Becher, a Benjamite 1Chr 7:8.
5. head of a priestly house 1Chr 24:10.
6. id. Neh 10:8*; Neh 12:4; Neh 12:17.
7. wife of Hezron 1Chr 2:24.
8. mother of Hezekiah 2Kgs 18:2; 2Chr 29:1.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 1 Samuel | 8:2 |
| 1 Kings | 14:1 · 14:31 · 15:1 · 15:7 · 15:8 |
| 2 Kings | 18:2 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:24 · 3:10 · 6:13* · 7:8 · 24:10 |
| 2 Chronicles | 11:20 · 11:22 · 12:16 · 13:1 · 13:2 · 13:3 · 13:4 · 13:15 · 13:17 · 13:19 · 13:20 · 13:21 · 13:22 · 13:23* · 29:1 |
| Nehemiah | 10:8* · 12:4 · 12:17 |
Profile
Male • King of Judah • King of Judah, son of Rehoboam
King living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, reigned as king of Judah for three years and continued in the sins of his father.
- A king of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.14.31;
- referred to as Abijah אֲבִיָּה, or Abijah אֲבִיָּה, or Abijam (NIV= Abijah, KJV= Abia) אֲבִיָּם, or Abijah Ἀβιά;
- son of Rehoboam רְחַבְעָם and Maacah מַעֲכָה;
- a brother of Attai עַתַּי, Ziza זִיזָא and Shelomith שְׁלֹמִית;
- father of Asa אָסָא;
- half-brother of: Jeush יְעוּשׁ, Shemariah שְׁמַרְיָה and Zaham זַהַם.
Abijah, also known as Abijam (1 Kings 14:31), was the second king of Judah after the division of the united monarchy. He was the son of Rehoboam and Maacah, the daughter of Absalom (2 Chronicles 11:20). Abijah reigned for three years in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 13:1-2; 1 Kings 15:1-2).
During his reign, there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam, the king of Israel (2 Chronicles 13:3). In a battle at Mount Zemaraim, Abijah addressed the Israelites, emphasizing the legitimacy of the Davidic dynasty and the importance of the Levitical priesthood (2 Chronicles 13:4-12). Despite being outnumbered, Judah prevailed against Israel because they relied on the Lord (2 Chronicles 13:13-18).
Abijah expanded his power, taking cities from Jeroboam and growing stronger (2 Chronicles 13:19-21). However, like his father Rehoboam, Abijah did not fully follow the Lord and allowed idolatry to persist in Judah (1 Kings 15:3). He walked in all the sins of his father and did not have a fully devoted heart like his ancestor David (1 Kings 15:3).
Abijah had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters (2 Chronicles 13:21). After his death, his son Asa succeeded him as king (1 Kings 15:8; 2 Chronicles 14:1). Abijah is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:7.
All entries for Abijah: אֲבִיָּה ☩ אֲבִיָּם ☩ Ἀβιά