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) |
|---|---|---|
| לַאֲבִיָּ֖ה | to Abijah | 1Chr.24.10 |
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.10
- Also named: Abia (Ἀβιά "Abijah" Ἀβιά)
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 • Head of a priestly division during David's reign
Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Abijah was the head of the eighth priestly division established during King David's reign, and Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, belonged to this division.
- A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.10;
- referred to as Abijah אֲבִיָּה, or Abijah (KJV= Abia) Ἀβιά.
Abijah was the head of one of the twenty-four priestly divisions established during the reign of King David (1 Chronicles 24:10). These divisions were responsible for serving in the temple in rotation. The priests were divided into twenty-four groups, each headed by a leading priest, and they would serve in the temple for a week at a time, twice a year.
In the New Testament, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is mentioned as belonging to the priestly division of Abijah (Luke 1:5). This indicates that the priestly division named after Abijah continued to function even during the time of Jesus, several centuries after its establishment. Zechariah was serving in the temple when he received the announcement from the angel Gabriel that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son, John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for the Messiah (Luke 1:8-17).