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
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.10.7
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 • Returned priest • Priest who sealed Nehemiah's covenant
Man living at the time of Exile and Return
Abijah was one of the priests who sealed the covenant during Nehemiah's time and was also listed among the priests who returned from the Babylonian exile.
- A priest living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.10.7;
- only referred to as Abijah אֲבִיָּה.
Abijah is mentioned in the book of Nehemiah as one of the priests who sealed the covenant made by the people of Israel to follow God's law (Nehemiah 10:7). This covenant was made during the time of Nehemiah, who led the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
Abijah is also listed among the priests who returned from the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 12:4). In Nehemiah 12:17, he is mentioned as the head of a priestly family during the time of Joiakim, the high priest. This suggests that Abijah and his descendants continued to serve as priests in the restored community of Israel after the exile.
The mention of Abijah in these passages highlights the importance of the priestly role in the spiritual life of Israel, both in the rebuilding of the temple and in the renewal of the covenant with God.
All entries for Abijah: אֲבִיָּה