Bible Dictionary: Uriah

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Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Uriah

or Urijah, the Lord is my light or fire

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Uriah

(light of Jehovah).

One of the thirty commanders of the thirty bands into which the Israelite army of David was divided. (1 Chronicles 11:41; 2 Samuel 23:39) Like others of David's officers he was a foreigner--a Hittite. His name, however and his manner of speech (2 Samuel 11:11) indicate that he had adopted the Jewish religion. He married Bath-sheba a woman of extraordinary beauty, the daughter of Eliam--possibly the same as the son of Ahithophel, and one of his brother officers, (2 Samuel 23:34) and hence, perhaps, Uriah's first acquaintance with Bath-sheba. It may be inferred from Nathan's parable, (2 Samuel 12:3) that he was passionately devoted to his wife, and that their union was celebrated in Jerusalem as one of peculiar tenderness. In the first war with Ammon, B.C. 1035, he followed Joab to the siege, and with him remained encamped in the open field. (2 Samuel 12:11) He returned to Jerusalem, at an order from the king on the pretext of asking news of the war--really in the hope that his return to his wife might cover the shame of his own crime. The king met with an unexpected obstacle in the austere, soldier-like spirit which guided all Uriah's conduct, and which gives us a high notion of the character and discipline of David's officers. On the morning of the third day David sent him back to the camp with a letter containing the command to Joab to cause his destruction in the battle. The device of Joab was to observe the part of the wall of Rabbath-ammon where the greatest force of the besieged was congregated, and thither, as a kind of forlorn hope to send Uriah. A sally took place. Uriah and the officers with him advanced as far as the gate of the city, and were there shot down by the archers on the wall. Just as Joab had forewarned the messenger, the king broke into a furious passion on hearing of the loss. The messenger, as instructed by Joab, calmly continued, and ended the story with the words, "Thy servant also Uriah the Hittite, is dead." In a moment David's anger is appeased. It is one of the touching parts of the story that Uriah falls unconscious of his wife's dishonor.
High priest in the reign of Ahaz. (Isaiah 8:2; 2 Kings 16:10-16) He is probably the same as Urijah the priest, who built the altar for Ahaz. (2 Kings 16:10) (B.C. about 738.)
A priest of the family of Hakkoz, the head of the seventh course of priests. (Ezra 8:33; Nehemiah 3:4,21) (B.C. 458.)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Uriah

A Hittie in David's army, renowned for his valor. To save Bathsheba Uriah's wife from death for adultery, and secure her for himself, David caused Uriah to be exposed to death, 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 12:9; 23:29; 1 Kings 15:5.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The Lord is my light.

(1.) A Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, whom David first seduced, and then after Uriah's death married. He was one of the band of David's "mighty men." The sad story of the curel wrongs inflicted upon him by David and of his mournful death are simply told in the sacred record (2 Samuel 11:2-12:26). (see BATHSHEBA; DAVID.)

(2.) A priest of the house of Ahaz (Isaiah 8:2).

(3.) The father of Meremoth, mentioned in Ezra 8:33.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

URIAH; URUAH

u-ri'-a, u-ri'-ja ('uriyah, in Jeremiah 26:20 'uriyahu, "flame of Yahweh" or "my light is Yahweh"; the Septuagint and the New Testament Our(e)ias, with variants; the King James Version has Urijah in 2 Kings 16:10-16 Nehemiah 3:4, 21; Nehemiah 8:4 Jeremiah 26:20):

(1) A Hittite, who had settled in Jerusalem at the time of David and who had entered David's service. He had become a worshipper of Yahweh (judging from the usual interpretations of his name) and had married a Hebrew wife, BATH-SHEBA (which see). David's sin with this woman occurred while Uriah was engaged in warfare, and David had him recalled to Jerusalem in order to hide what had transpired. Uriah, however, felt himself bound by the consecration of a soldier (compare 1 Samuel 21:5 Deuteronomy 23:10) and refused to do violence to his religion, so that David's ruse was in vain. (The point is missed here by speaking of Uriah's "chivalrous determination," as in HDB, IV, 837.) David, in desperation, wrote Joab instructions that were virtually a command to have Uriah murdered, and these instructions were duly carried out (2 Samuel 11:2-27). The inclusion of Uriah's name in the list of the "mighty men" in 2 Samuel 23:39 parallel Ch 11:41 is proof of his reputation as a soldier, and the name is found also in 2 Samuel 12:9, 10, 15 1 Kings 15:5; Matthew 1:6. On the occurrence in Matthew see especially Heffern, JBL, XXXI, 69; -1912.

(2) A priest under Ahaz, who carried into effect the latter's commands to introduce an Assyrian altar into the Temple and to use it for the sacrifices (2 Kings 16:10-16; see ALTAR). The same Uriah appears in Isaiah 8:2 as one of the two "faithful witnesses" taken by Isaiah in the matter of Maher-shalal-hash-baz. This description has seemed to many to conflict with Uriah's compliancy in obeying Ahaz, but it must be remembered that

(a) "faithful witness" means simply "one whom the people will believe," and

(b) the articles in the sanctuary were not held as immutably sacred in the time of Ahaz as they were in later days.

The omission of Uriah's name from the list in 1 Chronicles 6:10-14 is probably without significance, as Chronicles records only nine names from Solomon to the exile, showing that there must be many omissions. The corresponding list in Josephus, Ant, X, viii, 6, contains 18 names, including Uriah's.

(3) A son of Shemaiah, of Kiriath-jearim, and a contemporary of Jeremiah. He was a prophet, and his prophecy agreed with Jeremiah's in regards. Jehoiakim, roused to anger, arrested him, even at the trouble of a pursuit into Egypt, put him to death and desecrated his body (Jeremiah 20-23). The story is told partly in order to show the greatness of Jeremiah's dangers, partly to bear record of the goodness of AHIKAM (which see), Jeremiah's protector.

(4) A priest, the father of MEREMOTH (which see) (Ezra 8:33 Nehemiah 3:4, 21; 1 Esdras 8:62 ("Urias," the King James Version "Iri")).

(5) One of those on Ezra's right hand reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8:4; 1 Esdras 9:43 ("Urias")). Quite possibly identical with (4) above.

Burton Scott Easton

Greek

3774. Ourias -- Uriah, a Hittite
... Uriah, a Hittite. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Ourias Phonetic
Spelling: (oo-ree'-as) Short Definition: Uriah Definition: Uriah, husband of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3774.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

223. Uwriyah -- "flame of Yah," the name of a Hittite and of two ...
... "flame of Yah," the name of a Hittite and of two Israelites. Transliteration: Uwriyah
Phonetic Spelling: (oo-ree-yaw') Short Definition: Uriah. Uriah, Urijah ...
/hebrew/223.htm - 5k

223a. Uriyyah -- "flame of Yah," the name of a Hittite and of two ...
... 223, 223a. Uriyyah. 223b . "flame of Yah," the name of a Hittite and of two
Israelites. Transliteration: Uriyyah Short Definition: Uriah. ...
/hebrew/223a.htm - 5k

223b. Uriyyahu -- "flame of Yah," a prophet slain by Jehoiakim
... 223a, 223b. Uriyyahu. 224 . "flame of Yah," a prophet slain by Jehoiakim.
Transliteration: Uriyyahu Short Definition: Uriah. Word ...
/hebrew/223b.htm - 5k

Library

How David Fell in Love with Bathsheba, and Slew Her Husband Uriah ...
... From The Death Of Saul To The Death Of David. CHAPTER 7. How David Fell In Love
With Bathsheba, And Slew Her Husband Uriah, For Which He Is Reproved By Nathan. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how david fell.htm

David's Sin in the Matter of Uriah.
... SERMON X. David's Sin in the Matter of Uriah. 2 Samuel xii, 13. ... The sin
here referred to is that of David in the matter of Uriah. ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon x davids sin in.htm

A Rich Man who was a Thief
... And David sent to ask about the woman; and some one said, "Is not this Bathsheba,
the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Then David sent messengers to bring her; and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a rich man who was.htm

David's Sin.
... He sent a servant to ask who she was, and found she was the wife of Uriah
who was in the army with Joab, fighting the Ammonites. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxiv davids sin.htm

The History of David
... a fair woman wash her and bain her in her chamber, which stood against his house,
and demanded of his servants who she was, and they said she was Uriah's wife. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

The Sixth Commandment
... John 18:30. (4) With the pen. Thus David killed Uriah by writing to Joab to
set Uriah in the forefront of the battle.' 2 Samuel 11:15. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 6 the sixth commandment.htm

Nathan Reproving the King.
... Judah. But David did a very wicked thing. He took the wife of Uriah the
Hittite for his wife, and caused Uriah to be slain. God ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/nathan reproving the king.htm

The Right Understanding of the Law
... Though David did not in his own person kill Uriah, yet because he wrote a letter
to Joab, to set Uriah in the forefront of the battle, and it was done by his ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/1 4 the right understanding of.htm

At this Time, He Knew in a Guilty Way Bersabe...
... of remarkable beauty. She is said to have been the wife of a certain man
called Uriah, who was then in the camp. David caused him ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxxviii at this time.htm

The Psalmist --Setting the Lord
... David! David! David of the matter of Uriah, and Psalmist of the 51st Psalm,
teach me to pray! Teach me thy penitential heart. Teach ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/viii the psalmistsetting the lord.htm

Thesaurus

Uriah (33 Occurrences)
... The Lord is my light. (1.) A Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, whom David first
seduced, and then after Uriah's death married. ...URIAH; URUAH. ...
/u/uriah.htm - 22k

Uriah's (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Uriah's (2 Occurrences). Matthew 1:6 Jesse of
David--the King. David (by Uriah's widow) (WEY YLT NIV). ...
/u/uriah's.htm - 6k

Uri'ah (32 Occurrences)
Uri'ah. Uriah, Uri'ah. Uriah's . ... Matthew 1:6 and Jesse begat David the king.
And David the king begat Solomon, of her 'who had been' Uriah's, (See RSV). ...
/u/uri'ah.htm - 15k

Uruah
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia URIAH; URUAH. u-ri'-a, u-ri'-ja ('uriyah,
in Jeremiah 26:20 'uriyahu, "flame of Yahweh" or "my light ...
/u/uruah.htm - 10k

Bathsheba (14 Occurrences)
... or of seven, called also Bath-shu'a (1 Chronicles 3:5), was the daughter of Eliam
(2 Samuel 11:3) or Ammiel (1 Chronicles 3:5), and wife of Uriah the Hittite. ...
/b/bathsheba.htm - 14k

Jo'ab (120 Occurrences)
... But David stayed at Jerusalem. (See RSV). 2 Samuel 11:6 David sent to Joab, saying,
"Send me Uriah the Hittite." Joab sent Uriah to David. (See RSV). ...
/j/jo'ab.htm - 34k

Bath-sheba (12 Occurrences)
... or of seven, called also Bath-shu'a (1 Chronicles 3:5), was the daughter of Eliam
(2 Samuel 11:3) or Ammiel (1 Chronicles 3:5), and wife of Uriah the Hittite. ...
/b/bath-sheba.htm - 13k

Hittite (45 Occurrences)
... One said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah
the Hittite?" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/h/hittite.htm - 22k

Meremoth (6 Occurrences)
... mer'-e-moth, me-re'-moth (meremoth, "heights"; Mereimoth): (1) Son of Uriah (Ezra
8:33), who was head of the 7th course of priests appointed by David (1 ...
/m/meremoth.htm - 11k

Hittites (39 Occurrences)
... Mention is made of "Ahimelech the Hittite" (1 Samuel 26:6), and of "Uriah the Hittite,"
one of David's chief officers (2 Samuel 23:39; 1 Chronicles 11:41). ...
/h/hittites.htm - 55k

Bible Concordance

Uriah (33 Occurrences)

Matthew 1:6 Jesse became the father of King David. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.
(WEB WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:3 David send and inquired after the woman. One said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:6 David sent to Joab, saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." Joab sent Uriah to David.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:7 When Uriah was come to him, David asked of him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:8 David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house, and wash your feet." Uriah departed out of the king's house, and a gift from the king was sent after him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and didn't go down to his house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:10 When they had told David, saying, "Uriah didn't go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Haven't you come from a journey? Why didn't you go down to your house?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:11 Uriah said to David, "The ark, Israel, and Judah, are staying in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field. Shall I then go into my house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing!"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:12 David said to Uriah, "Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day, and the next day.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:13 When David had called him, he ate and drink before him; and he made him drunk. At evening, he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but didn't go down to his house.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 11:14 It happened in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:15 He wrote in the letter, saying, "Send Uriah to the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck, and die."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:16 It happened, when Joab kept watch on the city, that he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:17 The men of the city went out, and fought with Joab. Some of the people fell, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:21 who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn't a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' then you shall say,'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:24 The shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 11:26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 12:9 Why have you despised the word of Yahweh, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 12:10 Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 12:15 Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NIV)

2 Samuel 23:39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 15:5 because David did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and didn't turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 16:10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 16:15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying: 'Upon the great altar offer the morning burnt-offering, and the evening meal-offering, and the king's burnt-offering, and his meal-offering, with the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings; and dash against it all the blood of the burnt-offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice; but the brazen altar shall be for me to look to.'
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 11:41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Ezra 8:33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 3:4 Next to them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. Next to them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. Next to them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 3:21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 8:4 Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Isaiah 8:2 and I will take for myself faithful witnesses to testify: Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 26:20 There was also a man who prophesied in the name of Yahweh, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath Jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 26:21 and when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt:
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 26:23 and they fetched forth Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Patriotism: Uriah

Uriah

Uriah: A Priest: Called Urijah, (R. V. Uriah)

Uriah: A Priest: Probably Identical With Urijah

Uriah: A Priest: The Father of Meremoth

Uriah: A Priest: Witness to One of Isaiah's Prophecies

Uriah: One of David's Mighty Men

Uriah: One of David's Mighty Men: Called Urias (A. V.)

Uriah: One of David's Mighty Men: David Compasses the Death of

Uriah: One of David's Mighty Men: David Marries the Widow of

Uriah: One of David's Mighty Men: David's Adultery With the Wife of