Athaiah is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Nehemiah. He is noted as one of the descendants of Judah who resided in Jerusalem following the return from the Babylonian exile. The name Athaiah means "Yahweh has helped," reflecting a common practice in Hebrew culture of embedding the name of God within personal names to signify divine assistance or favor.

Biblical Reference:

Athaiah is mentioned in Nehemiah 11:4, which states: "In Jerusalem lived some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin. Of Judah’s descendants: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez."

This passage places Athaiah within the genealogical line of Perez, one of the sons of Judah, thereby linking him to the tribe of Judah, which holds significant importance in biblical history. The tribe of Judah is known for its leadership role among the tribes of Israel and is the tribe from which King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ descended.

Historical and Theological Context:

The context of Athaiah's mention is the period of the Jewish return from Babylonian captivity, a pivotal moment in Jewish history. Under the leadership of figures like Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, the Jewish people were allowed to return to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. Nehemiah 11 details the repopulation of Jerusalem, highlighting the importance of re-establishing the city as the center of Jewish religious and cultural life.

Athaiah's inclusion in this list underscores the significance of the families who took part in this restoration effort. These families were seen as faithful and courageous, willing to leave the relative comfort of their new lives in Babylon to face the challenges of rebuilding a city that lay in ruins. Their commitment to restoring Jerusalem was seen as an act of faithfulness to God and His covenant with Israel.

Genealogical Significance:

The genealogy provided in Nehemiah 11:4 serves to authenticate Athaiah's heritage and his rightful place among the people of Judah. By tracing his lineage back to Perez, the text emphasizes the continuity of God's promises to the tribe of Judah. This genealogical record also serves to validate the claims of those who returned to Jerusalem, ensuring that the land and its leadership remained within the divinely appointed tribal boundaries.

Role in the Community:

While the Bible does not provide extensive details about Athaiah's personal life or specific contributions, his mention in the context of Nehemiah's account suggests that he was a person of some standing within the community. As a resident of Jerusalem, Athaiah would have been involved in the communal efforts to restore the city's infrastructure, religious practices, and social order. His presence in the city would have contributed to the re-establishment of Jerusalem as the spiritual heart of the Jewish people.

In summary, Athaiah represents the faithful remnant of Judah who played a crucial role in the post-exilic restoration of Jerusalem. His inclusion in the biblical record highlights the importance of lineage, faithfulness, and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people.Athaiah

the Lord's time

Athaiah

(whom Jehovah made), a descendant of Pharez, the son of Judah, who dwelt at Jerusalem after the return from Babylon, (Nehemiah 11:4) called UTHAI in (1 Chronicles 9:4)

ATHAIAH

a-tha'-ya ('athayah = "Yahweh is helper"; Athea, or Atheai): He is designated (Nehemiah 11:4) as a descendant of Judah and the son of Uzziah. After the return from Babylon, he dwelt in Jerusalem. In 1 Chronicles 9:4 his name is given as Uthai.

6265. Athayah -- an Israelite
... Athayah. 6266 . an Israelite. Transliteration: Athayah Phonetic Spelling:
(ath-aw-yaw') Short Definition: Athaiah. ... NASB Word Usage Athaiah (1). Athaiah. ...
/hebrew/6265.htm - 6kAthaiah (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ATHAIAH. ... In 1 Chronicles 9:4 his name is given
as Uthai. Multi-Version Concordance Athaiah (1 Occurrence). ...
/a/athaiah.htm - 7k

Mahalalel (8 Occurrences)
... Version Mahalaleel, ma-ha'la-le-el, ma-hal'a-lel): (1) Son of Cainan, the grandson
of Seth (Genesis 5:12 1 Chronicles 1:2). (2) The ancestor of Athaiah, one of ...
/m/mahalalel.htm - 9k

Athaliah (17 Occurrences)

/a/athaliah.htm - 19k

Uthai (2 Occurrences)
... UTHAI. u'-thi, u'-tha-i (`uthay, meaning uncertain): (1) A descendant of Judah,
of the clan of Perez (1 Chronicles 9:4) = "Athaiah" of Nehemiah 11:4. (2) Son of ...
/u/uthai.htm - 7k

A'thach (1 Occurrence)
A'thach. Athach, A'thach. Athaiah . Multi-Version Concordance A'thach
(1 Occurrence). ... Athach, A'thach. Athaiah . Reference Bible.
/a/a'thach.htm - 6k

Shephatiah (13 Occurrences)
... Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son
of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of ...
/s/shephatiah.htm - 12k

Perez (19 Occurrences)
... Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son
of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of ...
/p/perez.htm - 13k

Amariah (14 Occurrences)
... Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son
of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of ...
/a/amariah.htm - 14k

Descendant (32 Occurrences)
... Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son
of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of ...
/d/descendant.htm - 15k

Uzziah (27 Occurrences)
... Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son
of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of ...
/u/uzziah.htm - 27k

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