אוּזַי
𐤀𐤅𐤆𐤉
Uzay
H186 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Uzai is a proper name referring to a personal figure, most likely meaning 'My strength' or 'Yahweh is my strength,' depending on its construction. In the Hebrew Bible, Uzai is best known as the father of Palal, who was among those who repaired a section of the Jerusalem wall (Nehemiah 3:25). As a personal name, it expresses a concept of strength or might, likely with a theological or familial implication. The semantic range is limited to personal naming and is not used for general strength, might, or power.
Semantic Range
personal name denoting 'my strength' or strength attributed to deity or person, theophoric or honorific name indicating strength, no evidence of use as common noun or adjective
Root / Etymology
From the root עז ('az), meaning 'strength,' 'might,' 'power.' The precise form אוּזַי is likely a diminutive or construct form, perhaps by permutation of עֻזִּי (Uzzi, 'my strength'). Some suggest it is a dialectal variation or regional spelling. The presence of identical or related forms in various personal names suggests a shared root emphasizing strength. The etymology is not fully certain due to the unusual spelling and lack of other occurrences outside of the proper name context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אוּזַי (Uzai) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Nehemiah 3:25), identifying the father of Palal involved in the reconstruction of Jerusalem's wall after the exile. Unlike the more common name עֻזִּי (Uzzi), Uzai occurs solely in post-exilic genealogical records, reflecting its function as a personal name rather than a broader term for strength. English translations typically render it as 'Uzai,' following transliteration tradition. The use of such theophoric or attribute-based names was common among Israelites to express theological convictions or familial hopes. Uzai should not be confused with Uzzi, though both derive from the same root and share similar meanings. The distinction in spelling and context may reflect dialectal or orthographic conventions of the Persian period. Later English usage of 'Jew' does not pertain to this context, as the text refers to specific individuals in Nehemiah's rebuilding community rather than community-wide ethnic or religious terminology.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps by permutation for עֻזִּי, strong; Uzai, an Israelite; Uzai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עז (ʿ-z) — strength, might, power, prevailing
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5796 | עֵז | she-goats |
| H5818 | עֻזִּיָּה | to Yah-is-Strength |
| H5821 | עַזָּן | Strong-One |
| H5822 | עׇזְנִיָּה | the strong raptor |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H186-01 |
אוּזַי֮ | uzay | HNp |
Uzai | My Strength | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H186-01 |
Nehemiah 3:25 | אוּזַי֮ | uzay | HNp |
Uzai | My Strength |