יֹאשִׁיָּה
𐤉𐤀𐤔𐤉𐤄
Yoshiyah
H2977 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper personal name; denotes 'Yoshiyyahu' (Josiah), meaning 'Yahweh supports' or 'Yahweh has given support'. Used primarily as the name of a king of Judah (Josiah, late 7th century BCE), and once as the name of a minor Israelite. The name combines an element meaning 'support' or 'give' with a theophoric suffix referring to Yahweh (יהּ).
Semantic Range
personal name (denoting 'Yahweh supports' or 'Yahweh heals'); applied to a major king of Judah; rare minor Israelite; never generic
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root א-שׁ-ה (אשיה), likely meaning 'to support, heal, save,' with the theophoric element יה (Yah, a short form of the divine name). Thus, 'Yahweh supports' or 'Yahweh heals/is the foundation.' The root is not common outside the theophoric name context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The primary referent in the Hebrew Bible is Josiah (Yoshiyyahu), king of Judah, noted for religious reforms during the late monarchic period (7th century BCE). The use of the theophoric suffix יה in proper names became widespread in the monarchy and post-monarchy periods. The alternate spelling יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (Yoshiyyahu) explicitly includes the divine name element. In later English translations, Yoshiyyahu is rendered as 'Josiah', but this does not convey the theophoric meaning or historical cultic implications of invoking Yahweh's name. The name reflects faith in divine support, common among Israelite personal names in periods of dynastic or social instability. While 'Josiah' as king is associated with Jerusalem and the monarchy of Judah, the minor figure of this name (1 Chron 4:35) is simply listed among Israelite genealogies without royal association.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ; from the same root as אֲשׁוּיָה and יָהּ; founded of Jah; Joshijah, the name of two Israelites; Josiah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
אשה (ʾ-š-h) — support, heal, save
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2977-03 |
יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah | 50 |
H2977-01 |
לְ/יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ | leyoshiyahu | HR/Np |
of Josiah | to Yahweh-supports | to Yoshiyah | 1 |
H2977-04 |
יֹאושִׁיָּ֖הוּ | yovshiyahu | HNp |
of Josiah | Yahweh-supports | Yoshiyah | 1 |
H2977-02 |
יֹאשִׁיָּ֣ה | yoshiyah | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-supports | Yoshiyah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
53 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2977-03 |
1 Kings 13:2 | יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |
H2977-03 |
2 Kings 21:24 | יֹאשִׁיָּ֥הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |
H2977-03 |
2 Kings 21:26 | יֹאשִׁיָּ֥הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |
H2977-03 |
2 Kings 22:1 | יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |
H2977-03 |
2 Kings 22:3 | יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |
H2977-03 |
2 Kings 23:16 | יֹאשִׁיָּ֗הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |
H2977-03 |
2 Kings 23:19 | יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |
H2977-03 |
2 Kings 23:23 | יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |
H2977-03 |
2 Kings 23:24 | יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |
H2977-03 |
2 Kings 23:28 | יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ | yoshiyahu | HNp |
of Josiah | Yahweh-Supports | Yoshiyah |