Bible Dictionary
Amariah
Amariah was a common priestly and Levitical name borne by several Old Testament men, including ancestors of Zadok and Ezra, a priestly judge under Jehoshaphat, and others listed in post-exilic genealogies.
Definition
Amariah, meaning “the Lord has said” or “the Lord promises,” was a common priestly and Levitical name. It was borne by several men, including descendants of Aaron, Levites in different family lines, a chief priest and judge under Jehoshaphat, and men named in post-exilic genealogies.
Biblical Usage
Amariah is associated with priestly service, Levitical courses, the distribution of offerings under Hezekiah, the covenant sealed with Nehemiah, foreign marriage in Ezra, and the ancestry of the prophet Zephaniah.
Historical Background
The name appears in genealogical and administrative records from the periods of David, Hezekiah, the exile, and the restoration. Several distinct men must be distinguished because the name was widely used.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Said by Jehovah. (1.) One of the descendants of Aaron by Eleazar (1 Chr. 6:7, 52). He was probably the last of the high priests of Eleazar’s line prior to the transfer of that office to Eli, of the line of Ithamar. (2.) A Levite, son of Hebron, of the lineage of Moses (1 Chr. 23:19; 24:23). (3.) A “chief priest” who took an active part in the reformation under Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 19:11); probably the same as mentioned in 1 Chr. 6:9. (4.) 1 Chr. 6:11; Ezra 7:3. (5.) One of the high priests in the time of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 31:15). (6.) Zeph. 1:1. (7.) Neh. 11:4. (8.) Neh. 10:3. (9.) Ezra 10:42.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(the Lord says, i.e. promises).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>am-a-ri'-a ('amaryah and 'amaryahu, "the Lord has said"; compare HPN, 180, 285).</p><p>(1) A Levite in the line of Aaron-Eleazar; a son of Meraioth and grandfather of Zadok (1Ch 6:7,52) who lived in David's time. Compare Zadok (2Sa 15:27, etc.) also Ant, VIII, i, 3 and X, viii, 6.</p><p>(2) A Levite in the line of Kohath-Hebron referred to in 1Ch 23:19 and 24:23 at the time when David divided the Levites into courses.</p><p>(3) A Levite in the line of Aaron-Eleazar; a son of Azariah who "executed the priest's office in the house that Solomon built" (1Ch 6:10 f). Compare Ezr 7:3 where in the abbreviated list this Amariah is mentioned as an ancestor of Ezra. See AMARIAS (1 Esdras 8:2; 2 Esdras 1:2) and number (4) of this article</p><p>(4) Chief priest and judge "in all matters of Yahweh" appointed by Jehoshaphat (2Ch 19:11). Possibly identical with Amariah, number (3).</p><p>(5) A descendant of Judah in the line of Perez and an ancestor of Ataiah who lived in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Ne 11:4). Compare Imri (1Ch 9:4) and number (7) of this article, which Amariah seems to be of the same family,</p><p>(6) A Levite and an assistant of Kore who was appointed by Hezekiah to distributed the "oblations of Yahweh" to their brethren (2Ch 31:15).</p><p>(7) A son of Bani who had married a foreign woman (Ezr 10:42). See number (5) of this article</p><p>(8) A priest who with Nehemiah sealed the covenant (Ne 10:3); he had returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel (Ne 12:2) and was the father of Jehohanan (compare Hanani, Ezr 10:20), priest at the time of Joiakim (Ne 12:13). Compare Immer (Ezr 2:37; 10:20; Ne 7:40) and also Emmeruth (the King James Version "Meruth," 1 Esdras 5:24).</p><p>(9) An ancestor of Zephaniah, the prophet (Ze 1:1).</p><p>A. L. Breslich</p>