Bible Dictionary
Uzal
Uzal was a son of Joktan and the name of a place associated with his descendants. It is commonly connected with an ancient city in Yemen, later known as San’a.
Definition
Uzal was the sixth son of Joktan. The name also denotes the place or settlement associated with his descendants.
Biblical Usage
Uzal appears in the genealogical lists as a son of Joktan. A possible occurrence as a place-name is found in the interpretation of Ezekiel 27:19, though the text is uncertain.
Historical Background
Uzal is identified with the Arabic Auzal, the old capital of Yemen later called San’a. The city stood in fertile country and later became a residence of the Tubba’s under the Himyarite dynasty.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A wanderer, a descendant of Joktan (Gen. 10:27; 1 Chr. 1:21), the founder apparently of one of the Arab tribes; the name also probably of the province they occupied and of their chief city.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(separate), the sixth son of Joktan, (Genesis 10:27; 1 Chronicles 1:21) whose settlements are clearly traced in the ancient name of San’a, the capital city of the Yemen (a district of Arabia), which was originally Awzal . From its position in the centre of the best portion of that kingdom it must always have been an important city. (San’a is situated about 150 miles from Aden and 100 miles from the coast of the Red Sea. It is one of the most imposing cities of Arabia -ED.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>u'-zal ('uzal): Sixth son of Joktan (Ge 10:27; 1Ch 1:21). Uzal as the name of a place perhaps occurs in Eze 27:19. the Revised Version (British and American) reads, "Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for thy wares." Here an obscure verbal form, me'uzzal, is taken to mean "something spun," "yarn." But with a very slight change we may read me'uzal = "from Uzal."</p><p>The name is identical with the Arabic `Auzal, the old capital of Yemen, later called San`a'. San`a' is described as standing high above sea-level in a fertile land, and traversed by a river bed which in the rainy season becomes a torrent. Under the Himyarite dynasty it succeeded Zafar as the residence of the Tubba`s. If it is the same place as the Audzara or Ausara of the classics, it is clear why Arabic geographers dwell upon its great antiquity. The most celebrated feature of the town was Ghumdan, an immense palace, the building of which tradition ascribes to Shorabbil, the 6th known king of the Himyarites. According to Ibn Khaldoun this building had four fronts in color red, white, yellow and green respectively. In the midst rose a tower of seven stories, the topmost being entirely of marble (Caussin de Perceval, Essai, II, 75). In the 7th century AD the town became the capital of the Zaidite Imams, and the palace was destroyed toward the middle of that century by order of the caliph Othman.</p><p>A. S. Fulton</p>