Pronunciation Guide: oh-ZEE-ahs
Quick Answer: Ὀζίας (Ozzias) is the Greek form of King Uzziah’s name, meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) is my strength,” highlighting how God’s power sustains His chosen leaders despite human weakness and pride.
1. What Does Ὀζίας Mean?
Strong’s G3604: Ὀζίας represents the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name עֻזִּיָּהוּ (Uzziyahu), meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) is my strength” or “my strength is יהוה (Yahweh).” This proper noun identifies King Uzziah of Judah, one of the most significant monarchs in the Davidic line leading to the Messiah. The name itself embodies a profound theological declaration about the source of true power and authority. In the genealogical context of Matthew 1:8, Ozzias serves as a crucial link in the messianic lineage, demonstrating how God works through imperfect human vessels to accomplish His perfect redemptive plan.
Key Insight: Ozzias reminds us that even flawed leaders remain part of God’s sovereign plan when His strength becomes their foundation.
2. Where Does Ὀζίας Come From?
- Part of speech: Proper noun (masculine)
- Root words: Hebrew עֻזִּיָּהוּ (Uzziyahu) – עֹז (strength) + יָהּ (shortened form of יהוה)
- Language origin: Hebrew name adapted into Greek
- Primary usage: Genealogical records and historical narrative sections
- Biblical context: Royal lineage and messianic genealogy
3. What Is the History of Ὀζίας?
The name Ozzias represents the Greek adaptation of the Hebrew Uzziah, demonstrating how the Septuagint translators carefully preserved the theological significance of Hebrew names while making them accessible to Greek-speaking audiences. In classical Greek literature, compound names incorporating divine elements were common, but the specific combination found in Ozzias reflects distinctly Hebrew theological concepts about יהוה (Yahweh) as the ultimate source of strength and authority.
The historical King Uzziah ruled Judah for fifty-two years (c. 792-740 BCE), making him one of the longest-reigning monarchs in biblical history. Early church fathers like Jerome and Chrysostom recognized the significance of including flawed yet faithful kings in the Messiah’s genealogy, understanding that God’s grace operates through human weakness. The Septuagint consistently uses Ozzias to translate Uzziah, maintaining the theological weight of the original Hebrew while communicating to Hellenistic Jewish communities.
Historical Summary: Ozzias bridges Hebrew theology and Greek language, preserving the meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) is strength” across cultures and centuries.
4. How Should Ὀζίας Be Translated?
Primary meanings of Ozzias:
- King Uzziah of Judah
- “יהוה (Yahweh) is my strength”
- A link in the messianic genealogy
- Symbol of divine strength through human weakness
- Representative of God’s faithfulness to covenant promises
Translation Tip: Context determines whether to emphasize the historical person (King Uzziah) or the theological meaning of his name (“יהוה is strength”).
Ozzias Translation Options:
- Uzziah – Most common English rendering preserving the Hebrew connection
- Ozias – Direct transliteration of the Greek form
- “Strength of יהוה (Yahweh)” – Theological translation emphasizing meaning
- King Uzziah – Contextual translation clarifying royal identity
- The Strong One of God – Interpretive rendering highlighting divine empowerment
5. How Is Ὀζίας Used in the Bible?
Ozzias appears primarily in genealogical contexts, most notably in Matthew 1:8-9 where he represents a crucial link between King David and the Messiah Jesus. The Septuagint uses this form throughout the Old Testament historical books, particularly in Chronicles and Kings, where Uzziah’s reign illustrates both divine blessing and human frailty. Matthew’s inclusion of Ozzias in the messianic genealogy emphasizes God’s sovereignty in working through imperfect leaders to accomplish perfect purposes.
The biblical usage pattern reveals how God chooses to work through flawed individuals who ultimately depend on His strength rather than their own abilities. Uzziah’s story encompasses both tremendous success when he relied on יהוה (Yahweh) and catastrophic failure when pride led him to presume upon divine privilege. This duality makes Ozzias particularly significant in understanding how the Messiah’s lineage includes both triumph and tragedy, strength and weakness, faithfulness and failure.
Usage Summary: Ozzias appears in genealogies and historical accounts, emphasizing God’s faithfulness through human leaders who exemplify both strength and weakness.
Cross-reference verses using Ozzias:
- “Joram was the father of Uzziah [Ὀζίας]” Matthew 1:8
6. What Cultural Context Surrounds Ὀζίας?
In ancient Hebrew culture, names carried profound prophetic and theological significance, often reflecting parents’ hopes, divine encounters, or covenant relationships. The name Uzziah emerged during a period when Judah faced external threats and internal spiritual challenges, making the declaration “יהוה (Yahweh) is my strength” particularly meaningful. Kings in the ancient Near East often adopted throne names that emphasized divine authorization, but Uzziah’s name specifically identifies יהוה (Yahweh) as the exclusive source of royal power and authority.
The cultural practice of genealogical preservation served both legal and theological purposes in Jewish society. Legal inheritance and tribal identity depended on accurate lineage records, while theological understanding of God’s covenant faithfulness required demonstrable continuity from Abraham through David to the promised Messiah. Including Ozzias in Matthew’s genealogy would have immediately signaled to Jewish readers that Jesus’ claim to messianic authority rested on legitimate Davidic descent through historically verified kings, even those whose reigns included both remarkable achievements and devastating failures.
Cultural Context: Hebrew names like Ozzias functioned as theological declarations, proclaiming dependence on יהוה (Yahweh) rather than human strength or wisdom.
7. What Does Ὀζίας Teach Us About God?
Ozzias reveals God’s character as one who remains faithful to His covenant promises despite human inconsistency and moral failure. The inclusion of King Uzziah in the messianic lineage demonstrates that God’s redemptive plan operates through grace rather than human merit, using flawed individuals to accomplish perfect purposes. This reflects the fundamental biblical truth that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness, and His glory shines brightest when human pride is humbled and divine dependence is acknowledged.
The theological significance of Ozzias extends beyond individual biography to encompass God’s sovereignty over history and His patience with human frailty. Uzziah’s reign illustrates how temporal success without spiritual humility leads to destruction, while genuine dependence on יהוה (Yahweh) produces lasting blessing. Through Ozzias, we see that God’s love includes both blessing and discipline, prosperity and correction, always aimed at drawing His people back to authentic relationship with Him rather than mere religious performance.
Theological Core: Ozzias demonstrates that God’s covenant faithfulness transcends human failure, working through weak vessels to display His perfect strength.
8. How Can I Apply Ὀζίας to My Life?
The legacy of Ozzias challenges us to examine where we place our ultimate confidence and strength. Like King Uzziah, we often begin well, acknowledging our dependence on God and experiencing His blessing as a result. However, success can breed pride, leading us to forget that every good gift comes from above and every achievement depends on divine grace rather than human ability. Ozzias reminds us that the moment we begin to trust in our own strength, wisdom, or righteousness, we position ourselves for the same kind of devastating fall that marked Uzziah’s later years.
Practically, Ozzias calls us to regular spiritual inventory, asking whether our recent successes have made us more humble and dependent on God or more confident in our own abilities. The king whose name means “יהוה (Yahweh) is my strength” ultimately fell because he forgot this fundamental truth about the source of all power and authority. His inclusion in the Messiah’s genealogy offers hope that our failures need not disqualify us from God’s purposes, but also warns that presumption upon divine grace leads to spiritual disaster.
Self-Examination Questions: Where am I tempting to trust my own strength rather than יהוה (Yahweh)’s power? How can recent successes draw me closer to God rather than away from Him? What areas of pride might be setting me up for spiritual failure?
9. What Words Are Similar to Ὀζίας?
- Ἰεχονίας (Iechonias) – Another king in Matthew’s genealogy whose name means “יהוה (Yahweh) establishes,” showing God’s sovereignty over royal succession – See G2423
- Ἰωσίας (Iosias) – King Josiah, meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) supports,” demonstrating divine backing for righteous leadership – See G2502
- Ἠλίας (Elias) – The prophet Elijah, meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) is God,” emphasizing divine identity and authority – See G2243
- Ζαχαρίας (Zacharias) – Meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) remembers,” highlighting God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises – See G2197
- Ἠσαΐας (Esaias) – The prophet Isaiah, meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) saves,” pointing to God’s redemptive purpose – See G2268
10. Did You Know?
- What does Ozzias mean in modern Greek? Modern Greek still recognizes Ozzias as a biblical name, though contemporary usage focuses more on the historical king rather than the theological meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) is my strength.”
- How did ancient historians use Ozzias? Josephus in his “Antiquities of the Jews” extensively describes King Uzziah’s reign, using the Greek form Ozzias to emphasize both his military achievements and his tragic downfall due to pride.
- What’s the difference between Ozzias and Azarias? While both names refer to the same king, Ozzias (Greek) and Azariah (Hebrew alternate form) emphasize different aspects – Ozzias highlights strength while Azariah means “יהוה (Yahweh) has helped.”
- Why does the Bible use Ozzias only in genealogical contexts in the New Testament? Matthew uses Ozzias specifically to establish Jesus’ legitimate Davidic lineage, focusing on covenant continuity rather than detailed biographical information about individual kings.
- How does Ozzias relate to messianic prophecy? Ozzias represents the human frailty within the Davidic line that makes the perfect Messiah necessary – where earthly kings failed, the eternal King succeeds through divine strength alone.
- What caused Uzziah’s downfall in his later years? Success bred pride, leading him to enter the temple and attempt priestly duties reserved for Aaron’s descendants, resulting in divine judgment through leprosy that lasted until his death.
11. Remember This
Ozzias stands as an eternal reminder that true strength comes not from human ability, achievement, or authority, but from total dependence on יהוה (Yahweh) who gives power to the weak and raises up the humble while bringing down the proud.
