🔼The name Uzzah: Summary
- Meaning
- Strength
- Etymology
- From the verb עזז ('azaz), to be strong.
🔼The name Uzzah in the Bible
There are two people named Uzzah in the Bible, one is a descendant of Merari, a son of Levi, whose father is named Shimei and whose son is named Shimea (1 Chronicles 6:29).
Probably the most famous one is the son of Abinadab and the brother of Ahio (2 Samuel 6:3). This Uzzah is present when king David removes the Ark of the Covenant from Abinadab's house in Gibeah with the idea of bringing it to Jerusalem. At the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen that pull the cart startle and the Ark threatens to slide off the cart. When Uzzah reaches out to stop the Ark from falling, the anger of YHWH burns against him and God strikes him dead.
David in turn gets angry, names the place Perez-uzzah, and fears having to transport the Ark further. He leaves the Ark in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months before finally bringing it to Jerusalem.
This Uzzah is called עזא (Uzza) in 2 Samuel 6:3 and in the parallel text of 1 Chronicles 13:7-11.
🔼Etymology of the name Uzzah
The name Uzzah comes from the Hebrew verb עזז ('azaz), generally meaning to be strong:
עזז
The verb עזז ('azaz) means to be strong. Adjective עז ('az) means strong, mighty or fierce and adjective עזוז ('izzuz) means mighty or powerful. Nouns עז ('oz) and עזוז ('ezuz) mean strength, might or fierceness.
Noun עזניה ('ozniya) denotes some kind of bird of prey (this word may actually be a convenient import from another language) and noun עז ('ez) denotes a she-goat (this word may actually derive from a verb that means to be wayward or perhaps strong-headed).
Verb עוז ('uz) means to bring into refuge or to seek safety. Noun מעוז (ma'oz) describes a place or agent of safety.
🔼Uzzah meaning
For a meaning of the name Uzzah, both NOBSE Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names read Strength.
Also note the striking similarity between the names עזה (Uzzah) and עזה (Gaza).