Uh-zi´uh; Heb., “Yah[weh] is strong”
1 The son of Amaziah and the father of Jotham who reigned as king in Jerusalem during the eighth century BCE. Uzziah (called Azariah in 2Kgs 14:21) ascended the throne at the age of sixteen after his father was driven from office. During his long reign, he seems to have had some military success (2Chr 26:6-8; 2Chr 11-15:6) and to have devoted considerable attention to agriculture. In later life the king was stricken with leprosy, which was interpreted as divine punishment for pride displayed in an attempt to usurp priestly prerogative. At least two prophets, Amos and Hosea, were active in his time, and Isaiah’s vision in (Isa 6:1-13) occurred in the year of Uzziah’s death. 2 A Levite descended from Kohath (1Chr 6:24). 3 The father of Jonathan, an official over the royal treasuries in David’s time (1Chr 27:25).
