Azariah
King of Judah, also known as Uzziah
Also known as: Azariah, Azarja, Ussias, Uzziah, Abednego
Azariah, better known by the name Uzziah, ascended Judah's throne at sixteen and reigned for 52 years—one of the longest reigns in Judah's history. Under his leadership, the kingdom experienced remarkable prosperity: he defeated the Philistines and other neighboring peoples, fortified Jerusalem with powerful towers, organized a mighty army, and invested in agricultural development in the desert regions. He sought God under the guidance of the prophet Zechariah, and as long as he did so, God gave him success. But when pride took hold of his heart, he overstepped the divinely appointed order by entering the temple to burn incense himself—a holy service reserved for the descendants of Aaron. The priests confronted him, but the king flew into a rage. Immediately, leprosy broke out on his forehead, and he had to live the rest of his life in isolation while his son Jotham served as regent. It was in the year Uzziah died that the prophet Isaiah received his powerful calling through a vision of the Lord seated on His throne in the temple—an event that forms a striking theological contrast to the fallen king's arrogance.
Family
Key events
Azariah becomes king over Judah
Azariah became king at the age of sixteen, following the death of his father Amaziah, and reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem.
1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah became king of Judah.
בִּשְׁנַ֨ת עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וָשֶׁ֙בַע֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לְיָרָבְעָ֖ם מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מָלַ֛ךְ עֲזַרְיָ֥ה בֶן־אֲמַצְיָ֖ה מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃
2He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah, of Jerusalem.
בֶּן־שֵׁ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ הָיָ֣ה בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וַחֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ יְכָלְיָ֖הוּ מִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
1Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
וַיִּקְח֞וּ כָּל־עַ֤ם יְהוּדָה֙ אֶת־עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ וְה֕וּא בֶּן־שֵׁ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה וַיַּמְלִ֣יכוּ אֹת֔וֹ תַּ֖חַת אָבִ֥יו אֲמַצְיָֽהוּ׃
2He rebuilt Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king had rested with his fathers.
ה֚וּא בָּנָ֣ה אֶת־אֵיל֔וֹת וַיְשִׁיבֶ֖הָ לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה אַחֲרֵ֥י שְׁכַֽב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ עִם־אֲבֹתָֽיו׃ פ
3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah, of Jerusalem.
בֶּן־שֵׁ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ עֻזִּיָּ֣הוּ בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וַחֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ *יכיליה **יְכָלְיָ֖ה מִן־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
Azariah does what is right in the Lord's eyes
He did what was right in the Lord's eyes, just as his father Amaziah had done, and sought God under the guidance of Zechariah.
3He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה אֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ אָבִֽיו׃
4He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה אֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ אָבִֽיו׃
5He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.
וַיְהִי֙ לִדְרֹ֣שׁ אֱלֹהִ֔ים בִּימֵ֣י זְכַרְיָ֔הוּ הַמֵּבִ֖ין בִּרְאֹ֣ת הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּבִימֵי֙ דָּרְשׁ֣וֹ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה הִצְלִיח֖וֹ הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ ס
Great military and economic expansion
Uzziah built up a strong army, fortified Jerusalem with towers, waged war against the Philistines and other nations, and promoted agriculture with irrigation systems. He became powerful, and his fame spread far and wide.
6He went out and made war against the Philistines, and he broke down the walls of Gath, the walls of Jabneh, and the walls of Ashdod. Then he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and among the Philistines.
וַיֵּצֵא֙ וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַיִּפְרֹ֞ץ אֶת־ח֣וֹמַת גַּ֗ת וְאֵת֙ חוֹמַ֣ת יַבְנֵ֔ה וְאֵ֖ת חוֹמַ֣ת אַשְׁדּ֑וֹד וַיִּבְנֶ֣ה עָרִ֔ים בְּאַשְׁדּ֖וֹד וּבַפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
7God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs who lived in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites.
וַיַּעְזְרֵ֨הוּ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֜ים עַל־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֧ים וְעַל־*הערביים **הָֽעַרְבִ֛ים הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים בְּגוּר־בָּ֖עַל וְהַמְּעוּנִֽים׃
8The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, for he had grown very strong.
וַיִּתְּנ֧וּ הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֛ים מִנְחָ֖ה לְעֻזִּיָּ֑הוּ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ שְׁמוֹ֙ עַד־לְב֣וֹא מִצְרַ֔יִם כִּ֥י הֶחֱזִ֖יק עַד־לְמָֽעְלָה׃
9Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them.
וַיִּ֨בֶן עֻזִּיָּ֤הוּ מִגְדָּלִים֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם עַל־שַׁ֧עַר הַפִּנָּ֛ה וְעַל־שַׁ֥עַר הַגַּ֖יְא וְעַל־הַמִּקְצ֑וֹעַ וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽם׃
10He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, for he had large herds both in the foothills and on the plain. He had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile fields, for he loved the soil.
וַיִּ֨בֶן מִגְדָּלִ֜ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר וַיַּחְצֹב֙ בֹּר֣וֹת רַבִּ֔ים כִּ֤י מִקְנֶה־רַּב֙ הָ֣יָה ל֔וֹ וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה וּבַמִּישׁ֑וֹר אִכָּרִ֣ים וְכֹֽרְמִ֗ים בֶּהָרִים֙ וּבַכַּרְמֶ֔ל כִּֽי־אֹהֵ֥ב אֲדָמָ֖ה הָיָֽה׃ ס
11Uzziah had an army trained for war, ready to go out in companies according to the number mustered by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders.
וַיְהִ֣י לְעֻזִּיָּ֡הוּ חַיִל֩ עֹשֵׂ֨ה מִלְחָמָ֜ה יוֹצְאֵ֧י צָבָ֣א לִגְד֗וּד בְּמִסְפַּר֙ פְּקֻדָּתָ֔ם בְּיַד֙ *יעואל **יְעִיאֵ֣ל הַסּוֹפֵ֔ר וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖הוּ הַשּׁוֹטֵ֑ר עַ֚ל יַד־חֲנַנְיָ֔הוּ מִשָּׂרֵ֖י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
12The total number of the heads of families, mighty warriors all, was 2,600.
כֹּ֠ל מִסְפַּ֞ר רָאשֵׁ֤י הָאָבוֹת֙ לְגִבּ֣וֹרֵי חָ֔יִל אַלְפַּ֖יִם וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃
13Under their command was an army of 307,500 trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies.
וְעַל־יָדָם֩ חֵ֨יל צָבָ֜א שְׁלֹ֧שׁ מֵא֣וֹת אֶ֗לֶף וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת אֲלָפִים֙ וַחֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת עוֹשֵׂ֥י מִלְחָמָ֖ה בְּכֹ֣חַ חָ֑יִל לַעְזֹ֥ר לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ עַל־הָאוֹיֵֽב׃
14Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and slingstones.
וַיָּכֶן֩ לָהֶ֨ם עֻזִּיָּ֜הוּ לְכָל־הַצָּבָ֗א מָגִנִּ֤ים וּרְמָחִים֙ וְכ֣וֹבָעִ֔ים וְשִׁרְיֹנ֖וֹת וּקְשָׁת֑וֹת וּלְאַבְנֵ֖י קְלָעִֽים׃
15In Jerusalem he made machines, designed by skilled men, to be placed on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped until he became strong.
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ ׀ בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֨ם חִשְּׁבֹנ֜וֹת מַחֲשֶׁ֣בֶת חוֹשֵׁ֗ב לִהְי֤וֹת עַל־הַמִּגְדָּלִים֙ וְעַל־הַפִּנּ֔וֹת לִירוֹא֙ בַּֽחִצִּ֔ים וּבָאֲבָנִ֖ים גְּדֹל֑וֹת וַיֵּצֵ֤א שְׁמוֹ֙ עַד־לְמֵ֣רָח֔וֹק כִּֽי־הִפְלִ֥יא לְהֵעָזֵ֖ר עַ֥ד כִּֽי־חָזָֽק׃
Azariah struck with leprosy after sacrilege
In his pride, Azariah entered the Lord's temple to burn incense on the altar of incense, which was reserved for the priests. Priest Azariah and eighty other priests tried to stop him, but the king became furious. Then leprosy broke out on his forehead while he stood before the priests at the altar of incense.
5The LORD struck the king, and he had a defiling skin disease until the day of his death. He lived in a separate house, while Jotham the king's son was in charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
וַיְנַגַּ֨ע יְהוָ֜ה אֶת־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיְהִ֤י מְצֹרָע֙ עַד־י֣וֹם מֹת֔וֹ וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּבֵ֣ית הַחָפְשִׁ֑ית וְיוֹתָ֤ם בֶּן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל־הַבַּ֔יִת שֹׁפֵ֖ט אֶת־עַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃
16But when he had become strong, his heart grew proud, to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
וּכְחֶזְקָת֗וֹ גָּבַ֤הּ לִבּוֹ֙ עַד־לְהַשְׁחִ֔ית וַיִּמְעַ֖ל בַּיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה לְהַקְטִ֖יר עַל־מִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃
17Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of the LORD, courageous men.
וַיָּבֹ֥א אַחֲרָ֖יו עֲזַרְיָ֣הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְעִמּ֞וֹ כֹּהֲנִ֧ים ׀ לַיהוָ֛ה שְׁמוֹנִ֖ים בְּנֵי־חָֽיִל׃
18They confronted King Uzziah and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful, and you will have no honor from the LORD God."
וַיַּעַמְד֞וּ עַל־עֻזִּיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ לֹא־לְךָ֣ עֻזִּיָּ֗הוּ לְהַקְטִיר֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה כִּ֣י לַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים בְּנֵי־אַהֲרֹ֛ן הַמְקֻדָּשִׁ֖ים לְהַקְטִ֑יר צֵ֤א מִן־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ כִּ֣י מָעַ֔לְתָּ וְלֹֽא־לְךָ֥ לְכָב֖וֹד מֵיְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִֽים׃
19Then Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand to burn incense, became enraged. And while he raged at the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the altar of incense.
וַיִּזְעַף֙ עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ וּבְיָד֥וֹ מִקְטֶ֖רֶת לְהַקְטִ֑יר וּבְזַעְפּ֣וֹ עִם־הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים וְ֠הַצָּרַעַת זָרְחָ֨ה בְמִצְח֜וֹ לִפְנֵ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל לְמִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃
20When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned toward him and saw the leprosy on his forehead, they rushed him out of there. He himself hurried to leave, because the LORD had struck him.
וַיִּ֣פֶן אֵלָ֡יו עֲזַרְיָהוּ֩ כֹהֵ֨ן הָרֹ֜אשׁ וְכָל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים וְהִנֵּה־ה֤וּא מְצֹרָע֙ בְּמִצְח֔וֹ וַיַּבְהִל֖וּהוּ מִשָּׁ֑ם וְגַם־הוּא֙ נִדְחַ֣ף לָצֵ֔את כִּ֥י נִגְּע֖וֹ יְהוָֽה׃
21King Uzziah remained a leper until the day of his death. He lived in a separate house, a leper, cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham was in charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
וַיְהִי֩ עֻזִּיָּ֨הוּ הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מְצֹרָ֣ע ׀ עַד־י֣וֹם מוֹת֗וֹ וַיֵּ֜שֶׁב בֵּ֤ית *החפשות **הַֽחָפְשִׁית֙ מְצֹרָ֔ע כִּ֥י נִגְזַ֖ר מִבֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וְיוֹתָ֤ם בְּנוֹ֙ עַל־בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שׁוֹפֵ֖ט אֶת־עַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Jotham rules as regent
Because Azariah had leprosy, he lived in a separate house isolated from others, and his son Jotham took charge of the king's household and judged the people in the land.
5The LORD struck the king, and he had a defiling skin disease until the day of his death. He lived in a separate house, while Jotham the king's son was in charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
וַיְנַגַּ֨ע יְהוָ֜ה אֶת־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיְהִ֤י מְצֹרָע֙ עַד־י֣וֹם מֹת֔וֹ וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּבֵ֣ית הַחָפְשִׁ֑ית וְיוֹתָ֤ם בֶּן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל־הַבַּ֔יִת שֹׁפֵ֖ט אֶת־עַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃
21King Uzziah remained a leper until the day of his death. He lived in a separate house, a leper, cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham was in charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
וַיְהִי֩ עֻזִּיָּ֨הוּ הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מְצֹרָ֣ע ׀ עַד־י֣וֹם מוֹת֗וֹ וַיֵּ֜שֶׁב בֵּ֤ית *החפשות **הַֽחָפְשִׁית֙ מְצֹרָ֔ע כִּ֥י נִגְזַ֖ר מִבֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וְיוֹתָ֤ם בְּנוֹ֙ עַל־בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שׁוֹפֵ֖ט אֶת־עַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Isaiah's prophetic call at Uzziah's death
The prophet Isaiah received his calling in the year King Uzziah died, when he saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne in the temple. This vision marks a turning point in Judah's prophetic history.
1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
בִּשְׁנַת־מוֹת֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ וָאֶרְאֶ֧ה אֶת־אֲדֹנָ֛י יֹשֵׁ֥ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֖א רָ֣ם וְנִשָּׂ֑א וְשׁוּלָ֖יו מְלֵאִ֥ים אֶת־הַהֵיכָֽל׃
2Above him stood seraphim, each with six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.
שְׂרָפִ֨ים עֹמְדִ֤ים ׀ מִמַּ֙עַל֙ ל֔וֹ שֵׁ֧שׁ כְּנָפַ֛יִם שֵׁ֥שׁ כְּנָפַ֖יִם לְאֶחָ֑ד בִּשְׁתַּ֣יִם ׀ יְכַסֶּ֣ה פָנָ֗יו וּבִשְׁתַּ֛יִם יְכַסֶּ֥ה רַגְלָ֖יו וּבִשְׁתַּ֥יִם יְעוֹפֵֽף׃
3And they called out to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."
וְקָרָ֨א זֶ֤ה אֶל־זֶה֙ וְאָמַ֔ר קָד֧וֹשׁ ׀ קָד֛וֹשׁ קָד֖וֹשׁ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת מְלֹ֥א כָל־הָאָ֖רֶץ כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃
4At the sound of the voice that called, the doorposts of the thresholds shook, and the house was filled with smoke.
וַיָּנֻ֙עוּ֙ אַמּ֣וֹת הַסִּפִּ֔ים מִקּ֖וֹל הַקּוֹרֵ֑א וְהַבַּ֖יִת יִמָּלֵ֥א עָשָֽׁן׃
5Then I said, "Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips—and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
וָאֹמַ֞ר אֽוֹי־לִ֣י כִֽי־נִדְמֵ֗יתִי כִּ֣י אִ֤ישׁ טְמֵֽא־שְׂפָתַ֙יִם֙ אָנֹ֔כִי וּבְתוֹךְ֙ עַם־טְמֵ֣א שְׂפָתַ֔יִם אָנֹכִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֑ב כִּ֗י אֶת־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת רָא֥וּ עֵינָֽי׃
6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs.
וַיָּ֣עָף אֵלַ֗י אֶחָד֙ מִן־הַשְּׂרָפִ֔ים וּבְיָד֖וֹ רִצְפָּ֑ה בְּמֶ֨לְקַחַ֔יִם לָקַ֖ח מֵעַ֥ל הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
7He touched my mouth with it and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin is atoned for."
וַיַּגַּ֣ע עַל־פִּ֔י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה נָגַ֥ע זֶ֖ה עַל־שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ וְסָ֣ר עֲוֺנֶ֔ךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ֖ תְּכֻפָּֽר׃
8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here I am. Send me!"
וָאֶשְׁמַ֞ע אֶת־ק֤וֹל אֲדֹנָי֙ אֹמֵ֔ר אֶת־מִ֥י אֶשְׁלַ֖ח וּמִ֣י יֵֽלֶךְ־לָ֑נוּ וָאֹמַ֖ר הִנְנִ֥י שְׁלָחֵֽנִי׃
Mentioned in the Bible (82)
1 Kings 4:21 Kings 4:52 Kings 14:212 Kings 15:12 Kings 15:62 Kings 15:72 Kings 15:82 Kings 15:132 Kings 15:172 Kings 15:232 Kings 15:272 Kings 15:302 Kings 15:321 Chronicles 2:81 Chronicles 2:381 Chronicles 2:391 Chronicles 3:121 Chronicles 5:351 Chronicles 5:361 Chronicles 5:371 Chronicles 5:391 Chronicles 5:401 Chronicles 6:91 Chronicles 6:211 Chronicles 9:111 Chronicles 11:441 Chronicles 27:252 Chronicles 15:12 Chronicles 21:22 Chronicles 22:62 Chronicles 23:12 Chronicles 26:12 Chronicles 26:32 Chronicles 26:82 Chronicles 26:112 Chronicles 26:142 Chronicles 26:172 Chronicles 26:182 Chronicles 26:202 Chronicles 26:212 Chronicles 26:222 Chronicles 26:232 Chronicles 28:122 Chronicles 29:122 Chronicles 31:102 Chronicles 31:13Ezra 7:1Ezra 7:3Ezra 10:21Nehemiah 3:23Nehemiah 3:24Nehemiah 7:7Nehemiah 8:7Nehemiah 10:3Nehemiah 11:4Nehemiah 12:33Isaiah 1:1Isaiah 7:1Jeremiah 43:2Daniel 1:6Daniel 1:7Daniel 1:11Daniel 1:19Daniel 2:17Daniel 2:49Daniel 3:12Daniel 3:13Daniel 3:14Daniel 3:16Daniel 3:19Daniel 3:20Daniel 3:22Daniel 3:23Daniel 3:26Daniel 3:28Daniel 3:29Daniel 3:30Hosea 1:1Amos 1:1Zechariah 14:5Matthew 1:8Matthew 1:9