Οὐρίας (Ourias)
Ourias
Uriah
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Ourias is the Greek form of the Hebrew Uriah, meaning "light of Jehovah." It appears only once in the New Testament, in the genealogy of Jesus recorded in Matthew 1:6. Here, the text identifies him as the husband of Bathsheba and notes that she became the mother of Solomon by him.
Although the Greek narrative mentions him briefly, the name carries significant weight from the Old Testament historical accounts. Uriah was a loyal soldier in King David’s army, known for his integrity when he refused to go home to his wife while his comrades remained in battle. His presence in Matthew’s list highlights that Jesus’ lineage includes figures with complex and tragic histories, rather than only those of obvious moral perfection.
Translators typically render this name as "Uriah" in English Bibles, preserving the original Hebrew identity within the Greek text. The inclusion serves to connect the earthly family tree of Christ directly to the Davidic covenant, anchoring the Messiah’s human ancestry in a specific historical moment involving King David and his household.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ourias, or Uriah, appears in Matthew’s genealogy as a quiet but powerful reminder that God’s plan works through real people with complex histories. He was not a king or a prophet, but a soldier known for his loyalty and integrity, even when it cost him his life. His inclusion shows that Jesus’ ancestry is rooted in ordinary human experiences, including pain, betrayal, and redemption.
For believers today, this offers hope: no matter how broken our past may seem, God can weave it into something meaningful. Uriah’s story reminds us that faithfulness matters, even when we do not see the full picture of God’s work in our lives. It is a testament to the fact that God uses imperfect people to fulfill His purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of Uriah;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Οὐρίου·1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 1:6
Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.
This verse uniquely identifies Uriah as the husband of Bathsheba, linking Jesus’ lineage to a moment of profound personal tragedy and divine redemption in David’s household.