אָחָז (a.chaz)
a.chaz
Ahaz
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 40 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Ahaz, derived from a Hebrew root meaning "to grasp" or "hold," identifies two distinct figures in Scripture, though it is most prominently associated with the king of Judah. This monarch, son of Jotham and father of Hezekiah, reigned during a turbulent period when prophets like Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah were active. His name serves as a fitting label for a ruler whose reign was marked by political instability and religious compromise.
Historical accounts in Kings and Chronicles portray Ahaz as a leader who prioritized immediate security over covenantal faithfulness. Rather than trusting in divine protection during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis, he sought alliances with Assyria, adopting foreign practices that alienated him from his people’s traditions. The prophet Isaiah’s interaction with Ahaz in Isaiah 7 highlights this tension, particularly when the king refuses to ask for a sign despite being invited to do so.
While the biblical narrative focuses heavily on his failures, the name itself carries a sense of possession or control. This etymological weight contrasts sharply with the historical reality of his rule, which is often described as weak and idolatrous. The text notes that he was buried in the city of David but did not receive the honors due to a king, reflecting the severe judgment placed upon his legacy by the biblical authors.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ahaz comes from a Hebrew root meaning to grasp or hold tight. In Scripture, this word appears most often in the records of King Ahaz of Judah. His story shows what happens when we try to hold onto security by relying on our own power instead of trusting God. He faced a serious threat from neighboring armies and chose to pay off Assyria with temple gold rather than seeking divine help.
This historical account serves as a quiet warning for believers today. It reminds us that true stability does not come from political maneuvering or material wealth. When we feel the pressure of life’s crises, we are invited to look beyond our immediate circumstances. The narrative encourages us to rest in God’s covenant faithfulness rather than grasping for control through compromise.
Even though Ahaz’s reign ended in judgment, the biblical record preserves these details for our instruction. We see that human strategies often fail where divine trust succeeds. This word invites reflection on where we place our confidence when fear rises. It points us toward a deeper reliance on the Lord who remains steadfast through every season.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 40 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ahaz37×
- and/ Ahaz4×
- of/ Ahaz1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אָחָ֥ז8×
- אָחָ֜ז8×
- אָחָ֖ז4×
- אָחָ֣ז3×
- וְ/אָחָז֙2×
- וְ/אָחָֽז\׃2×
- אָחָז֙2×
- אָחָֽז\׃2×
- אָחָ֛ז2×
- אָחָ֔ז2×
- אָחָ֑ז2×
- אָ֠חָז2×
Key Verses
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II Kings 16:2
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which was right in Yahweh his God’s eyes, like David his father.
This verse establishes the baseline for Ahaz’s reign by explicitly stating he did not do what was right in Yahweh’s eyes, unlike his ancestor David.
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II Kings 16:7
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.”
Here Ahaz actively seeks Assyrian protection, revealing his decision to prioritize political alliances over covenantal trust during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis.
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II Kings 16:10
King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest a drawing of the altar and plans to build it.
Ahaz’s visit to Damascus and subsequent adoption of a foreign altar design demonstrates how his fear led him to alter the worship practices of Jerusalem.
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II Chronicles 28:1
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, like David his father,
The Chronicler reiterates Ahaz’s failure to follow Yahweh, linking his reign directly to the spiritual decline of the kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Ahaz mean?
Why is King Ahaz considered a negative figure in the Bible?
How many times does the name Ahaz appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (40 verses across 6 books)
II Kings 17 verses
Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in…
II Kings 16:1In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
II Kings 16:2Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which…
II Kings 16:5Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war. They besieged Ahaz,…
II Kings 16:7So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save…
II Kings 16:8Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in Yahweh’s house, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it…
II Kings 16:10King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and King…
II Kings 16:11Urijah the priest built an altar. According to all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Urijah the priest made it…
II Kings 16:15King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, “On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, the evening meal…
II Kings 16:16Urijah the priest did so, according to all that King Ahaz commanded.
II Kings 16:17King Ahaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the…
II Kings 16:19Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
II Kings 16:20Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.
II Kings 17:1In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel for nine years.
II Kings 18:1Now in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
II Kings 20:11Isaiah the prophet cried to Yahweh; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the…
II Kings 23:12The king broke down the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and…