הוֹשַׁעֲיָה (ho.sha.yah)
ho.sha.yah
Hoshaiah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Hoshaiah, rendered from the Hebrew הוֹשַׁעֲיָה, carries the meaning "Yahweh has saved." It appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible, linking two distinct periods of Israel’s history through men who bore this title. The word itself is a concise declaration of divine deliverance, combining the root for salvation with the divine name.
One bearer of this name was a prince during the time of Jeremiah, identified as the father of Azariah or Jezaniah (Jeremiah 42:1). He lived through the turmoil preceding Jerusalem’s destruction. Another man named Hoshaiah appears later in Nehemiah 12:32, where he leads a group in the dedication of the rebuilt city walls. Though brief, these mentions anchor the name in moments of national crisis and restoration.
Translators typically retain the proper name rather than translating it literally, preserving its identity as a personal marker of faith. The recurrence of this name across generations suggests a family tradition or theological hope that God’s saving power remains constant, even when circumstances shift from exile to return.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hoshaiah means "Yahweh has saved." It appears only three times in Scripture, yet it connects two very different seasons of Israel’s history. In Jeremiah’s time, a man named Hoshaiah was the father of leaders who faced the threat of Jerusalem’s destruction. Later, in Nehemiah’s day, another Hoshaiah helped lead people in celebrating the rebuilding of the city walls.
This name reminds us that God’s saving power is constant. Whether we are facing crisis or enjoying restoration, His deliverance remains true. The repetition of this name across generations shows a family tradition of trusting in God’s faithfulness. It encourages us to remember that He has saved, and He continues to save those who rely on Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hoshaiah3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הוֹשַֽׁעְיָה֙1×
- הוֹשַֽׁעְיָ֑ה1×
- הוֹשַׁ֣עְיָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 42:1
Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, came near,
This verse identifies Hoshaiah as the father of Jezaniah during the critical period before Jerusalem's fall, anchoring the name in a time of national crisis.
-
Nehemiah 12:32
and after them went Hoshaiah, with half of the princes of Judah,
Here, Hoshaiah leads half the princes in the dedication of the walls, showing the name associated with joy and restoration after exile.
-
Jeremiah 43:2
then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, “You speak falsely. Yahweh our God has not sent you to say, ‘You shall not go into Egypt to live there;’
This mention identifies Azariah as Hoshaiah’s son during a moment of conflict, linking the name to the turbulent decisions facing the remnant in Egypt.