יֹאשִׁיָּ֫הוּ (yo.shiy.yah)
yo.shiy.yah
Josiah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 48 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Yošiyahu, rendered in English as Josiah, means "whom Jehovah heals." It is a proper noun referring to two distinct figures in the Hebrew Bible: a king of Judah and a later returned exile. The more prominent of these is the monarch who reigned from 642 to 611 BC, remembered for leading a significant religious revival that restored the observance of Mosaic law.
His reign is detailed extensively in Second Kings and Second Chronicles, where he is portrayed as a righteous ruler who sought to purify worship in Jerusalem. His story concludes tragically at the battle of Megiddo, where he was slain by the Egyptian king Necho (2 Kings 23:29). The name also appears less frequently for a descendant named Josiah, son of Zephaniah, whose home hosted a symbolic ceremony involving Joshua the high priest during the time of the prophet Zechariah.
Because this name identifies two separate individuals separated by centuries of history, context is essential for accurate interpretation. The lexical data confirms that the primary association is with the reforming king, whose life and death are recorded across numerous verses in Kings, Chronicles, Jeremiah, and Zephaniah.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Josiah carries the quiet hope of divine restoration: "whom Jehovah heals." In the biblical narrative, this name belongs primarily to a king who began his reign at just eight years old. Yet, rather than being defined by his youth or the troubled legacy of his father, Josiah is remembered for turning the nation back toward God. His story shows that faithfulness is not measured by age or circumstance, but by a heart willing to listen and act on truth.
When Josiah discovered the Book of the Law, he did not merely preserve it; he acted on it with urgency. He removed idols, restored the temple worship, and celebrated Passover in a way that had not been seen since the days of the prophets. This moment invites us to consider how we respond when God’s Word confronts our own lives. It is easy to know what is right, but Josiah models the courage to make it real, even when it requires dismantling long-standing habits or structures.
Though his life ended tragically in battle, his legacy of renewal remains a testament to the power of repentance. For readers today, the name serves as a reminder that healing often begins with a return to foundational truths. Whether in personal faith or community life, there is hope when we choose to align our actions with divine instruction.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 48 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Josiah51×
- of/ Josiah1×
- [will be] Josiah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ7×
- יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ7×
- יֹאשִׁיָּ֥הוּ6×
- יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙4×
- יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ4×
- יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ4×
- יֹאשִׁיָּֽהוּ\׃2×
- יֹאשִׁיָּ֛הוּ2×
- יֹאשִׁיָּ֗הוּ2×
- יֹאשִׁיָּ֔הוּ2×
- לְ/יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ1×
- יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ֒1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 13:2
He cried against the altar by Yahweh’s word, and said, “Altar! Altar! Yahweh says: ‘Behold, a son will be born to David’s house, Josiah by name. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men’s bones on you.’”
This verse highlights the prophetic significance of the name, as a man of God foretold Josiah's birth centuries before he came to power, linking his reign directly to divine prophecy.
-
II Kings 22:3
In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to Yahweh’s house, saying,
The reference to the eighteenth year marks the turning point in Josiah's reign when he initiated the discovery of the Law and the subsequent religious reforms.
-
II Kings 23:24
Moreover, Josiah removed those who had familiar spirits, the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in Yahweh’s house.
This occurrence emphasizes the thoroughness of Josiah's reforms, showing how he actively removed occult practices to align the nation with the newly found covenant text.
-
II Chronicles 35:18
There was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet, nor did any of the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept—with the priests, the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
The note here underscores the unique scale of Josiah's Passover celebration, distinguishing it from all previous observances in Israel's history due to its comprehensive participation.