יְרוּשָׁא, יְרוּשָׁה (ye.ru.sah)
ye.ru.sah
Jerusha
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name Yerushah (also spelled Yerusha) appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, identifying a queen of Judah during the divided monarchy. She is first introduced as the wife of King Uzziah and mother of King Jotham in 2 Kings 15:33, with a parallel mention in 2 Chronicles 27:1. Her brief scriptural presence anchors her within the royal lineage of David, marking her as a key figure in the transition between two kings.
Linguistically, the name derives from a root meaning "to inherit" or "possession." Lexical sources suggest it may carry the sense of one who takes possession or is taken in marriage. This etymology fits her role as the royal consort who secured the dynastic line by bearing Jotham, ensuring the continuation of the throne after Uzziah’s reign.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Jerusha carries a quiet strength rooted in the Hebrew idea of inheritance or possession. In the biblical narrative, this meaning comes alive through her role as the mother of King Jotham and wife of Uzziah. Her presence in the royal lineage shows how God often works through family ties to preserve His promises across generations.
Though Scripture gives us only brief details about her life, her name reminds us that every person in Jesus’ ancestry plays a part in God’s larger story. We may not know all her actions, but we see how she helped secure the line of David, ensuring the throne passed to the next generation. This continuity points to God’s faithfulness in keeping His covenant with Israel.
For us today, Jerusha’s name encourages trust in God’s long-term plans. Even when our own stories seem small or unnoticed, we are part of a greater inheritance—a spiritual heritage secured by Christ. We can find peace knowing that God values every life and uses ordinary people to fulfill His purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] Jerusha2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְרוּשָׁ֖ה1×
- יְרוּשָׁ֖א1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 15:33
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.
This verse identifies Jerusha as the mother of King Jotham, anchoring her in the royal lineage and showing how she helped secure the dynastic transition after Uzziah.
-
II Chronicles 27:1
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.
The parallel account confirms her name and role, emphasizing the consistency of the biblical record regarding her place in Judah’s history.