3404. Yeriyyah or Yeriyyahu
Lexical Summary
Yeriyyah or Yeriyyahu: Jeriah or Jeriah-hu

Original Word: יְרִיָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yriyah
Pronunciation: yeh-ree-YAH or yeh-ree-YAH-hoo
Phonetic Spelling: (yer-ee-yaw')
KJV: Jeriah, Jerijah
NASB: Jeriah, Jerijah
Word Origin: [from H3384 (יָרָה יָרָא - teach) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. Jah will throw
2. Jerijah, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jeriah, Jerijah

Or Yriyahuw {yer-ee-yaw'-hoo}; from yarah and Yahh; Jah will throw; Jerijah, an Israelite -- Jeriah, Jerijah.

see HEBREW yarah

see HEBREW Yahh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yarah and Yah
Definition
"Yah will throw," a Levite
NASB Translation
Jeriah (2), Jerijah (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
יְרִיָּ֫הוּ 1 Chronicles 23:19; 1 Chronicles 24:23, יְרִיָּה 1 Chronicles 26:31 proper name, masculine (compare יְרִיאֵל) chief of one of the Levitical courses, ᵐ5 Ιδουδ, Ιερια, Ιεδδι, Ιεδειμος, etc.

Topical Lexicon
Name and Meaning

Jeriah, sometimes rendered Jerijah, carries the idea of “Yahweh teaches” or “Yahweh has shown.” Even the name itself hints at a life designed for instruction and oversight within the covenant community.

Scriptural Occurrences

1 Chronicles 23: 19

1 Chronicles 24: 23

1 Chronicles 26: 31

Genealogical Setting

Jeriah is the firstborn son of Hebron, who is a grandson of Levi through Kohath (Numbers 3: 19 – 20). As the eldest in his branch, Jeriah becomes the natural head of the Hebronite clans. Firstborn status in Old Testament narrative frequently conveys responsibility as well as privilege (compare Genesis 49: 3 – 4), and Jeriah exemplifies that pattern among the Levites.

Levitical Duties under David

When King David reorganized the Levites late in his reign to prepare for Solomon’s Temple, Jeriah’s line is listed prominently (1 Chronicles 23: 19; 24: 23). The context of 1 Chronicles 23 outlines three primary spheres of Levitical ministry after the Ark had found a permanent resting place:
• assisting the priests in sacrificial worship,
• maintaining the sacred precincts,
• and leading musical praise.

Although the text does not single out Jeriah for a particular subdivision, his family’s placement among the Hebronites aligns them with gatekeeping and administrative oversight (see 1 Chronicles 26: 30).

Chief over the Hebronites

The most detailed notice appears in 1 Chronicles 26: 31 – 32:

“As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was the chief according to the genealogical records of his fathers. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, a search was made, and excellent men were found among them at Jazer in Gilead. There were twenty-seven hundred relatives of Jeriah, capable men and heads of families. King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king.”

Several themes emerge:

1. Genealogical validation – The chronicler highlights careful record-keeping that confirms Jeriah’s authority. Scripture repeatedly links proper lineage with legitimate ministry.
2. Character assessment – The Levites under Jeriah are described as “excellent” and “capable,” underscoring that spiritual service demands moral quality as well as heritage.
3. Geographic reach – Their assignment east of the Jordan (Jazer of Gilead) shows that Levitical oversight was not confined to Jerusalem. Jeriah’s clan functioned as a spiritual and civil bridge between the centralized worship of Zion and the more remote tribes.

Administrative and Spiritual Significance

David entrusts Jeriah’s family with “every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king.” The dual wording captures the biblical unity of sacred and civic responsibilities. For conservative readers, this foreshadows the New Testament expectation that church leadership should model integrity both “in the household of God” and “toward outsiders” (compare 1 Timothy 3: 7).

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Faithful records matter. Genealogies in Chronicles, including Jeriah’s, affirm that God honors historical continuity in His people.
• Leadership requires proven character. The chronicler’s commendation of Jeriah’s relatives invites believers to value competence and godliness over mere position.
• Ministry extends beyond flagship locations. Jeriah’s Hebronites served in Gilead, illustrating that the work of God encompasses overlooked regions and diverse tribes.

Related Topics for Further Study

Hebronite Levites; Levitical gatekeepers; Administrative reforms of David; Transjordan tribes and worship; Biblical concept of the firstborn in leadership

Forms and Transliterations
יְרִיָּ֑הוּ יְרִיָּ֣ה יְרִיָּ֤הוּ יריה יריהו yə·rî·yā·hū yə·rî·yāh yeriYah yərîyāh yeriYahu yərîyāhū
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 23:19
HEB: בְּנֵ֖י חֶבְר֑וֹן יְרִיָּ֤הוּ הָרֹאשׁ֙ אֲמַרְיָ֣ה
NAS: of Hebron [were] Jeriah the first,
KJV: of Hebron; Jeriah the first,
INT: the sons of Hebron Jeriah the first Amariah

1 Chronicles 24:23
HEB: וּבְנָ֖י יְרִיָּ֑הוּ אֲמַרְיָ֙הוּ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י
NAS: The sons [of Hebron]: Jeriah [the first], Amariah
KJV: And the sons [of Hebron]; Jeriah [the first], Amariah
INT: the sons Jeriah Amariah the second

1 Chronicles 26:31
HEB: לַֽחֶבְרוֹנִי֙ יְרִיָּ֣ה הָרֹ֔אשׁ לַֽחֶבְרוֹנִ֥י
NAS: As for the Hebronites, Jerijah the chief
KJV: Among the Hebronites [was] Jerijah the chief,
INT: the Hebronites Jerijah the chief Hebronites

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3404
3 Occurrences


yə·rî·yāh — 1 Occ.
yə·rî·yā·hū — 2 Occ.

3403
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