Seraiah שְׂרָיָהוּ
High priest during the reign of Zedekiah
Who is Seraiah in the Bible?
Seraiah was the high priest of Judah during the reign of King Zedekiah, the last king before the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:18, Jeremiah 52:24). As a descendant of Aaron (1 Chronicles 6:14, Ezra 7:1), he held the highest religious authority in the land and oversaw temple services and religious practices. After Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians, Seraiah was captured and executed by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the Babylonian guard, at Riblah (2 Kings 25:18). His death symbolized the tragic end of an era, marking the conclusion of the high priestly line that had served in the first temple and underscoring the severity of Judah's judgment and exile.
Biography
Seraiah, mentioned in 2Ki.25.18, 1 Chronicles 2Ki.6.14, Ezr.7.1, Neh.11.11, and Jer.52.24, was the high priest during the reign of King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile. As the high priest, Seraiah held the highest religious authority in the land and was responsible for overseeing the temple services and religious practices. He was also a descendant of Aaron, as evident from the genealogical records in 1 Chronicles and Ezra. Tragically, after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, Seraiah was captured and executed by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the Babylonian guard, at Riblah. His death marked the end of the line of high priests serving in the first temple.
Family
In Scripture
5 biblical books ; 3 with study content2 Kings 1 verse
- 2 Kings 25:18
"The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers."
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 6:14
"Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak."
Ezra 1 verse
- Ezra 7:1
"Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,"
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Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 11:11
"Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of the house of God;"
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Jeremiah 1 verse
- Jeremiah 52:24
"The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שְׂרָיָהוּ | šĕrāyāh | Serajah , the name of nine Israelites |