Uzal אוּזָל
Son of Joktan, descendant of Shem
Who is Uzal in the Bible?
Uzal was a son of Joktan and a descendant of Shem, mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis 10:27 and 1 Chronicles 1:21. According to biblical records, Uzal and his brothers settled in the region stretching from Mesha toward Sephar in the eastern hill country, which scholars believe corresponds to ancient Yemen. Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that Uzal likely founded or gave his name to the ancient city of Sanaa in Yemen, where the name Uzal was used in antiquity. Though Uzal appears only briefly in Scripture as part of the genealogical record, his inclusion in the Table of Nations underscores the biblical narrative of how Shem's descendants dispersed and populated the ancient Near East and Arabian Peninsula.
Biography
Uzal was one of the sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem. He is mentioned in the genealogy of Shem's descendants, which traces the lineage of the Semitic peoples. Uzal and his brothers were said to have settled in the region "from Mesha toward Sephar, in the eastern hill country." Uzal likely settled and gave his name to an area in ancient Yemen, as the ancient name for the Yemeni city of Sanaa was also Uzal.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Almodad Early PatriarchSon of JoktanSon of Joktan, descendant of ShemView full profile →
- Sheleph Early PatriarchSon of JoktanSon of Joktan, descendant of ShemView full profile →
- Hazarmaveth Early PatriarchSon of JoktanA son of Joktan, descendant of Shem.View full profile →
- Jerah Early PatriarchSon of JoktanA son of Joktan, descendant of Shem.View full profile →
- Hadoram Early PatriarchSon of JoktanSon of Joktan, a descendant of Shem.View full profile →
- Diklah Early PatriarchSon of JoktanDescendant of Shem through JoktanView full profile →
- Obal Early PatriarchSon of JoktanSon of JoktanView full profile →
- Abimael Early PatriarchSon of JoktanDescendant of Shem, son of JoktanView full profile →
- Sheba Tribe of GadSon of AbihailGadite leader during the reign of JothamView full profile →
- Ophir Early PatriarchSon of JoktanSon of JoktanView full profile →
- Havilah Early PatriarchSon of JoktanA son of Joktan, descendant of Shem.View full profile →
- Jobab Tribe of BenjaminSaul's familyA son of Elpaal, descendant of BenjaminView full profile →
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 10:27
"Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,"
Study Genesis →
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 1:21
"Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אוּזָל |
Uzal
/ref>. the Revised Version (British and American) reads, "Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for thy wares." Here an obscure verbal form, me'uzzal, is taken to mean "something spun," "yarn." But with a very slight change we may read me'uzal = "from Uzal."
The name is identical with the Arabic `Auzal, the old capital of Yemen, later called San`a'. San`a' is described as standing high above sea-level in a fertile land, and traversed by a river bed which in the rainy season becomes a torrent. Under the Himyarite dynasty it succeeded Zafar as the residence of the Tubba`s. If it is the same place as the Audzara or Ausara of the classics, it is clear why Arabic geographers dwell upon its great antiquity. The most celebrated feature of the town was Ghumdan, an immense palace, the building of which tradition ascribes to Shorabbil, the 6th known king of the Himyarites. According to Ibn Khaldoun this building had four fronts in color red, white, yellow and green respectively. In the midst rose a tower of seven stories, the topmost being entirely of marble (Caussin de Perceval, Essai, II, 75). In the 7th century AD the town became the capital of the Zaidite Imams, and the palace was destroyed toward the middle of that century by order of the caliph Othman.
A. S. Fulton
uz'-a, uz'-a ('uzzah (2Sa 6:6-8), otherwise `uzza' meaning uncertain):
(1) One of those who accompanied the ark on its journey from Kiriath-jearim toward David's