Uzzah עֻזָּא
Died while moving the ark; place named after him
Who is Uzzah in the Bible?
Uzzah was a man who died while helping transport the ark of the covenant in 1 Chronicles 13:7-11. He and his brother Ahio were guiding a cart carrying the ark when the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady it. God struck him down immediately for this irreverent act, and he died beside the ark. The place where this tragedy occurred was named Perez-uzzah, meaning "outbreak against Uzzah," and the incident left King David angry and afraid. Uzzah's death serves as a sobering reminder in Scripture of God's holiness and the importance of proper reverence when approaching sacred things.
Biography
Uzzah was a man who died while transporting the ark of the covenant. He and his brother Ahio were guiding the cart carrying the ark when the oxen stumbled. Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, but God struck him down for his irreverent act, and he died there beside the ark. The place where this occurred was named Perez-uzzah, which means "outbreak against Uzzah," and David was angry and afraid because of this divine judgment. The ark was then taken aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Chronicles 4 verses
- 1 Chronicles 13:7
"So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart."
- 1 Chronicles 13:9
"When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled."
- 1 Chronicles 13:10
"And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God."
- 1 Chronicles 13:11
"Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day."
2 Samuel 4 verses
- 2 Samuel 6:3
"They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart,"
- 2 Samuel 6:6
"When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled."
- 2 Samuel 6:7
"And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God."
- 2 Samuel 6:8
"Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עֻזָּא |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | עֻזָּא |
| Named | Hebrew | פֶּרֶץ עֻזָּא |