881. Achaz
Lexical Summary
Achaz: Ahaz

Original Word: Ἀχάζ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Achaz
Pronunciation: ah-KHAZ
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-adz')
KJV: Achaz
NASB: Ahaz
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H271 (אָחָז - Ahaz))]

1. Achaz, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Achaz.

Of Hebrew origin ('Achaz); Achaz, an Israelite -- Achaz.

see HEBREW 'Achaz

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Achaz
Definition
Ahaz, a king of Judah
NASB Translation
Ahaz (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 881: Ἀχάζ

Ἀχάζ (WH Ἀχας), (so the Sept. for אָחָז possessing, possessor; in Josephus, Ἀχαζης, Ἀχου, ), Ahaz, king of Judah, (from circa to circa ; cf. B. D. under the word ), (2 Kings 16:1ff; 2 Chronicles 28:16ff; Isaiah 7:1ff): Matthew 1:9.

STRONGS NT 881: Ἀχας [Ἀχας, Matthew 1:9 WH; see Ἀχάζ.]

Topical Lexicon
Placement in Matthew’s Genealogy

The Greek form Ἀχάζ (Achaz) surfaces twice in Matthew 1:9, identifying the father of Hezekiah and son of Jotham. This single verse anchors the eighth-century king of Judah inside the carefully structured genealogy that links Abraham to Jesus Christ. Achaz thus occupies the midpoint between the covenant with David and the Babylonian exile, preserving the legal descent of the Messiah through the royal line even when the moral quality of the kings varied dramatically.

Historical Background

Achaz, better known from the Hebrew Scriptures as Ahaz, reigned over the southern kingdom circa 732–716 BC. The biblical record (2 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 28) depicts political upheaval: the Syro-Ephraimite coalition pressured Judah, prompting Achaz to solicit help from Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. That appeal forfeited treasury silver and temple gold (2 Kings 16:8) and inaugurated Judah’s vassalage to a pagan super-power.

Religious Policies and Moral Appraisal

Scripture consistently portrays Achaz as one of Judah’s most apostate rulers. He
• introduced a Damascus-style altar in the temple complex (2 Kings 16:10–16).
• closed the temple doors and suppressed regular worship (2 Chronicles 28:24).
• practiced child sacrifice, “even making his son pass through the fire” (2 Kings 16:3).

These actions stand in stark contrast to the covenant standards laid out in Deuteronomy and enforced by earlier reforming kings. The prophetic viewpoint, voiced especially by Isaiah, interprets such practices as a betrayal of the Lord’s exclusive claim on Judah’s throne and worship.

The Immanuel Prophecy

Isaiah confronted Achaz during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis, urging trust in the Lord rather than foreign alliances (Isaiah 7:4). When Achaz refused to request a confirming sign, Isaiah declared, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call Him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Even an unbelieving monarch could not derail the divine promise; the messianic sign transcended his unfaithfulness and anticipated the virgin birth of Jesus.

Redemptive Significance in the Genealogy

Matthew does not sanitize the lineage of Christ. By including notoriously idolatrous figures like Achaz, the Gospel underscores two truths:

1. God’s saving plan advances through imperfect people whose failures spotlight divine grace.
2. The Davidic covenant endures independent of any king’s merit, culminating in the perfectly obedient Son of David.

Contrast with Hezekiah

Achaz’s reign sets the stage for his son. Hezekiah dismantled idolatrous shrines, reopened the temple, and turned Judah back to covenant faithfulness (2 Chronicles 29–31). The father-son contrast illustrates the biblical principle that each generation must choose obedience for itself (Ezekiel 18:20), yet may also benefit from God’s mercy that “keeps His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him” (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Archaeological Corroboration

Artifacts such as the “Ahaz bulla” (a royal seal impression reading “Belonging to Ahaz, son of Jotham, king of Judah”) confirm the historicity of the king named in Matthew’s genealogy. These findings reinforce the reliability of both Old and New Testament chronology.

Theological Themes and Ministry Applications

• Sovereign Grace: Achaz’s presence in the messianic line magnifies grace that triumphs over human rebellion.
• Faith versus Pragmatism: His alliance with Assyria warns against trusting worldly powers over God’s promises.
• Parental Influence: Negative examples can provoke reform in the next generation, encouraging believers to pray for spiritual turnaround in their families.
• Prophecy Fulfilled: Isaiah’s Immanuel sign, first uttered to Achaz, reaches ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, validating Matthew’s messianic claim.

Key References for Further Study

Matthew 1:9

2 Kings 16

2 Chronicles 28

Isaiah 7–8

2 Kings 18:1; 2 Chronicles 29:1 (Hezekiah’s reforms)

Forms and Transliterations
Ἀχάζ Ἀχὰζ Αχας Ἄχας Achaz Acház Achàz
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 1:9 N
GRK: ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀχάζ Ἀχὰζ δὲ
NAS: the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz
KJV: Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz
INT: was father of Ahaz Ahaz moreover

Matthew 1:9 N
GRK: τὸν Ἀχάζ Ἀχὰζ δὲ ἐγέννησεν
NAS: of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father
KJV: Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
INT: Ahaz Ahaz moreover was father of

Strong's Greek 881
2 Occurrences


Ἀχάζ — 2 Occ.

880
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