Lexical Summary Achaz: Ahaz Original Word: Ἀχάζ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Achaz. Of Hebrew origin ('Achaz); Achaz, an Israelite -- Achaz. see HEBREW 'Achaz NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin Achaz Definition Ahaz, a king of Judah NASB Translation Ahaz (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 881: ἈχάζἈχάζ (WH Ἀχας), ὁ (so the Sept. for אָחָז possessing, possessor; in Josephus, Ἀχαζης, Ἀχου, ὁ), Ahaz, king of Judah, (from circa 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 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. 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. Key References for Further Study 2 Kings 18:1; 2 Chronicles 29:1 (Hezekiah’s reforms) Forms and Transliterations Ἀχάζ Ἀχὰζ Αχας Ἄχας Achaz Acház AchàzLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 1:9 NGRK: 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 |