Original Word: עֻלָּא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Ulla'
Pronunciation: oo-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ool-law')
KJV: Ulla
NASB: Ulla
Word Origin: [feminine of H5923 (עוֹל עוֹל - yoke)]

1. burden
2. Ulla, an Israelite

Ulla

Feminine of ol; burden; Ulla, an Israelite -- Ulla.

see HEBREW ol

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
an Asherite
NASB Translation
Ulla (1).

עֻלָּא proper name, masculine in Asher 1 Chronicles 7:39, Ωλα.

Name and Genealogical Context

The sole biblical occurrence of עֻלָּא (Ulla) appears in 1 Chronicles 7:39. In the extensive tribal listings of 1 Chronicles, Ulla is introduced not as a patriarch but as a descendant within the house of Asher: “The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.” (1 Chronicles 7:39). His placement several generations after the allotment of Canaan situates him late in the period of the Judges or early in the monarchy, emphasizing the chronicler’s intent to preserve even the lesser–known branches of Israel for post-exilic readers.

Tribal Identity and Historical Setting

Ulla belongs to the tribe of Asher, one of Jacob’s twelve sons and later a distinct tribal territory along Israel’s northern Mediterranean coast (Joshua 19:24-31). The Chronicler’s genealogies (1 Chronicles 7:30-40) highlight Asher’s fruitful families and “outstanding men, heads of families, and mighty warriors” (1 Chronicles 7:40), underscoring God’s faithfulness to the prophetic blessings pronounced over Asher:
• Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Asher, prompting Leah to declare, “How happy I am!” (Genesis 30:13).
• Moses prophesied, “Asher’s food will be rich, and he will yield royal delicacies” (Deuteronomy 33:24-25).

By naming Ulla and his sons, Scripture traces the continuity of that blessing through the exile and return, affirming the enduring covenant relationship.

Theological Significance

1. Preservation of the Remnant. Ulla’s mention testifies that none of God’s people are forgotten (Isaiah 49:15-16). Even an otherwise obscure descendant receives a record in the inspired text, reinforcing divine care for every lineage within the covenant community.
2. Reliability of Scripture. Chronicles compiles data from prophetic records (1 Chronicles 29:29) and royal archives; the precision in naming Ulla and his offspring affirms the historical reliability of God’s Word (Luke 1:1-4).
3. Continuity of Promise. Although Asher’s territory lay in the northern kingdom that later fell to Assyria, post-exilic Chronicler could still trace families like Ulla’s, demonstrating that exile does not annul the promises of God (Jeremiah 31:35-37).

Lessons for Contemporary Ministry

• Value Every Member. Like Ulla, countless believers labor in obscurity. Pastors and leaders are called to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Peter 5:2), recognizing each individual’s worth in Christ.
• Steward Family Legacies. The genealogies challenge families today to preserve and transmit God’s truth across generations (Psalm 78:4-7).
• Celebrate Covenant Faithfulness. Congregational worship can highlight testimonies of God’s faithfulness to unnoticed saints, reinforcing assurance that “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Related Biblical Themes

Genealogies—Genesis 5; Matthew 1

Tribal Blessings—Genesis 49; Deuteronomy 33

Remnant Theology—Ezra 2; Romans 11

Additional Resources for Study

• “The Chronicler as Genealogist” in The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
• Robert L. Alden, “Chronicles” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary
• Andrew E. Hill, 1 & 2 Chronicles: NIV Application Commentary

עֻלָּ֑א עלא ‘ul·lā ‘ullā ulLaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts