Amaziah
Pronounced am-uh-ZY-uh
- Meaning
- "The LORD is mighty; Strengthened by the LORD"
- Origin
- Hebrew
Amaziah means "the LORD is mighty" or "strengthened by the LORD" in Hebrew. He was a king of Judah whose reign began well but ended in disaster — a pattern that serves as a warning about the dangers of partial faithfulness. Amaziah "did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart." He executed justice for his father's assassins but showed restraint by not killing their children — specifically following the law of Moses. He also achieved a significant military victory over Edom with 300,000 troops. But success bred arrogance. After defeating Edom, Amaziah brought back their idols and worshipped them — prompting a prophet to ask the devastating question: "Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?" Amaziah then rashly challenged King Joash of Israel to battle and was decisively defeated. His capital's wall was breached, the temple was looted, and Amaziah was eventually assassinated by conspirators in Lachish. His story illustrates how initial faithfulness, corrupted by pride, leads to complete downfall.
Spiritual meaning
Amaziah — 'the LORD is mighty' — forgot whose strength had won his victories. His worship of defeated gods is the Bible's most absurd act of idolatry, warning us never to worship what God has already proven powerless.
Related verses (KJV)
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart."
2 Chronicles 25:2 (KJV) →"Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?"
2 Chronicles 25:15 (KJV) →