"And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Athaliah Meaning in the Bible
Athaliah
girl
Athaliah means "The LORD is exalted; Afflicted by the LORD", a girl's name of Hebrew origin. Athaliah appears in the King James Bible, and 2 Kings 11:1 is the passage most often tied to it. Athaliah's story proves that no human scheme can overthrow God's promises. She murdered an entire royal family, yet God preserved one child to fulfill His covenant — demonstrating that divine purposes are indestructible.
Is Athaliah in the Bible?
Yes — Athaliah appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Kings 11:1.
Pronunciation:/ath-uh-LY-uh/
OriginHebrew
MeaningThe LORD is exalted; Afflicted by the LORD
What does Athaliah mean?
Athaliah is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "The LORD is exalted; Afflicted by the LORD". Athaliah means "the LORD is exalted" in Hebrew — an ironic name for one of Scripture's most ruthless villains.
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What does Athaliah mean in the Bible?
Athaliah means "The LORD is exalted; Afflicted by the LORD" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Athaliah means "the LORD is exalted" in Hebrew — an ironic name for one of Scripture's most ruthless villains. She was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, wife of King Jehoram of Judah, and the only woman to rule as sole monarch over Judah.
When Athaliah's son King Ahaziah was killed, she seized the throne by ordering the massacre of the entire royal family — her own grandchildren. This horrific act nearly destroyed the Davidic line through which the Messiah was promised to come.
But God preserved one infant: Joash, hidden by his aunt Jehosheba in the temple for six years while Athaliah reigned. When the priest Jehoiada finally revealed young Joash and crowned him king, Athaliah tore her clothes and cried "Treason! Treason!" — unable to see that her own reign was the true treason against God's covenant.
Athaliah's story demonstrates that evil can temporarily seize power, but God's purposes cannot be permanently thwarted. One hidden child in the temple was enough to preserve God's promise.
Where does Athaliah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Athaliah is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with 2 Kings 11:1. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him."
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Which books of the Bible mention Athaliah?
Athaliah is mentioned across 2 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Athaliah?
Athaliah's story proves that no human scheme can overthrow God's promises. She murdered an entire royal family, yet God preserved one child to fulfill His covenant — demonstrating that divine purposes are indestructible.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Athaliah:
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What names are related to Athaliah?
Names like Athaliah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "The LORD is exalted; Afflicted by the LORD" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Athaliah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Elijah
boy
"My God is the LORD"
Athaliah & Elijah
Nehemiah
boy
"The LORD comforts"
Athaliah & Nehemiah
Abishai
boy
"Father of a gift; My father is Jesse"
Athaliah & Abishai
Abraham
boy
"Father of many nations"
Athaliah & Abraham
Abraham
boy
"Father of many nations"
Athaliah & Abraham
Ariel
unisex
"Lion of God; Altar hearth"
Athaliah & Ariel
Share the meaning of Athaliah
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Athaliah name meaning: frequently asked questions
Yes — Athaliah appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Kings 11:1.
Athaliah means "The LORD is exalted; Afflicted by the LORD." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in 2 Kings 11:1, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Hebrew. Athaliah comes into English from Hebrew and carries the sense "The LORD is exalted; Afflicted by the LORD." It appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Kings 11:1.
Common questions about the name Athaliah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Athaliah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Athaliah?
You can read every verse where Athaliah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.