Who is King Uzziah in the Bible?

Quick Facts

Father: King Amaziah, 2Ch 26:1
Mother:  Jecoliah, 2Ch 26:3
Predecessor: King Amaziah, 2Ch 26:1
Succession: 10th king
Length of reign: 52 years, 2Ch 26:3
Successor: King Jotham, 2Ch 26:23
Age when made a king: 16 years, 2Ch 26:3
Kingdom: Kingdom of Judah
Reign: 791 B.C – 740 B.C
Morality: good king, 2Ki 15:3, 2Ch 26:4
Other names: Azariah, 2Ki 15:1
Biblical history: 2Ch 26:1-23; 2Ki 15:1-7 

Uzziah became a great king

The name Uzziah means ‘God is strength‘. And the name Azariah also means ‘God has helped‘. Uzziah, also called Azariah, became a king at 16 years old when his father was murdered. And he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem.  His mother’s name was Jecoliah. He did what was right in the sight of God. When he died, his son Jotham succeeded him.

King Uzziah’s reign was one of the most prosperous reigns in the kingdom of Judah. The Lord helped him to have conquests; he defeated the Philistines, the Arabians, and the Meunites. He committed himself to developing his kingdom; he built cities, towers, etc.; he built a strong defense for Jerusalem; and he built a strong military force. He also engaged in business, rearing animals, and farming. Since he feared the Lord, God made Uzziah prosper in all that he did. His prosperity, power, and conquest made his fame go as far as Egypt. (2 Chronicles 26:6-15)

Uzziah contracts leprosy

King Uzziah was a good king. However, when God blessed him and he became great, rich, and famous, he became proud. Though he did not forsake the Lord at the height of his power, he was driven by pride to transgress against the Lord by attempting to do something that he was not permitted to do.  

One day King Uzziah entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. But Azariah and 80 courageous priests tried to stop him, telling him to get out of the sanctuary for it was not his duty to burn incense to the Lord but the priests’. Then Uzziah became angry with them. Just then, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests. When the priests saw it, they rushed Uzziah out of the temple because the Lord had struck him.

Afterward, being a leper and unclean, he lived in isolation and was excluded from entering the house of the Lord to worship for the rest of his life. He died with leprosy for he was a leper to the day of his death. (Bible reference 2 Chronicles 26:16-21)

Uzziah’s achievements

  • Uzziah defeated the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. (2 Chronicles 26:6)
  • Uzziah built cities around Ashdod in the territory of the Philistines. (2 Chronicles 26:6)
  • Uzziah defeated the Arabians of Gur-baal and the Mehunims. (2 Chronicles 26:7)
  • Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and the Angle, and fortified them. (2 Chronicles 26:9)
  • Uzziah built towers in the desert and dug many wells. (2 Chronicles 26:10)
  • Uzziah built a strong military comprising 2600 brave men who were leaders of an army of 307500 men. (2 Chronicles 26:11-13)
  • Uzziah equipped his army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and slings to cast stones. 2 Chronicles 26:14
  • He made stone and arrow shooting machines on the towers and the corners of the walls of Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 26:15)

Major events during Uzziah’s reign

  • Uzziah defeated the Philistines and broke the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. (2 Chronicles 26:6)
  • Uzziah built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines. (2 Chronicles 26:6)
  • Uzziah defeated the Arabians who dwelt in Gur-baal and the Mehunims. (2 Chronicles 26:7)
  • The Ammonites paid tribute to King Uzziah. (2 Chronicles 26:8)

Contemporaries of Uzziah

NB: Nothing, good or bad happened between Uzziah and these kings of Israel.

  • King Jeroboam II of Israel had reigned for 27 years when Uzziah became a king. (2Ki 15:1)
  • King Zachariah, son of Jeroboam II, began to reign during the 38th year of Uzziah’s reign. (2Ki 15:8)
  • King Shallum began to reign during the 39th year of Uzziah’s reign. (2Ki 15:13)
  • King Menahem became a king during the 39th year of Uzziah’s reign. (2Ki 15:17)
  • King Pekahiah, son of Menahem, began to reign during the 50th year of Uzziah’s reign. (2Ki 15:23)
  • King Pekah began to reign during the 52nd year of Uzziah’s reign. (2Ki 15:27)

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