ProphetOld Testament

Prophet Azariah

fl. c. 910–870 B.C. (reign of King Asa of Judah)

Also known as Azariah son of Oded

An Old Testament prophet who in the reign of King Asa of Judah called the people to turn from idols and seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 15).

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Life

Azariah was an Old Testament prophet known from a single biblical episode in 2 Chronicles 15, where he is identified as the son of Oded. His Hebrew name means "Yah has helped" (rendered also as "whom God helps"). He lived in the kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Asa, conventionally dated c. 910–870 B.C.

Rather than a full-time prophet, Azariah is described as one called upon by the Spirit of God for a single, specific assignment. Following Asa's victory over the invading forces of Zerah the Ethiopian, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Azariah, and he went out to meet the king with a word of encouragement and warning. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on February 3.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 4

(Podoben: “Today You have shown forth...”) Enlightened by the Spirit, your pure heart became the dwelling place of most splendid prophecy;
for you saw things far off as if they were near.
Therefore, we honor you, blessed and glorious Prophet Azariah.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 2

We celebrate the memory
of Your prophet Azariah, O Lord;
through him we entreat You,
save our souls.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide

c. 910–870 B.C.Reign of King Asa of JudahAzariah lives and prophesies during the reign of Asa, king of Judah, who undertakes religious reform in the kingdom.
After Asa's victory over ZerahThe Spirit comes upon AzariahFollowing Judah's defeat of the invading forces of Zerah the Ethiopian, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Azariah, who goes out to meet King Asa with a word of encouragement and warning (2 Chronicles 15:1–8).
Asa's fifteenth yearCovenant renewal in JerusalemPrompted by the prophecy, Asa carries out reforms and a great assembly is held in Jerusalem to renew the nation's commitment to the worship of the Lord.

Contributions & Legacy

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Historical Context

Azariah's prophecy is set against the backdrop of King Asa's reign in Judah. By the biblical account, Asa commanded a large military force, and the kingdom faced an invasion by Zerah the Ethiopian, who came against Judah with an enormous army. Asa prayed for divine intervention, and the Lord defeated the invaders.

It was in the aftermath of this victory that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Azariah. The prophet addressed not only the king but "all Judah and Benjamin," delivering his message to the people broadly rather than only to the ruling elite.

The Prophecy and Its Message

Azariah's message to King Asa centered on the conditional relationship between God and His people. As recorded, the prophet told the king that the Lord would be with him as long as he remained with the Lord, worshiping His name and observing His commandments.

The substance of the prophecy rested on a set of related principles: that God remains with those who remain with Him, that those who seek Him will find Him, and that those who forsake Him will themselves be forsaken.

By the biblical narrative, Asa heeded this counsel and undertook sweeping religious reform. He removed foreign altars and idols, purged the land of foreign religions, and led the nation into a renewed covenant with God. He deposed the queen mother Maacah for her worship of Asherah. In the fifteenth year of his reign, after completing these reforms, a great assembly was held in Jerusalem to formalize the nation's renewed commitment to traditional worship, an event that also drew migration into Judah from the northern tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.

Sources and Textual Notes

Azariah is mentioned exclusively in 2 Chronicles 15 (verses 1–8). The Orthodox tradition records that he came from the land of Sembatha and names his father as Oded (also given as Addo).

A discrepancy exists in the ancient manuscripts: while verse 1 identifies the prophet as the son of Oded, the Masoretic Text at verse 8 omits his name, a variation attributed to transcription differences or alternate manuscript traditions.

Repose and Iconography

By the Orthodox account, the Prophet Azariah reposed in peace and was buried in his field. In iconography he is depicted as an elderly man with curly hair.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 3