Word Study for H187 (אוּזָל) | Strong's Concordance

ʼÛwzâl /oo-zawl'/ Ask about this word

Rootof uncertain derivation

MeaningUzal, a son of Joktan

KJV usageUzal.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼÛwzâl — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʼÛwzâl, represented by H187, is defined as Uzal, a son of Joktan. Its derivation is uncertain. This name appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses, where it functions exclusively as a proper noun to identify a specific individual within a genealogy.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H187 appears in identical genealogical lists that record the descendants of Joktan. Its presence in both the book of Genesis and 1 Chronicles highlights its role in establishing and preserving ancestral lines. In both verses, Uzal is mentioned as part of a group of brothers, specifically listed between Hadoram and Diklah (Genesis 10:27, 1 Chronicles 1:21).

Related Words & Concepts

The context of H187 is defined by the names listed alongside it, establishing its place within a family unit:

H1913 Hădôwrâm: This name refers to Hadoram, a son of Joktan, and the tribe descended from him. Hadoram is consistently listed with Uzal in the genealogies of Genesis 10:27 and 1 Chronicles 1:21.
H1853 Diqlâh: Defined as Diklah, a region of Arabia, this name also appears in immediate succession to Uzal in both of its occurrences (Genesis 10:27, 1 Chronicles 1:21), framing the identity of this son of Joktan.

Theological Significance

The significance of H187 is tied to its function within biblical genealogies rather than any abstract theological concept.

Genealogical Integrity: The inclusion of Uzal in the detailed lists of Joktan's sons contributes to the comprehensive ancestral records that are foundational to the Old Testament narrative.
Historical Marker: The name serves as a specific marker to identify one of the lines of descent from Joktan.
Scribal Preservation: Its consistent appearance in both Genesis and Chronicles underscores the importance placed on the careful preservation and transmission of lineage information (Genesis 10:27, 1 Chronicles 1:21).

Summary

In summary, H187 ʼÛwzâl is a proper name for a son of Joktan. Its role in scripture is not conceptual but historical, serving to populate the detailed family trees that form the backbone of the biblical account of nations. Its two appearances confirm its place within the lineage of Joktan, consistently named alongside his brothers Hadoram and Diklah.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

אוּזָל
אוּזָּל

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis and 1 Chronicles (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Genesis

1 Chronicles

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.