Lexical Summary
Yizliy'ah: Yizliy'ah
Original Word:יִזְלִיאָה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Yizliy'ah
Pronunciation:yiz-lee-YAH
Phonetic Spelling:(yiz-lee-aw')
KJV: Jezliah
Word Origin:[perhaps from an unused root (meaning to draw up)]
1. he will draw out
2. Jizliah, an Israelite
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jezliah
Perhaps from an unused root (meaning to draw up); he will draw out; Jizliah, an Israelite -- Jezliah.
Brown-Driver-Briggs
1 Chronicles 8:18 ( , A ,
L ).
(Arabic
glide, slip; of arrow,skim, slide along;
a kind oflatch, sliding bolt; Aramaic ispour forth (tears),flow down).
Topical Lexicon
Name and Theological NuanceThe personal name יִזְלִיאָה (Yizliah) bears the covenantal element “-iah,” a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh. The root connotes Yahweh’s active deliverance, making the name itself a testimony that rescue and preservation come from the Lord. Even in a brief genealogical notice, the Chronicler preserves this confession, reminding later readers that the God who redeems Israel is woven into the very identities of His people.
Biblical Occurrence
Yizliah is found a single time in Scripture:
“Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.” (1 Chronicles 8:18)
Genealogical Setting
1 Chronicles 8 traces multiple lines within the tribe of Benjamin, culminating in Saul’s lineage (verses 33-40). Elpaal, mentioned earlier in the same chapter (verse 12), stands within a branch known for founding or rebuilding strategic towns such as Ono and Lod (verse 12). Yizliah, as Elpaal’s son, thus belongs to a family noted for initiative and settlement on the western edge of Benjaminite territory—areas later significant during the return from exile (Nehemiah 6:2; 11:35).
Historical Context
Chronicles was compiled after the Babylonian exile, when national identity needed reaffirmation. Every name in the tribal records demonstrated God’s faithfulness to preserve a remnant. By recording lesser-known figures like Yizliah, the Chronicler asserts that no member of the covenant community is overlooked. This is especially poignant for Benjamin, a small tribe whose territory bordered Jerusalem and whose loyalty often oscillated (Judges 19-21;2 Samuel 20). The inclusion of Yizliah underscores God’s determination to sustain even the seemingly marginal families of His people.
Theological Themes
1. Divine Deliverance: The name itself witnesses that salvation is Yahweh’s work, anticipating later declarations of deliverance perfected in Christ (Colossians 1:13).
2. Covenant Memory: Genealogies are spiritual ledgers that record the outworking of God’s promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). Yizliah’s slot in the list testifies that divine covenant penetrates ordinary generations.
3. Corporate Solidarity: Though an individual, Yizliah is inseparable from his tribe. Scripture balances personal identity and communal belonging, a pattern mirrored in the New Testament church (1 Corinthians 12:12-14).
Ministry Significance
• Valuing the Hidden Servant: Yizliah never receives exploits or speeches, yet his mention affirms that obscurity before men does not equal insignificance before God. Pastors and lay workers alike find encouragement that the Lord records every act of faithfulness (Hebrews 6:10).
• Encouraging Genealogical Study: Modern readers sometimes bypass lists, but names like Yizliah show these records to be rich sources for tracing God’s providence. Teaching through genealogies can cultivate confidence in Scripture’s historical reliability and its unified redemptive storyline.
• Honoring Family Heritage: Discipleship in the home transmits covenant faith across generations. The Chronicler’s precision illustrates the biblical priority of lineage, inviting families today to steward their spiritual heritage intentionally (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Geographical and Post-Exilic Links
Elpaal’s clan—Yizliah included—was connected to Lod and Ono, towns rebuilt by returning exiles (Nehemiah 11:35). This suggests that descendants of Yizliah may have stood among those who responded to the prophetic call to leave Babylon and restore the land. Their ancestral identity became a catalyst for renewed commitment to covenant life.
New Testament Echoes
Benjaminite identity surfaces again in the apostle Paul, “a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee” (Philippians 3:5). The preservation of names like Yizliah paved the way for Paul’s own heritage, showing how every generation contributes to God’s unfolding plan. The faithfulness that guarded Yizliah’s line ultimately served gospel expansion to the Gentiles.
Summary
Though Yizliah appears only once, his name embodies Yahweh’s deliverance, his placement confirms the meticulous faithfulness of God to Benjamin, and his legacy calls believers to value every member of the covenant family—known or obscure—in the ongoing account of redemption.
Forms and Transliterations
וְיִזְלִיאָ֛ה ויזליאה veyizliAh wə·yiz·lî·’āh wəyizlî’āh
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