Boy Old Testament Known
Neriah
light; lamp of the Lord
נֵרִיָהוּ ne.riy.yah
Neriah (Hebrew: נֵרִיָהוּ, ne.riy.yah) means “light; lamp of the Lord”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 10 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 368 children in the United States, ranking 760. Use is rising. Around 3,748 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Baruch in Jeremiah 36.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Neriah
father of Baruch; father of Seraiah
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 10 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 368 | Rising |
| All-time total | 3,748 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 368 in 2025 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | TX | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Jeremiah 32:12 |
| Last appears | Jeremiah 51:59 |
| Cross-references | 139 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Baruch co-occurrence Appears with Baruch in Jeremiah 36.
- Mahseiah co-occurrence Appears with Mahseiah in Jeremiah 32.
- Shelemiah co-occurrence Appears with Shelemiah in Jeremiah 36.
- Cushi co-occurrence Appears with Cushi in Jeremiah 36.
- Nethaniah co-occurrence Appears with Nethaniah in Jeremiah 36.
- Seraiah co-occurrence Appears with Seraiah in Jeremiah 51.
- Jehudi co-occurrence Appears with Jehudi in Jeremiah 36.
- Jeremiah co-occurrence Appears with Jeremiah in Jeremiah 36.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.32.12;
son of: Mahseiah (H4271);
father of: Baruch (H1263J), Seraiah (H8304N)
§ Neriah = "lamp of Jehovah"
son of Maaseiah and father of Baruch and Seraiah
Neriah was the father of Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe.
The biblical story
Neriah was the father of Baruch, who served as the scribe and assistant to the prophet Jeremiah (Jer.32.12). Baruch wrote down the prophecies that Jeremiah dictated to him (Jer.36.4). When King Jehoiakim burned the scroll containing these prophecies, Neriah's son Baruch rewrote them as Jeremiah dictated again (Jer.36.32). Neriah's grandson Seraiah also served Jeremiah (Jer.51.59). The name Neriah means "lamp of Yahweh" in Hebrew.
Key verses
Neriah appears in 10 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
Jeremiah 32:12 -
Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the Lord, saying,
Jeremiah 32:16 -
Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
Jeremiah 36:4 -
And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the Lord in the Lord’s house.
Jeremiah 36:8 -
Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.
Jeremiah 36:14
Show all 10 references
Jeremiah (10)
- Jeremiah 32:12
- Jeremiah 32:16
- Jeremiah 36:4
- Jeremiah 36:8
- Jeremiah 36:14
- Jeremiah 36:32
- Jeremiah 43:3
- Jeremiah 43:6
- Jeremiah 45:1
- Jeremiah 51:59