Boy Old Testament Rare
Seraiah
prince of the Lord
שְׂרָיָהוּ se.ra.yah
Seraiah (Hebrew: שְׂרָיָהוּ, se.ra.yah) means “prince of the Lord”, by traditional interpretation. Eleven men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a priest. In 2025 it was given to 26 children in the United States. Use is rising. Appears with Abdeel in Jeremiah 36.
Which Seraiah?
Eleven men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Seraiah
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Seraiah
father of Ahijah
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Seraiah
son of Tanhumeth
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Seraiah
son of Azriel
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Seraiah
sibling of Baruch; son of Neriah
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Seraiah
Show all 11 bearers
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Seraiah
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Seraiah
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Seraiah
father of Joab; son of Kenaz
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Seraiah
descendant of Simeon; son of Asiel
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Seraiah
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 23 across 7 books
- Bearers
- 11 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 26 | Rising |
| All-time total | 402 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 26 in 2025 | Its highest year on record |
| Ten-year trend | +260% | Change in share of births |
| Strongest state | FL | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 2 Samuel 8:17 |
| Last appears | Jeremiah 52:24 |
| Cross-references | 369 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Baruch attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Neriah.
- Zephaniah co-occurrence Appears with Zephaniah in 2 Kings 25.
- Tanhumeth co-occurrence Appears with Tanhumeth in Jeremiah 40.
- Jaazaniah co-occurrence Appears with Jaazaniah in Jeremiah 40.
- Jeremiah co-occurrence Appears with Jeremiah in Nehemiah 12.
- Reelaiah co-occurrence Appears with Reelaiah in Ezra 2.
- Nehemiah co-occurrence Appears with Nehemiah in Ezra 2.
- Meonothai co-occurrence Appears with Meonothai in 1 Chronicles 4.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Judah living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.4.13;
son of: Kenaz (H7073I);
brother of: Othniel (H6274);
father of: Joab (H3097H)
§ Seraiah = "Jehovah is ruler"
1) the scribe or secretary of David
2) son of Azariah, father of Jehozadak, and the chief priest in the reign of king Zedekiah of Judah and at the time of the capture of Jerusalem
3) son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite and one of the men who went to Gedaliah, the governor over Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, and gave their oath to serve the king of Babylon
4) a Judaite, son of Kenaz, brother of Othniel, and father of Joab
5) a Simeonite, father of Josibiah and grandfather of Jehu
6) a people of the province who returned from exile with Zerubbabel
6a) maybe the same as 10
7) son of Azariah and father of Ezra the priest and scribe
8) a priest who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
9) a priest, son of Hilkiah in the time of Nehemiah
10) a priest or Levite who returned from exile with Zerubbabel
10a) probably a priest and the head of a family of priests after the exile. Maybe same as 6
11) son of Meraiah and messenger sent by the prophet Jeremiah to Babylon with a book of his writings
12) son of Azriel and one of the 3 men commanded by king Jehoiakim of Judah to seize Jeremiah and Baruch
Seraiah, the son of Kenaz, was the father of Joab, who was the father of the Valley of Craftsmen.
The biblical story
Seraiah, mentioned in 1Ch.4.13-14, was the son of Kenaz and the father of Joab. He is listed in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah. Seraiah's son, Joab, is described as the father of Ge-harashim, which means "Valley of Craftsmen." This suggests that Joab and his descendants were skilled artisans or craftsmen, possibly renowned for their expertise in a particular trade. The mention of Seraiah and Joab in this genealogical record highlights the importance of family lineage and occupational heritage within the tribe of Judah.
Key verses
Seraiah appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.
1 Chronicles 4:13 -
And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.
1 Chronicles 4:14
Show all 2 references
1 Chronicles (2)
- 1 Chronicles 4:13
- 1 Chronicles 4:14