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Perez-Uzzah

biblical_place theological_term standard

The place David named after the Lord struck Uzzah for touching the ark of the covenant.

At a Glance

A biblical place-name connected to Uzzah’s death during the transport of the ark.

Key Points

Description

Perez-Uzzah is a place-name associated with the event recorded in 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13. During the transport of the ark, Uzzah put out his hand to steady it, and the Lord struck him there. David then named the place Perez-Uzzah, commonly understood as meaning an “outburst against Uzzah” or “breaking forth against Uzzah.” The narrative’s main emphasis is not on naming itself, but on the holiness of God and the seriousness of handling the ark according to the Lord’s instructions rather than according to human convenience. The account therefore functions as a sobering reminder that reverence and obedience belong together in true worship.

Biblical Context

The name appears in the account of David’s attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem. After Uzzah touched the ark, the Lord judged him, and David named the place Perez-Uzzah. The episode is part of the broader biblical theme that God’s holiness must be honored in the way His presence and ordinances are approached.

Historical Context

In the ancient world, place-names often preserved memorable events. Here the naming of a location serves as an enduring marker of a public, covenantal moment in Israel’s history. The narrative also reflects the importance of proper ritual handling of the ark during transport.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Within the Old Testament world, naming a place after a significant event was a common way of preserving memory. The ark’s transport was not a casual matter; Israel’s sacred objects were to be handled according to divine instruction, not merely practical instinct.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew פֶּרֶץ־עֻזָּה (perets-ʿuzzah), commonly understood as “breaking forth against Uzzah” or “outburst against Uzzah.”

Theological Significance

Perez-Uzzah highlights the holiness of God, the seriousness of divine commands, and the truth that good intentions do not replace obedience. It also shows that God’s presence is a blessing, but never to be treated casually.

Philosophical Explanation

The passage assumes that moral and ritual order are objective realities under God’s authority. Human urgency or practicality cannot override revealed instruction when God has spoken.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not turn the narrative into a claim that God was arbitrary or unjust. The text’s focus is on God’s holiness and the mishandling of the ark, not on inviting speculation beyond what Scripture emphasizes.

Major Views

Most interpreters understand the name as commemorating God’s judgment at that location. The main discussion concerns the precise sense of the Hebrew phrase, not the basic meaning of the event.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should not be used to deny God’s mercy or to claim that every mistake receives immediate judgment in the same way. The passage is a specific historical warning about sacred things and obedience, not a universal formula for providence.

Practical Significance

Perez-Uzzah reminds readers that worship must be governed by God’s word, not by familiarity or improvisation. It calls believers to reverence, care, and obedience when approaching the things of God.

Related Entries

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