View source for Uriah (prophet)

{{Short description|Biblical prophet, son of Shemaiah}}
{{About|the prophet in the [[Book of Jeremiah]]|other people called Uriah|Uriah (disambiguation){{!}}Uriah}}
{{refimprove|date=May 2022}}

'''Uriah'''{{Efn|Also known as "Urijah" 'The lord is my light' [[Hebrew]]: אוּרִיָּה<br>[[Arabic]]:أوريا}} (or '''Urijah''' in some older English translations) is a [[prophet]] and [[martyr]] mentioned in the [[Book of Jeremiah]].<ref> {{bibleverse||Jeremiah|26:20-23|NIV}}</ref>

== Biblical narrative ==
He is described as being the son of Shemaiah from [[Kiriath-Jearim]]. During the reign of [[Jehoiakim]], king of [[kingdom of Judah|Judah]], he fled into [[Egypt]] from the cruelty of the king, but having been brought back he was beheaded and his body "cast into the graves of the common people." His life shows one possible consequence of giving biblical prophecy. <ref>https://digitalbible.ca/article-page/bible-study-biblical-characters-who-is-Urijah-1699570183315x551893106281438700</ref>
He spoke the same message as [[Jeremiah]] did but unlike Jeremiah he ended up being killed. There is some discussion as to why one was killed and the other was not.<ref>https://ettingerwriting.wordpress.com/2025/02/15/why-did-this-prophet-die-and-not-the-other/</ref><ref>https://www.melissabeaty.com/studies/bible-study-jeremiah-261-24</ref>

== In Islam ==
In [[Islam]], Uryā ibn Shamāyā ([[Arabic]]: أوريا ابن شمايا) has no mention in the [[Quran]] nor [[Hadith]]. Some people consider him to be an unmentioned [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|prophet]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} 

== Lachish Letters ==
While it is not certain, there is a scholarly opinion that Uriah might be referenced in the Lachish letters. See [[Lachish letters]].

== Notes ==
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== References ==
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{{Prophets of the Tanakh}}
{{Extra-Quranic Prophets of Islam}}

[[Category:Biblical murder victims]]
[[Category:People in the Book of Jeremiah]]
[[Category:Deaths by decapitation]]

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