Onias
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The name Onias designates several figures in Second Temple Judaism, most notably Onias III, the High Priest deposed by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and his son Onias IV, who established a rival temple at Leontopolis in Egypt.
What is the meaning of Onias in the Bible?
The name Onias designates several figures in Second Temple Judaism, most notably Onias III, the High Priest deposed by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and his son Onias IV, who established a rival temple at Leontopolis in Egypt.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the Onias family clarifies the political and religious fractures within Judaism during the Maccabean era, explaining the existence of alternative worship centers and the intense internal conflicts referenced in historical books of the Bible.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Onias in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Onias clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.