Hebrew Explorer logo
Hebrew Explorer
The tool for deep Hebrew research into the biblical Scriptures

Bulla of Ahaz, King of Judah

'Belonging to Ahaz (son of) Jehotham, king of Judah' — a royal seal impression with no findspot

Israel & Judah · seal / bulla, inscription · Unprovenanced (from the antiquities market) · found 1995

Found 1995 — Unprovenanced; seen with an antiquities dealer by Robert Deutsch in 1995 and published by him (1997–98) from the Shlomo Moussaieff collection

Where Unknown (antiquities market) (Israel)

Dates from c. 735–715 BCE · Iron Age IIB · Divided Kingdom (Ahaz of Judah; Isaiah)

Now at Private collection (Shlomo Moussaieff), London; not on public display

Names a biblical person Ahaz, Jotham (unprovenanced)

How Bulla of Ahaz, King of Judah was found

Appeared without any record of excavation. Deutsch published it with a group of other Judahite bullae; some of these carry a fingerprint on the back.

What it is

A clay seal impression about 1 cm across with three lines of Paleo-Hebrew: 'Belonging to Ahaz (son of) Yehotam (Jotham), king of Judah', with the imprint of the papyrus and string it once sealed on the back. Its style matches excavated royal bullae of the late eighth century.

Why it matters for the Bible

If genuine, this is the personal seal impression of the king to whom Isaiah spoke the Immanuel prophecy, and it gives his father's full name Jotham (Yehotam) just as 2 Kings does. Because it came from the market it cannot be proven, though most epigraphers accept it. It is best read alongside the excavated bulla of Hezekiah, Ahaz's son, which uses the same royal formula and lends it credibility.

Unprovenanced (from the antiquities market): No excavation context; authenticity is judged likely by most epigraphers on the basis of style and a fingerprint, but it cannot be verified. Present as probable, not proven.

The Hebrew word: MEH-lech Ye-hoo-DAH

מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה

מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה is pronounced MEH-lech Ye-hoo-DAH and means king of Judah — the royal title on the bulla (Strong's H4428 + H3063).

People this discovery connects to

Places

Events

Syro-Ephraimite war · Isaiah's Immanuel sign to Ahaz

Bulla of Ahaz, King of Judah in Scripture

2 Kings 15:38 First mention of Ahaz in Scripture.

2 Kings 16:1-2 Ahaz son of Jotham becomes king of Judah — the exact wording on the bulla.

Isaiah 7:10-14 Isaiah's sign to King Ahaz, the man whose seal this may be.

Questions people ask

What is Bulla of Ahaz, King of Judah?
A clay seal impression about 1 cm across with three lines of Paleo-Hebrew: 'Belonging to Ahaz (son of) Yehotam (Jotham), king of Judah', with the imprint of the papyrus and string it once sealed on the back. Its style matches excavated royal bullae of the late eighth century.

When was Bulla of Ahaz, King of Judah discovered?
It was found in 1995 by Unprovenanced; seen with an antiquities dealer by Robert Deutsch in 1995 and published by him (1997–98) from the Shlomo Moussaieff collection, at Unknown (antiquities market).

Where is Bulla of Ahaz, King of Judah today?
Private collection (Shlomo Moussaieff), London; not on public display.

Which Bible verses does Bulla of Ahaz, King of Judah relate to?
2 Kings 15:38, 2 Kings 16:1-2, Isaiah 7:10-14.

Is Bulla of Ahaz, King of Judah authentic?
No excavation context; authenticity is judged likely by most epigraphers on the basis of style and a fingerprint, but it cannot be verified. Present as probable, not proven.

Related discoveries

Sources

Open Bulla of Ahaz, King of Judah in Hebrew Explorer →

Part of Biblical Archaeology — 533 discoveries that run alongside the biblical story · Israel & Judah

Open Hebrew Explorer — 30+ free study tools →