Khirbet el-Qom Tomb Inscription
'Uriyahu... blessed by YHVH... by his Asherah' — a Judahite tomb blessing with a carved hand
Found 1967 — William G. Dever, Hebrew Union College, after the inscription had been cut from the tomb by looters and appeared on the Jerusalem market
Where Khirbet el-Qom, near Hebron, West Bank (West Bank)
Dates from c. 750–700 BCE · Iron Age IIB · Divided Kingdom (Judah under Uzziah–Ahaz)
Now at Israel Antiquities Authority collection, Jerusalem (Israel Museum)
How Khirbet el-Qom Tomb Inscription was found
Dever traced the looted pillar to a rock-cut bench tomb at Khirbet el-Qom in the Judean hills west of Hebron and excavated the tomb. He published the text in 1969–70.
What it is
A block of soft limestone from a tomb pillar, incised with a downward-pointing carved hand and four lines of worn Paleo-Hebrew: 'Uriyahu the rich (or governor) wrote it: Blessed be Uriyahu by YHVH; and from his enemies by his Asherah he has saved him... by Oniyahu...'.
Why it matters for the Bible
Together with Kuntillet Ajrud, this is the second inscription to name YHVH beside 'his Asherah', and it comes from Judah rather than Israel — showing the practice reached both kingdoms before Hezekiah's and Josiah's reforms. The blessing formula 'Blessed be X by YHVH' mirrors biblical language. The hand may be a protective symbol.
The Hebrew word: bah-ROOCH ... la-YHVH
בָּרוּךְ ... לַיהוה
בָּרוּךְ ... לַיהוה is pronounced bah-ROOCH ... la-YHVH and means 'blessed be ... by YHVH' — a standard blessing formula (Strong's H1288 + H3068).
People this discovery connects to
- Uriah (Uriyahu) — אוּרִיָּהוּ (Oo-ree-YAH-hoo) — YHVH is my light
Places
- Hebron region — חֶבְרוֹן (Chev-RONE) — association; league
Events
Asherah worship in Judah before the reforms
Khirbet el-Qom Tomb Inscription in Scripture
Genesis 14:19 'Blessed be Abram by El Elyon' — the same blessing formula used for Uriyahu.
Exodus 34:13 First mention of Asherah in Scripture.
2 Kings 18:4 Hezekiah cuts down the Asherah — this tomb text shows what he was reacting to in Judah.
Questions people ask
What is Khirbet el-Qom Tomb Inscription?
A block of soft limestone from a tomb pillar, incised with a downward-pointing carved hand and four lines of worn Paleo-Hebrew: 'Uriyahu the rich (or governor) wrote it: Blessed be Uriyahu by YHVH; and from his enemies by his Asherah he has saved him... by Oniyahu...'.
When was Khirbet el-Qom Tomb Inscription discovered?
It was found in 1967 by William G. Dever, Hebrew Union College, after the inscription had been cut from the tomb by looters and appeared on the Jerusalem market, at Khirbet el-Qom, near Hebron, West Bank.
Where is Khirbet el-Qom Tomb Inscription today?
Israel Antiquities Authority collection, Jerusalem (Israel Museum).
Which Bible verses does Khirbet el-Qom Tomb Inscription relate to?
Genesis 14:19, Exodus 34:13, 2 Kings 18:4.
Is Khirbet el-Qom Tomb Inscription authentic?
The stone is genuine and its tomb was located, but the inscription is badly worn and line 3 has several competing readings; the word 'Asherah' is read by most but not all scholars.
Related discoveries
- אֲשֵׁרָהKuntillet Ajrud Inscriptions'YHVH of Samaria and his Asherah' — blessings painted on storage jars at a desert way-station
- אֲשֵׁרָהJudean Pillar FigurinesThousands of little clay women from Judah's homes — Asherah, prayer aids or charms?
- אֲשֵׁרָהTaanach Cult StandFour tiers of lions, sphinxes, a tree, and a horse under a sun
- יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָKetef Hinnom Silver ScrollsThe oldest known copy of a Bible text: the Priestly Blessing on two tiny silver amulets
- עֶבֶדSeal of Ushna, Servant of AhazA carnelian seal of a royal official of King Ahaz
- רִמּוֹןTel Halif (Lahav): A Judahite Town Destroyed in 701 BCEHouses frozen in Sennacherib's campaign, at a site proposed for Rimmon, Hormah or Ziklag
Sources
- Dever, 'Iron Age Epigraphic Material from the Area of Khirbet el-Kom', HUCA 40–41 (1969–70)
- Hadley, 'The Khirbet el-Qom Inscription', VT 37 (1987)