Abia

My father is the Lord, the Greek form of Abijah, or Abijam (Matt. 1:7), instead of Abiah (1 Chr. 7:8). In Luke 1:5, the name refers to the head of the eighth of the twenty-four courses into which David divided the priests (1 Chr. 24:10).

ABI'A. 1. Abijah, king of Judah, so called in 1 Chr 3:10; Matt 1:7. The Greek form of Abijah, head of one of the courses of priests. Luke 1:5. See Abijah.

ABI'A, COURSE OF. Luke 1:5. In 1 Chr 24 we have an account of the divisions of the priests into twenty four classes, courses, or orders, who ministered at the altar in rotation. The courses were distinguished by the name of the most prominent member of the family from which the course was taken. The eighth of these courses fell to the family of Abia or Abijah; and to this course belonged Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist.