Ἀζώρ
Azor
Definition
Ἀζώρ (Azor) is a proper noun referring to a specific individual in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. He is identified as the son of Eliakim and the father of Zadok (Matthew 1:13-14). As a name in a genealogical list, it serves primarily to denote a link in the ancestral line from Abraham to Jesus, with no additional narrative or descriptive meaning attached to the person himself in the biblical text. The name appears exclusively in this genealogical context within the New Testament.
Biblical Usage
The word Ἀζώρ is used only twice in the New Testament, both occurrences found in the Gospel of Matthew's genealogy (Matthew 1:13, 1:14). Its usage is strictly as a proper name within a structured list of ancestors, with no variation in meaning or context. It follows a consistent pattern of 'X begat Y' within the Matthean genealogy.
Etymology
The name Ἀζώρ is of Hebrew origin, likely derived from the name עָזוּר (ʿAzûr), meaning 'helper' or 'one who offers help.' The proposed Greek etymology from ἀ- (a negative prefix) and a conjectured root 'zōr' is linguistically unlikely for a proper name borrowed from Hebrew. It is a transliteration into Greek, preserving the sound of the original Semitic name.
Semantic Range
While the name Azor itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17) is theologically significant. It represents God's faithfulness in preserving the messianic line across generations, as promised to Abraham and David. Understanding that this is a real person in that lineage underscores the historical reality of Jesus's incarnation and his connection to the covenant history of Israel.
In first-century Jewish culture, genealogies established identity, lineage, inheritance rights, and social standing. The inclusion of Azor, like the other names in Matthew's list, would authenticate Jesus's legal claim to the Davidic throne in the eyes of a Jewish audience. The name itself, meaning 'helper,' was a common type of theophoric or aspirational name in Semitic cultures.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper noun. Other names in the same genealogical list serve a similar function but denote different individuals (e.g., Ἀβραάμ (Abraam, G11) — the patriarch Abraham; Δαυίδ (Dauid, G1138) — King David).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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