עַזְרִיאֵל
Azriel, the name of three Israelites
Definition
Azriel is a Hebrew proper name meaning 'help of God' or 'God is my help.' It is borne by three distinct individuals in the Old Testament. In 1 Chronicles 5:24, Azriel is listed as a chief of the half-tribe of Manasseh, a mighty warrior and famous man. In 1 Chronicles 27:19, a different Azriel is named as the father of Jerimoth, who was an officer over the tribe of Naphtali during King David's reign. Finally, in Jeremiah 36:26, an Azriel (along with others) is commanded by King Jehoiakim to arrest the prophet Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch, though they were hidden by the Lord.
Biblical Usage
The name Azriel is used exclusively as a personal name for three Israelite men. It appears in historical contexts within the books of Chronicles and Jeremiah. In Chronicles, it is associated with leadership and military valor among the tribes (1 Chronicles 5:24, 27:19). In Jeremiah, it is associated with a royal official carrying out a king's hostile command against a prophet (Jeremiah 36:26).
Etymology
The name Azriel (עַזְרִיאֵל) is a compound word derived from the Hebrew root עֵזֶר (ʿezer, H5828), meaning 'help' or 'aid,' and אֵל (ʾēl, H410), the primary name for 'God.' It is a theophoric name, a common practice in Israelite culture, where a divine name or title is incorporated to express a relationship or attribute, such as 'God is my help.'
Semantic Range
As a theophoric name meaning 'help of God,' Azriel reflects a core biblical theme of divine assistance and reliance on God. While the individuals bearing the name have varied roles, the name itself serves as a constant linguistic reminder of God's character as a helper to His people, a concept echoed in Psalms (e.g., Psalm 33:20, 46:1). Understanding the name's meaning can add depth when reading about these figures, contrasting their human actions with the divine aid their name proclaims.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive and carried significant meaning, reflecting hopes, circumstances, or praise to God. A name like Azriel, which explicitly acknowledges God as the source of help, was a public declaration of faith and identity within the covenant community. It was a common practice to use the element 'El' (God) in names.
Ezer (עֵזֶר, H5828) — The root noun meaning 'help,' from which the first part of Azriel is derived. | Azariah (עֲזַרְיָה, H5838) — A similar theophoric name meaning 'Yahweh has helped,' using the divine name YHWH instead of El.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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