אֶלְעָזָר
Elazar, the name of seven Israelites
Definition
אֶלְעָזָר (Elazar) is a Hebrew proper name meaning 'God has helped' or 'God is helper.' It is borne by several significant figures in the Old Testament, most notably Eleazar, the third son of Aaron, who succeeded him as high priest (Exodus 6:23, Numbers 20:26). Another prominent Eleazar was the son of Abinadab, who was consecrated to guard the Ark of the Covenant after its return (1 Samuel 7:1). The name also appears for other individuals, including one of David's mighty warriors (2 Samuel 23:9) and a priest involved in the post-exilic temple service (Ezra 8:33). In each case, the name reflects the character or destiny of the individual as one aided by God.
Biblical Usage
The name is used 70 times across the Pentateuch, Historical Books, and Ezra. Its primary and most frequent usage refers to Aaron's son Eleazar, a central priestly figure in the wilderness narratives (Leviticus 10:6, Numbers 3:32). The pattern shows the name is strongly associated with the Levitical priesthood and sacred duties. Later uses maintain this priestly or devoted connotation, as seen with the keeper of the Ark (1 Samuel 7:1) and the post-exilic priest (Ezra 8:33). The warrior Eleazar (2 Samuel 23:9) extends the concept of divine help into the context of battle.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: אֵל (ʼēl, H410), meaning 'God,' and the root עָזַר (ʻāzar, H5826), meaning 'to help, support, assist.' It is a theophoric name, common in Israelite culture, which explicitly confesses God's active role as a helper. Similar names include אֲבִיעֶזֶר (Abiezer, 'my father is help') and אֱלִיעֶזֶר (Eliezer, 'my God is help').
Semantic Range
The name Elazar is theologically significant as it embodies a core confession of Israel's faith: God is an active helper to His people. This is especially poignant for the high priestly line, as the high priest himself bore a name declaring his dependence on God's aid to mediate between God and Israel. Understanding the meaning enriches readings of passages about Aaron's son, highlighting that his priestly authority and survival (e.g., after the death of his brothers Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10) were undergirded by divine assistance. It connects the office to grace, not merely human lineage.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive of character, destiny, or a parent's experience. Giving a child a name like Elazar ('God has helped') could express gratitude for God's assistance in the child's birth or a hope for God's ongoing help in the child's life. As a theophoric name containing 'El,' it directly identifies the God of Israel as the source of help, distinguishing Him from other deities. The frequency of this name among priests underscores the cultural link between the priestly vocation and reliance on divine aid.
אֱלִיעֶזֶר (ʼEliʻezer, H461) — Means 'my God is help'; a more personal possessive form. אֲבִיעֶזֶר (ʼĂbîʻezer, H44) — Means 'my father is help'; uses 'father' as a metaphor for God or a human ancestor. עֶזְרָא (ʻEzrāʼ, H5830) — A shortened form meaning 'help'; the name of the post-exilic priest and scribe.
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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