Ἐλιέζερ

Eliezer

Definition

Eliezer is a proper masculine name meaning 'God is help' or 'my God is help.' In the New Testament, it appears only once in Luke 3:29, identifying a figure in the genealogy of Jesus as the son of Joram and father of Joshua. This specific Eliezer is not a major biblical character but serves as a crucial link in the ancestral line tracing Jesus back to David and Abraham. The name itself, shared by other significant Old Testament figures like Abraham's servant (Genesis 15:2) and Moses's son (Exodus 18:4), always carries the connotation of divine assistance.

Biblical Usage

The word Ἐλιέζερ is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 3:29. It functions strictly as a proper name within the genealogical list presented in Luke's Gospel. This usage follows the pattern of listing ancestral names to establish Jesus's legal and historical lineage from David through Nathan, as opposed to the royal line through Solomon given in Matthew's genealogy.

Etymology

The name Ἐλιέζερ is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name אֱלִיעֶזֶר (Eliʿezer). It is a compound name derived from two Hebrew elements: אֵל (ʾēl), meaning 'God,' and עֵזֶר (ʿezer), meaning 'help.' Thus, the core meaning is 'God is help' or 'my God is help.' The Greek form directly imports this Hebrew name and its meaning into the New Testament text.

Semantic Range

While the individual named in Luke 3:29 is not a major actor, his inclusion in Jesus's genealogy is theologically significant. It underscores the fulfillment of God's covenant promises to David and Abraham through a meticulously recorded human lineage. The meaning of the name itself, 'God is help,' serves as a thematic echo throughout salvation history, reminding the reader that the coming of Jesus, the Messiah in this line, is the ultimate expression of God's help for humanity.

In both Hebrew and Greco-Roman contexts, names were often semantically meaningful and not merely labels. A name like Eliezer, declaring dependence on God's help, reflected religious identity and parental hopes. Its presence in a genealogy affirmed family heritage and divine blessing across generations. The Greek readers of Luke's Gospel would have recognized it as a foreign, Hebraic name, reinforcing the Jewish roots of the Christian story.

There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. However, the concept of 'help' is expressed by other words: βοήθεια (boētheia, G0996) — the noun for 'help' or 'aid'; and βοηθέω (boētheō, G0997) — the verb 'to help' or 'come to aid.'

Word Details

Scripture References