Bible Word Study
עָזָז
ʻÂzâz · Azaz, an Israelite
עָזָז
Azaz, an Israelite
Definition
Azaz is a proper name of a minor figure in the Old Testament, specifically an Israelite from the tribe of Reuben. The name means 'strong' or 'mighty,' deriving from the Hebrew root עָזַז (ʿāzaz). He is listed as a descendant of Joel and the father of Bela in the genealogy of Reubenite leaders (1 Chronicles 5:8). As a personal name, it carries the connotation of strength, likely reflecting a parental hope or characteristic attributed to the individual. No other major senses or meanings are associated with this specific name in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
The name Azaz appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 5:8. It is used strictly in a genealogical context within the chronicler's record of the Reubenites who were taken into exile by the Assyrians. The usage is purely for identification within a family lineage, with no narrative or descriptive action attached to the individual.
Etymology
The name Azaz (עָזָז) is directly derived from the Hebrew root עָזַז (ʿāzaz, H5810), which means 'to be strong,' 'to prevail,' or 'to be bold.' It is a geminate verb form (where the final two root consonants are identical). As a proper name, it is essentially the adjective 'strong' used nominatively. Related words include עֹז (ʿōz, H5797), meaning 'strength' or 'might,' and עַז (ʿaz, H5794), meaning 'strong,' 'fierce,' or 'powerful.'
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and descriptive, conveying hopes, attributes, or circumstances. A name like Azaz ('strong') likely expressed a desire for the child to possess physical strength, resilience, or moral fortitude. It fits a common pattern of names derived from divine attributes (e.g., Gabriel, 'God is my strength') or desirable human qualities. While this individual is obscure, his name preserves a value important to the community. עֻזִּי (ʿUzzî, H5813) — A personal name also meaning 'my strength,' showing the same root in a possessive form. עָז (ʿĀz, H5804) — Another proper name meaning 'strong' or 'fierce,' from the related root עזז.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]