Bible Word Study
עֲזִיזָא
ʻĂzîyzâʼ · Aziza, an Israelite
עֲזִיזָא
Aziza, an Israelite
Definition
Aziza is a proper name of an Israelite man mentioned in the book of Ezra. The name means 'strengthful' or 'mighty one,' derived from the Hebrew root for strength. In the biblical record, Aziza is listed among the men who had married foreign women and were required to send them away during the religious reforms led by Ezra (Ezra 10:27). This single occurrence identifies him within a specific historical and communal context of post-exilic restoration.
Biblical Usage
The name Aziza is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezra 10:27. It appears in a list of men who were confronted for breaking the covenant by marrying foreign women, a practice seen as threatening the religious purity of the returning Israelite community. The usage is purely identificatory within a genealogical and disciplinary record.
Etymology
The name Aziza (עֲזִיזָא) is derived from the Hebrew root עוּז (ʿûz, H5756), which means 'to seek refuge,' 'to be strong,' or 'to be mighty.' It is an adjective form meaning 'strong' or 'mighty,' and the final 'א' (aleph) likely functions as a nominal ending. It is related to other names and words built on this root, emphasizing strength or might.
Semantic Range
While the name Aziza itself is not theologically loaded, its appearance in Ezra 10 connects it to the major theme of covenant faithfulness. The narrative underscores the seriousness of maintaining religious and ethnic identity after the exile, viewing intermarriage as a compromise that could lead the community back into idolatry. Understanding that his name means 'strength' adds a layer of irony or poignancy, as he is listed among those who failed in spiritual strength by violating the covenant, thus highlighting the need for strength in obedience, not just in name. In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive or expressed a hope or characteristic. 'Aziza,' meaning 'strong,' was a meaningful personal name. His inclusion in the list in Ezra reflects the intense social and religious pressures of the post-exilic period to re-establish a pure community distinct from surrounding peoples, with family and marriage being primary battlegrounds for this identity. עז (ʿoz, H5797) — The common noun for 'strength' or 'might,' from the same root. עזיאל (ʿUzzîyʼēl, H5816) — Another proper name meaning 'God is my strength.'
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]