Bible Word Study
אֱלִיעֶזֶר
ʼĔlîyʻezer · Eliezer, the name of a Damascene and of ten Israelites
אֱלִיעֶזֶר
Eliezer, the name of a Damascene and of ten Israelites
Definition
Eliezer is a Hebrew personal name meaning 'My God is help' or 'God of help.' It is borne by several significant biblical figures, most notably Abraham's chief servant, who was considered his heir before Isaac's birth (Genesis 15:2). Another prominent Eliezer was Moses's second son, named in gratitude for God's deliverance from Pharaoh (Exodus 18:4). The name also appears for various Levites and warriors in the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles, such as a priestly trumpeter (1 Chronicles 15:24) and a chief of the Reubenites (1 Chronicles 27:16).
Biblical Usage
The name Eliezer is used exclusively as a proper noun for male individuals across 13 occurrences in the Old Testament. It appears in narrative contexts (Genesis, Exodus) and extensive genealogical or administrative lists (1 Chronicles). In narratives, the name often commemorates divine assistance, as seen with Moses's son (Exodus 18:4). In Chronicles, it identifies various Levitical officials and tribal leaders, reflecting its common use as a traditional Hebrew name signifying reliance on God.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'El' (אֵל, H410), meaning 'God,' and 'ezer' (עֵזֶר, H5828), meaning 'help' or 'aid.' It is a theophoric name, a common practice in Israelite culture where a deity's name ('El' for God) is incorporated to express a relationship or attribute, in this case, God as helper. Similar constructions include names like Eliab ('My God is father').
Semantic Range
The name Eliezer encapsulates a core theme of the Hebrew Bible: God as the helper and deliverer of His people. Abraham's servant, bearing this name, was a tangible reminder of God's provision when an heir seemed impossible. For Moses, naming his son Eliezer was a personal testimony of salvation (Exodus 18:4). The name serves as a perpetual witness to divine faithfulness and reliance on God's strength rather than human power, a concept foundational to Israel's covenant identity. In ancient Israelite culture, names were deeply meaningful, often describing character, circumstances of birth, or expressing religious devotion. Eliezer, as a theophoric name, publicly identified the bearer and his family with the God of Israel. Its use across different tribes and eras (from the patriarchs to the monarchy) shows its enduring popularity as an expression of faith in God's active help in daily life and national struggles. Eliab (ʼEliyʼab, H446) — Also a theophoric name meaning 'My God is father,' emphasizing God's paternal role. Azariah (ʻĂzaryâh, H5838) — Means 'Yahweh has helped,' using the divine name Yahweh and a synonym for 'help.'
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]