אִיעֶזֵר
𐤀𐤉𐤏𐤆𐤓
Iezer
H372 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name, masculine: Iezer or Iyezer, an individual mentioned as an ancestor of a clan of the tribe of Manasseh (Num 26:30; Josh 17:2), from which the family of the Iezerites (אִיעֶזְרִי, Iyʿezri) derives. The form incorporates the elements 'island' or 'region' (אִי) and 'help' (עֵזֶר), possibly meaning 'island/support of help', but the precise onomastic meaning is disputed.
Semantic Range
proper noun—personal name (ancestor or eponymous figure in the tribe of Manasseh); basis for the clan name Iezerites; not used as a common noun or abstract concept
Root / Etymology
Formed from אִי ('island,' 'region,' or possibly a contracted particle with various nuances) and עֵזֶר ('help, support'). The phrasing is typical of Hebrew theophoric or descriptive names, where the second element indicates an abstract quality or blessing; however, as a personal name, the precise implication of the first component is obscure and etymologically debated.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אִיעֶזֵר appears only as a personal name in genealogies of the tribe of Manasseh. The associated clan, the Iezerites (אִיעֶזְרִי), reflects normal Israelite naming practices where an ancestor's name forms the basis of the family group. The English 'Jeezer' (KJV) is a transliteration reflecting older English conventions and does not reflect the historical pronunciation or meaning. The meaning 'helpless' suggested by some older sources is not linguistically justified; most modern lexicons understand the name elements as 'island/region' plus 'help,' but without a clear contextual meaning, as the phrase does not appear as a common noun. There is no evidence that the name ever denoted collective helplessness or lack of help; rather, it is a proper name with uncertain etymological nuance. The distinction between Iezer (the ancestor) and Iezerite (the clan) is important for genealogical and historical discussions of Israelite tribal organization.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אִיlemma אי missing vowel, corrected to אִי and עֵזֶר; helpless; Iezer, an Israelite; Jeezer.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אי-עזר (ʾî-ʿ-z-r) — island, region, coast; help, support
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H372-01 |
אִיעֶ֕זֶר | iezer | HNp |
Iezer | Region-of-Help | Iezer | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H372-01 |
Numbers 26:30 | אִיעֶ֕זֶר | iezer | HNp |
Iezer | Region-of-Help | Iezer |