עַזְבּוּק
𐤏𐤆𐤁𐤅𐤒
Azebuq
H5802 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name: Azbuk. Appears as a proper noun designating an individual, specifically mentioned as the father of Nehemiah's subordinate in Jerusalem's wall rebuilding project. The constituents of the name likely carry the connotation of strength or abandonment/desolation, but as a personal name, its lexical function is to designate a person rather than to describe an action or quality. The semantic range is thus limited to its referent as a personal name.
Semantic Range
proper noun (personal name), limited to the historical individual Azbuk; no independent semantic usage outside of naming
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root עז (ʿ-z), meaning 'strong' or 'mighty', and the root בוק (b-w-q), meaning 'to empty', 'to lay waste', or 'to pour out'. The name is likely a theophoric or descriptive compound, though its exact construction and intended meaning within the original naming context are unclear. Thus, a plausible etymological interpretation is 'my strong one has made empty' or 'the strong one lays waste,' but personal names often preserve archaic or idiosyncratic constructions making the precise nuance uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עַזְבּוּק (Azbuk) is attested only in Nehemiah 3:16, where he is described as the father of Nehemiah, leader of half a district of Beth-zur during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall in the Persian period. The name is representative of the continuing Israelite tradition of forming personal names from two-word compounds. There is no evidence the name had technical or descriptive application outside this context. Standard translations simply transliterate the name; rendering it with a meaning is conjectural and not supported by other uses. Similar root combinations appear in other Northwest Semitic names, but their meanings are often debated. Unlike some Hebrew names, there is no clear theophoric element (i.e., no divine name explicitly referenced). The meaning and function within the social or religious life of the Israelite community remain speculative. Modern reading as 'Azbuk' is based on Masoretic vocalization.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עַז and the root of בּוּקָה; stern depopulator; Azbuk, an Israelite; Azbuk.
Bantu Hebrew
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עזבק (ʿ-z-b-q) — to be strong, to abandon, to empty
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5802-01 |
עַזְבּ֔וּק | azebuq | HNp |
Azbuk | Azbuk | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5802-01 |
Nehemiah 3:16 | עַזְבּ֔וּק | azebuq | HNp |
Azbuk | Azbuk |