עַזְגָּד
𐤏𐤆𐤂𐤃
Azegad
H5803 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Azgad (עַזְגָּד) is a personal and clan name occurring in Biblical texts, referring to a specific Israelite ancestor and by extension, members of his descendant group. It does not function as a common noun but as a proper noun designating a clan or family that participated in the return from the Babylonian exile. The lexical meaning is derived from its elements—potentially 'strong/valiant' (עַז) and 'fortune/luck' (גָּד)—but as a name, it signifies the bearer or the collective group associated with this founder.
Semantic Range
personal name, clan designation, ancestral house
Root / Etymology
Formed from two Hebrew elements: עַז ('az, meaning 'strong, fierce') and גָּד (gad, meaning 'fortune, luck' or possibly referring to the tribal name Gad). The root verbs are עז ('to be strong, mighty') and גד ('fortune, fate' or the proper name Gad, son of Jacob). However, as with most compound personal names, the meaning is idiomatic and refers to the family or founder, not always to a descriptive trait.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Azgad is first attested in post-exilic biblical texts such as Ezra and Nehemiah, primarily as the head of a family or clan returning from Babylonian captivity (Ezra 2:12; Nehemiah 7:17) and among signatories of the covenant (Nehemiah 10:16). The name roots are common in Hebrew theophoric and compound names but should not be strictly read as describing the person's character. English translations simply transliterate as 'Azgad.' The term never refers to an individual 'Israelite' but rather to the ancestral head and clan, participating chiefly in the community restoration after exile. There is no direct evidence the name signified later Judean or Jewish identity, and it is not used as a title or epithet beyond its genealogical function.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עַז and גָּד; stern troop; Azgad, an Israelite; Azgad.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עזגד (ʿ-z-g-d) — strength, might, fortune, fate (as name elements)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5803-01 |
עַזְגָּ֔ד | azegad | HNp |
Azgad | Azgad | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5803-01 |
Ezra 2:12 | עַזְגָּ֔ד | azegad | HNp |
Azgad | Azgad |
H5803-01 |
Ezra 8:12 | עַזְגָּ֔ד | azegad | HNp |
Azgad | Azgad |
H5803-01 |
Nehemiah 7:17 | עַזְגָּ֔ד | azegad | HNp |
Azgad | Azgad |
H5803-01 |
Nehemiah 10:16 | עַזְגָּ֖ד | azegad | HNp |
Azgad | Azgad |