עֲזַרְיָה
𐤏𐤆𐤓𐤉𐤄
Azareyah
H5838 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'Yah(weh) has helped.' Derived from the combination of the verb 'to help' and the divine name Yah, it designates a male individual whose birth or existence is attributed to the aid of Yahweh. Used exclusively as a proper noun, referring to various individuals throughout Israelite history.
Semantic Range
personal name: 'Yah has helped,' male individuals named in the monarchic and post-exilic periods; attributions of divine assistance; variant spellings with -yahu suffix
Root / Etymology
From the root עזר (ʿ-z-r), meaning 'to help,' combined with the theophoric element יה (Yah), an abbreviated form of the divine name. The form עֲזַרְיָה (ʿĂzaryāh) or עֲזַרְיָהוּ (ʿĂzaryāhū) is constructed as a sentence name, expressing 'Yah has helped.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֲזַרְיָה was a common Israelite personal name from the monarchic through post-exilic periods, borne by at least nineteen individuals in the Hebrew Bible, including priests, prophets, and a king of Judah. The presence of the theophoric element 'Yah' reflects the Israelite practice of invoking the national deity in personal names, common in both monarchic and Second Temple periods. Variants with and without the final -וּ (-hu, representing the full 'Yahu') occur, especially in the pre-exilic period. English versions traditionally render עֲזַרְיָה as 'Azariah,' but this transliteration obscures the theophoric meaning. The name's use is distinct from similar forms such as עֲזָרֵל ('God has helped') which use the element אל (El) for the deity, indicating different emphases within Israelite religion and onomastics. In later periods, especially in Christian translation traditions, the term 'Jew' sometimes appears when Azariah is mentioned as an identity marker; however, in biblical context, the individuals bearing this name are Israelites or, more specifically, Judahites depending on period and context. The usage did not substantially shift over time, but minor orthographic variations reflect broader shifts in the spelling of theophoric names. The term was reserved exclusively for individuals and not used as a common noun or title.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or עֲזַרְיָהוּ; from עָזַר and יָהּ; Jah has helped; Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites; Azariah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עזר (ʿ-z-r) — to help, give aid, support
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3134 | יוֹעֶזֶר | and YHWH-is-help |
| H3270 | יַעֲזֵיר | in He-helps |
| H373 | אִיעֶזְרִי | the Iezerite clansman |
| H461 | אֱלִיעֶזֶר | God is help |
| H5809 | עַזּוּר | Azzur |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5838-01 |
עֲזַרְיָ֔ה | azareyah | HNp |
Azariah | Yah has helped | 20 |
H5838-05 |
וַ/עֲזַרְיָֽה | vaazareyah | HC/Np |
and Azariah | and Yah has helped | 8 |
H5838-02 |
עֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ | azareyahu | HNp |
Azariah | Yahu has helped | 7 |
H5838-06 |
וַ/עֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ | vaazareyahu | HC/Np |
and Azariah | and Yah-has-helped | 6 |
H5838-03 |
לַ/עֲזַרְיָ֖ה | laazareyah | HR/Np |
of Azariah | to Yah-has-helped | 3 |
H5838-04 |
לַ/עֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ | laazareyahu | HR/Np |
of Azariah | to Yah-has-helped | 2 |
H5838-07 |
וְ/לַ/עֲזַרְיָ֖ה | velaazareyah | HC/R/Np |
and to Azariah | and to Yah-has-helped | 1 |
H5838-08 |
וְ/לַֽ/עֲזַרְיָ֨הוּ | velaazareyahu | HC/R/Np |
and-to-Azariah | and to Yah-has-helped | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
48 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5838-02 |
1 Kings 4:2 | עֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ | azareyahu | HNp |
Azariah | Yahu has helped |
H5838-06 |
1 Kings 4:5 | וַ/עֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ | vaazareyahu | HC/Np |
and Azariah | and Yah-has-helped |
H5838-01 |
2 Kings 14:21 | עֲזַרְיָ֔ה | azareyah | HNp |
Azariah | Yah has helped |
H5838-01 |
2 Kings 15:1 | עֲזַרְיָ֥ה | azareyah | HNp |
Azariah | Yah has helped |
H5838-02 |
2 Kings 15:6 | עֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ | azareyahu | HNp |
of Azariah | Yahu has helped |
H5838-01 |
2 Kings 15:7 | עֲזַרְיָה֙ | azareyah | HNp |
Azariah | Yah has helped |
H5838-04 |
2 Kings 15:8 | לַ/עֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ | laazareyahu | HR/Np |
of Azariah | to Yah-has-helped |
H5838-03 |
2 Kings 15:17 | לַ/עֲזַרְיָ֖ה | laazareyah | HR/Np |
of Azariah | to Yah-has-helped |
H5838-03 |
2 Kings 15:23 | לַ/עֲזַרְיָ֖ה | laazareyah | HR/Np |
of Azariah | to Yah-has-helped |
H5838-03 |
2 Kings 15:27 | לַ/עֲזַרְיָ֖ה | laazareyah | HR/Np |
of Azariah | to Yah-has-helped |