Hebrew word · H1271

בַּרְזִלַּי

barzilai

Barzillai

Personal name, probably formed from barzel, 'iron' (perhaps 'man of iron' or 'ironsmith'). Barzillai the Gileadite is described as 'very great', meaning very wealthy and important, and as eighty years old (19:32).

Appears 12 times in 10 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.17.27

§ Barzillai = "my iron"

1) a Gileadite leader who helped David defeat Absalom's rebellion

2) a priest, son-in-law to Barzillai the Gileadite

3) an Israelite from Mahalath whose son Adriel married Michal, Saul's daughter

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Samuel 17:27

Range of meaning

Personal name, probably formed from barzel, 'iron' (perhaps 'man of iron' or 'ironsmith'). Barzillai the Gileadite is described as 'very great', meaning very wealthy and important, and as eighty years old (19:32).

Against the English

English loses any link to 'iron'. More importantly, in this verse he looks like one name among three, though the later narrative shows him as the leading figure.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Sam 19:31–39 (he escorts David back across the Jordan and declines a place at court, sending Chimham instead); 1 Kgs 2:7 (David tells Solomon to show chesed, covenant loyalty, to Barzillai's sons 'for so they drew near to me when I fled from Absalom'); Ezra 2:61 / Neh 7:63 (a priestly family that took the Barzillai name by marriage).

Where it appears

2 Samuel · 7

  1. 2 Samuel 17:27 וּבַרְזִלַּ֥י and Barzillai

    When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.

    Here: The third supporter, a very old and very rich Gileadite (19:32). The name probably comes from barzel, 'iron'.

  2. 2 Samuel 19:31 וּבַרְזִלַּי֙ and Barzillai

    Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there.

  3. 2 Samuel 19:32 וּבַרְזִלַּי֙ and Barzillai

    Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.

  4. 2 Samuel 19:33 בַּרְזִלָּ֑י Barzillai

    The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”

  5. 2 Samuel 19:34 בַּרְזִלַּ֖י Barzillai

    But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?

  6. 2 Samuel 19:39 לְבַרְזִלַּי֙ <to> Barzillai

    So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.

    Here: Hebrew normally kisses 'to' someone (with the preposition lə-). Barzillai is the wealthy, 80-year-old Gileadite of Rogelim who supplied David at Mahanaim (17:27–29; 19:31–32). His name probably comes from barzel, 'iron'.

  7. 2 Samuel 21:8 בַּרְזִלַּ֖י Barzillai

    But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.

1 Kings · 1

  1. 1 Kings 2:7 בַרְזִלַּ֤י Barzillai

    But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

    Here: The wealthy old landowner of Rogelim in Gilead who fed David's exiled court at Mahanaim (2 Samuel 17:27–29; 19:31–39). The name is probably built on barzel, 'iron'.

Ezra · 2

  1. Ezra 2:61 בַרְזִלַּ֗י בַּרְזִלַּ֤י Barzillai

    And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).

Nehemiah · 2

  1. Nehemiah 7:63 בַרְזִלַּ֗י בַּרְזִלַּ֤י Barzillai

    And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.