Hebrew word · H3270

יַעְזֵר

ya'zer

Jazer

A proper name for a town and the district around it ("the land of Jazer," Num 32:1), with dependent villages (Num 21:32, literally its "daughters"). The name may come from the root 'zr, "to help."

Appears 13 times in 12 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

§ Jazer or Jaazer = "helped"

a Levitical city east of the Jordan, in Gilead in the territory of Gad, formerly an Amorite city; site uncertain

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 Joshua 13:25

Range of meaning

A proper name for a town and the district around it ("the land of Jazer," Num 32:1), with dependent villages (Num 21:32, literally its "daughters"). The name may come from the root 'zr, "to help."

Against the English

Translations agree on "Jazer" (KJV elsewhere has "Jaazer"). BSB's "The territory of Jazer" joins the two words into one phrase. The Hebrew more naturally reads "the territory [was]: Jazer...," with Jazer as the first item in a list.

Used elsewhere in the period

Num 21:32 (taken from the Amorites); 32:1, 3, 35 (fortified by Gad); Josh 21:39 and 1 Chr 6:81 (a Levitical town); 2 Sam 24:5 (David's census); 1 Chr 26:31. Isa 16:8–9 and Jer 48:32 later describe Jazer's vines as Moabite, which shows how the land changed hands over time. Its site is not certain. Proposals include Khirbet es-Sar west of Amman and Khirbet Jazzir near es-Salt (see the Anchor Bible Dictionary entry "Jazer").

From the study of Joshua 21:39

Range of meaning

A place name in southern Gilead, east of the Jordan. Proposed sites include Khirbet Jazzir and Tell el-ʿAreme, and none is certain. The name may mean '(God) helps'.

Against the English

Transliterated as Jazer (KJV also spells it Jaazer at Numbers 21:32 and 32:35).

Used elsewhere in the period

Moses' scouts captured it (Numbers 21:32). 'The land of Jazer and the land of Gilead' was 'a place for livestock', which is why Reuben and Gad asked to settle east of the Jordan (Numbers 32:1). Isaiah 16:8–9 and Jeremiah 48:32 later praise its vines. David's census passed through it (2 Samuel 24:5), and 1 Chronicles 26:31 mentions capable men found at 'Jazer of Gilead'.

Where it appears

Numbers · 4

  1. Numbers 21:32 יַעְזֵ֔ר Jazer

    After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, Israel captured its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.

  2. Numbers 32:1 יַעְזֵר֙ Jazer

    Now the Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, surveyed the lands of Jazer and Gilead, and they saw that the region was suitable for livestock.

    Here: An Amorite town and its district east of the Jordan, captured shortly before this (Num 21:32).

  3. Numbers 32:3 וְיַעְזֵ֣ר and Jazer

    “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,

    Here: A town important enough to give its name to a whole region, 'the land of Jazer' (32:1). That region is the grazing land that first caught the eye of Reuben and Gad. Israel had scouted Jazer and taken it in 21:32. Where exactly it stood is disputed.

  4. Numbers 32:35 יַעְזֵ֖ר Jazer

    Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,

Joshua · 2

  1. Joshua 13:25 יַעְזֵר֙ Jazer

    The territory of Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;

    Here: A town and its district north of Heshbon. Israel took it from the Amorites (Num 21:32), and its rich pasture was what drew Gad and Reuben to ask for land east of the Jordan in the first place (Num 32:1). It heads the list as the core of Gad's territory.

  2. Joshua 21:39 יַעְזֵ֖ר Jazer

    Heshbon, and Jazer—four cities in all, together with their pasturelands.

    Here: A town in Gilead whose surrounding region was famous as cattle country (Numbers 32:1). Its exact site is still uncertain.

2 Samuel · 1

  1. 2 Samuel 24:5 יַעְזֵֽר׃ Jazer

    They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer, south of the town in the middle of the valley, and proceeded toward Gad and Jazer.

1 Chronicles · 2

  1. 1 Chronicles 6:81 יַעְזֵ֖יר Jazer

    Heshbon, and Jazer, together with their pasturelands.

  2. 1 Chronicles 26:31 בְּיַעְזֵ֥יר at Jazer

    As for the Hebronites, Jerijah was the chief of the Hebronites, according to the genealogies of his ancestors. In the fortieth year of David’s reign the records were searched, and strong, capable men were found among the Hebronites at Jazer in Gilead.

Isaiah · 2

  1. Isaiah 16:8 יַעְזֵ֥ר Jazer

    For the fields of Heshbon have withered, along with the grapevines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations have trampled its choicest vines, which had reached as far as Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots had spread out and passed over the sea.

  2. Isaiah 16:9 יַעְזֵר֙ Jazer

    So I weep with Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest.

Jeremiah · 2

  1. Jeremiah 48:32 יַעְזֵ֤ר יַעְזֵ֖ר Jazer

    I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah, more than I weep for Jazer. Your tendrils have extended to the sea; they reach even to Jazer. The destroyer has descended on your summer fruit and grape harvest.

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