Hebrew word · H5838
עֲזַרְיָה
'azaryah
Azariah
A personal name formed from azar, "to help," and -yahu, a short form of YHWH: "YHWH has helped." It is one of the most common names in Israel. The Bible mentions more than twenty different Azariahs, including King Uzziah, who is also called Azariah.
Appears 48 times in 44 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.14.21;
son of: Amaziah (H0558) and Jecoliah (H3203); married to Jerusha (H3388);
father of: Jotham (H3147H); also called Azariah at 2Ki.14.21; 15.1,6,7,8,17,23,27; 1xKJV: Ozias at Mat.1.8,9;
Another name of uz.ziy.yah (עֻזִּיָּהוּ "Uzziah" H5818G)
§ Azariah = "Jehovah has helped"
1) son of king Amaziah of Judah and king of Judah himself for 52 years; also 'Uzziah'
2) the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord
2a) also, 'Abednego' (H5664 or H5665)
3) son of Nathan and an officer of Solomon; perhaps David's grandson and Solomon's nephew
4) a prophet in the days of king Asa of Judah
5) son of king Jehoshaphat of Judah and brother to 5
6) another son of king Jehoshaphat of Judah and brother to 4
7) a priest, son of Ahimaaz, grandson of Zadok and high priest in the reign of king Solomon
8) the high priest in the reign of king Uzziah of Judah
9) a priest who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah; probably same as 18
10) a Kohathite Levite, father of Joel in the reign of king Hezekiah of Judah
11) a Merarite Levite, son of Jehalelel in the reign of king Hezekiah of Judah
12) a Kohathite Levite, son of Zephaniah and ancestor of Samuel the prophet
13) a Levite who helped Ezra in instructing the people in the law
14) son of Jeroham and one of the temple captains of Judah in the time of queen Athaliah; probably the same as 21
15) son of Maaseiah who repaired part of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah
16) one of the leaders who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel
17) a man who assisted in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah; probably the same as 10
18) son of Johanan, one of the captains of Ephraim in the reign of king Ahaz of Judah
19) a Judaite, son of Ethan of the sons of Zerah
20) a Judaite, son of Jehu of the family of the Jerahmeelites and descended from Jarha the Egyptian slave of Sheshan; probably one of the captains of the time of queen Athaliah and the same as 15
21) a priest, son of Hilkiah
22) a priest, son of Johanan
23) son of king Jehoram of Judah; probably clerical error for 'Ahaziah'
24) son of Meraioth
25) son of Hoshaiah and one of the proud men who confronted Jeremiah
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 Chronicles 15:1
- Range of meaning
A personal name formed from azar, "to help," and -yahu, a short form of YHWH: "YHWH has helped." It is one of the most common names in Israel. The Bible mentions more than twenty different Azariahs, including King Uzziah, who is also called Azariah.
- Against the English
English versions simply transliterate the name, so the reader loses its meaning.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Hebrew inscriptions and seals from the monarchy period contain many names built on Yahu with verbs of help, salvation or remembering. Names like this were confessions of faith.
From the study of 1 Chronicles 2:39
- Range of meaning
A personal name made of ʿāzar, "to help," and Yāh, a short form of YHWH: "YHWH has helped." Names like this recorded thanks or a confession of faith at a child's birth.
- Against the English
English versions all simply transliterate it as "Azariah," so the meaning a Hebrew hearer would catch is invisible.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Around two dozen different men in the Hebrew Bible bear the name, including King Uzziah (also called Azariah, 2 Kgs 15), several priests (1 Chr 6), and Daniel's companion (Dan 1:6). Seals and inscriptions from the Iron Age show it in the forms ʿzryhw and ʿzryh.
From the study of 1 Chronicles 2:8
- Range of meaning
The name joins the verb ʿāzar ("to help, come to the aid of") with Yah (the short form of YHWH), giving "YHWH has helped". In Hebrew, "help" (ʿēzer) is often military or rescuing help, the kind a stronger party gives a weaker one, and it is used of God as Israel's helper.
- Against the English
English transliterates the name. Its meaning, a statement of thanks or trust built into the name, is invisible to English readers.
- Used elsewhere in the period
More than twenty different men named Azariah appear in the Hebrew Bible, including a king of Judah (Uzziah, 2 Kgs 15), several priests (1 Chr 6), and one of Daniel's companions (Dan 1:6). The same name element appears in names on Hebrew seals and inscriptions from the period of the monarchy (in forms like ʿzryhw).
Where it appears
1 Kings · 2
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1 Kings 4:2 עֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ Azariah
and these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest;
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1 Kings 4:5 וַעֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ and Azariah
Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;
2 Kings · 8
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2 Kings 14:21 עֲזַרְיָ֔ה Azariah
Then all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
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2 Kings 15:1 עֲזַרְיָ֥ה Azariah
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah became king of Judah.
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2 Kings 15:6 עֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ Azariah
As for the rest of the acts of Azariah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
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2 Kings 15:7 עֲזַרְיָה֙ Azariah
And Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.
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2 Kings 15:8 לַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ of Azariah
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria six months.
Here: Azariah king of Judah, also called Uzziah (2 Kings 15:13; Isaiah 6:1; 2 Chronicles 26). His name means 'the LORD has helped'. The 'of' marks whose regnal years are being counted.
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2 Kings 15:17 לַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה of Azariah
In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years.
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2 Kings 15:23 לַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה of Azariah
In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel and reigned in Samaria two years.
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2 Kings 15:27 לַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה of Azariah
In the fifty-second year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty years.
1 Chronicles · 12
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1 Chronicles 2:8 עֲזַרְיָֽה׃ Azariah
The son of Ethan: Azariah.
Here: A personal name meaning "Yah has helped" (Yah is a short form of YHWH, Israel's God). It was one of the most common names in Israel. This Azariah is otherwise unknown, and his line stops here.
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1 Chronicles 2:38 עֲזַרְיָֽה׃ Azariah
Obed was the father of Jehu, Jehu was the father of Azariah,
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1 Chronicles 2:39 וַעֲזַרְיָה֙ and Azariah
Azariah was the father of Helez, Helez was the father of Elasah,
Here: The name means "YHWH has helped" (from ʿāzar, "to help," plus a short form of God's name). It was one of the most common names in Israel. The "and" joins this link to the one before it (v. 38 ends with Jehu fathering Azariah), so the chain runs on without a break.
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1 Chronicles 3:12 עֲזַרְיָ֥ה Azariah
Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
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1 Chronicles 6:9 עֲזַרְיָ֔ה וַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה Azariah, and Azariah
Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, Azariah was the father of Johanan,
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1 Chronicles 6:10 עֲזַרְיָ֑ה Azariah
Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem,
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1 Chronicles 6:11 עֲזַרְיָ֖ה Azariah
Azariah was the father of Amariah, Amariah was the father of Ahitub,
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1 Chronicles 6:13 עֲזַרְיָֽה׃ Azariah
Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, Hilkiah was the father of Azariah,
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1 Chronicles 6:14 וַעֲזַרְיָה֙ and Azariah
Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.
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1 Chronicles 6:36 עֲזַרְיָ֖ה Azariah
the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
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1 Chronicles 9:11 וַעֲזַרְיָ֨ה and Azariah
Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple;
Here: 'Yah has helped.' The 'and' ties him to the priests just listed in verse 10 (Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin). He heads the most prestigious priestly family among those who resettled Jerusalem. Azariah was a very common name in this priestly line.
2 Chronicles · 13
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2 Chronicles 15:1 וַעֲזַרְיָ֙הוּ֙ and Azariah
Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded.
Here: The name means "YHWH has helped." It stands first in the sentence, ahead of the verb, which is the usual Hebrew way to bring a new character on stage: "Now Azariah…". The name comes just after King Asa's prayer "Help us, O LORD" in 14:11, and it echoes that prayer.
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2 Chronicles 21:2 עֲזַרְיָ֤ה וַעֲזַרְיָ֔הוּ Azariah, and Azariahu
Jehoram’s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; these were all sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
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2 Chronicles 22:6 וַעֲזַרְיָ֨הוּ and Azariah
So he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.
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2 Chronicles 23:1 לַעֲזַרְיָ֣הוּ וְלַֽעֲזַרְיָ֨הוּ to Azariah, and to Azariah
Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the commanders of hundreds—with Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.
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2 Chronicles 26:17 עֲזַרְיָ֣הוּ Azariah
Then Azariah the priest, along with eighty brave priests of the LORD, went in after him.
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2 Chronicles 26:20 עֲזַרְיָהוּ֩ Azariah
When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him.
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2 Chronicles 28:12 עֲזַרְיָ֤הוּ Azariah
Then some of the leaders of the Ephraimites—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood in opposition to those arriving from the war.
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2 Chronicles 29:12 עֲזַרְיָהוּ֮ וַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ Azariah, and Azariah
Then the Levites set to work: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah from the Kohathites; Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel from the Merarites; Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites;
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2 Chronicles 31:10 עֲזַרְיָ֧הוּ Azariah
and Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok, answered him, “Since the people began to bring their contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and there is plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed His people; this great abundance is what is left over.”
Here: The name means "Yahweh has helped." It was common in priestly families. This Azariah is named only here, and it is unclear whether he is the priest who confronted King Uzziah (2 Chr 26:17–20).
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2 Chronicles 31:13 וַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ and Azariah
Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of the house of God.
Ezra · 2
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Ezra 7:1 עֲזַרְיָ֖ה Azariah
Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
Here: A high priest, the son of Hilkiah. His name, 'Yah has helped', comes from the same root as Ezra's own name.
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Ezra 7:3 עֲזַרְיָ֖ה Azariah
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
Nehemiah · 6
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Nehemiah 3:23 עֲזַרְיָ֧ה Azariah
Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house, and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house.
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Nehemiah 3:24 עֲזַרְיָ֔ה Azariah
After him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the angle and the corner,
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Nehemiah 7:7 עֲ֠זַרְיָה Azariah
accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:
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Nehemiah 8:7 עֲזַרְיָה֩ Azariah
The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places.
Here: 'YHWH has helped'. A common name for priests and Levites.
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Nehemiah 10:2 עֲזַרְיָ֖ה Azariah
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
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Nehemiah 12:33 וַעֲזַרְיָ֥ה and Azariah
along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
Jeremiah · 1
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Jeremiah 43:2 עֲזַרְיָ֤ה Azariah
Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’
Here: The name means 'Yahweh has helped'. That is ironic in the mouth of a man refusing Yahweh's offer of help in 42:10–12. He is probably the 'Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah' of 42:1 (see debates).
Daniel · 4
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Daniel 1:6 וַעֲזַרְיָֽה׃ and Azariah
Among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
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Daniel 1:7 וְלַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה and to Azariah
The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
Here: Azariah means "the LORD (Yah) has helped". It contains the divine name.
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Daniel 1:11 וַעֲזַרְיָֽה׃ and Azariah
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
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Daniel 1:19 וַעֲזַרְיָ֑ה and Azariah
And the king spoke with them, and among all the young men he found no one equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king’s service.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.