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Azariah

proper_name theological_term standard

Azariah is a Hebrew personal name meaning “Yahweh has helped,” borne by several Old Testament figures, including priests, officials, and a king of Judah.

At a Glance

Hebrew personal name meaning “Yahweh has helped.”

Key Points

Description

Azariah is a common Hebrew personal name in the Old Testament and is not primarily a theological term. The name is borne by several different men, including priests, royal figures, and other officials. In the royal history of Judah, one Azariah is the king also known as Uzziah in many contexts. Because the name is shared by multiple biblical individuals, it should be treated as a proper-name entry with contextual disambiguation rather than as a doctrinal headword. The name itself reflects the theophoric pattern common in Israel, in which a name bears witness to the Lord’s help.

Biblical Context

The Old Testament uses the name Azariah for more than one person. Some references involve priestly or Levitical figures, while others involve royal or administrative leaders. The best-known royal Azariah is the king of Judah who is also identified as Uzziah in parallel biblical material. In Daniel 1, Azariah is also the Hebrew name of one of the Judean youths taken to Babylon, later known by the Babylonian name Abednego.

Historical Context

Azariah reflects a common ancient Israelite naming pattern in which a personal name expressed faith in the Lord’s action or favor. Such names were widespread in the monarchic and post-monarchic periods and often recur among related families or offices. The same name appearing for multiple people is normal in the biblical record and requires careful attention to genealogy, office, and narrative setting.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Jewish usage, names often carried theological meaning, especially when formed with a divine element such as Yahweh. Azariah fits this pattern and expresses the idea that the Lord has helped. The biblical text preserves several men with this name, showing how common theophoric names functioned in Israel’s covenant community.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew עֲזַרְיָה (ʿAzaryāh), commonly understood as “Yahweh has helped” or “the Lord has helped.”

Theological Significance

Azariah is significant mainly as an example of a theophoric biblical name that reflects confidence in the Lord’s help. The name itself does not denote a doctrine, but it does remind readers that biblical naming often bears theological witness.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Azariah functions by reference rather than by concept. Its meaning comes from historical usage and linguistic form, not from an abstract idea to be developed into doctrine.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not assume every occurrence refers to the same person. In particular, the king of Judah called Azariah is also known as Uzziah in several passages. Context, genealogy, and office determine the referent.

Major Views

There is broad agreement that Azariah is a Hebrew personal name meaning that the Lord has helped. Differences arise mainly in identifying which biblical individual is intended in a given passage.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should not be used to build doctrine from the name itself. Any theological use should remain limited to the biblical pattern of theophoric naming and the specific narrative context of each individual.

Practical Significance

For Bible readers, this entry helps prevent confusion when the same name appears for different people. It also highlights how biblical names often testify to God’s covenant help.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Azariah

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