{
  "id": "dict_000480",
  "term": "Azariah",
  "slug": "azariah",
  "letter": "A",
  "entry_type": "proper_name",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Azariah is a Hebrew personal name meaning “Yahweh has helped,” borne by several Old Testament figures, including priests, officials, and a king of Judah.",
  "simple_one_line": "Azariah is a biblical Hebrew name shared by several different people in the Old Testament.",
  "tooltip_text": "A Hebrew personal name meaning “Yahweh has helped,” used for several Old Testament figures.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Uzziah",
    "Abednego",
    "Hebrew names",
    "theophoric names",
    "biblical proper names"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Uzziah",
    "Daniel 1",
    "2 Kings 14–15",
    "2 Chronicles 26"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Azariah is a recurring Old Testament personal name, not a single theological concept. The name is borne by multiple biblical figures, including a king of Judah, priests, and other officials. Because the same name refers to more than one person, readers should pay close attention to context when identifying which Azariah a passage has in view.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "Hebrew personal name meaning “Yahweh has helped.”",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Appears as the name of several different Old Testament men",
    "Often treated as a theophoric name, reflecting trust in God’s help",
    "In some passages, the king of Judah Azariah is the same person commonly called Uzziah",
    "Context is essential for identifying the correct individual"
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Azariah is a recurring Old Testament personal name, often understood to mean “Yahweh has helped.” Several biblical figures bear this name, including a king of Judah, priests, and other officials. Since the term identifies multiple individuals rather than one doctrine or concept, it is best treated as a proper-name entry requiring contextual distinction.",
  "description_academic_full": "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.",
  "background_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.",
  "background_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.",
  "background_jewish_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.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "2 Kings 14:21",
    "15:1-7",
    "1 Chronicles 6",
    "Daniel 1:6-7"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "2 Chronicles 26",
    "1 Chronicles 2:39-40",
    "related genealogical and priestly notices involving individuals named Azariah"
  ],
  "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_note": "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.",
  "meta_description": "Azariah is a Hebrew personal name meaning “Yahweh has helped,” borne by several Old Testament figures, including a king of Judah.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/azariah/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/azariah.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}