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Eleazar

biblical_person_name theological_term standard

A biblical name borne by several men, especially Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest who succeeded his father in priestly service.

At a Glance

A Hebrew personal name meaning “God has helped,” used for multiple biblical men; the most prominent is Eleazar, son of Aaron and a priestly leader in Israel.

Key Points

Description

Eleazar is a Hebrew personal name, not a distinct theological term. The most prominent bearer is Eleazar son of Aaron, brother of Nadab, Abihu, and Ithamar. After the judgment on Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar continued in priestly service and later appears in important leadership moments connected with Israel’s wilderness journey, Joshua’s administration, and the distribution of the land. Scripture also mentions other men named Eleazar in Israel’s history. A good dictionary entry should therefore identify the name, distinguish the principal referent, and note that context determines which Eleazar is in view.

Biblical Context

In the Pentateuch and historical books, Eleazar is associated especially with the Aaronic priesthood, the transition of leadership after Aaron, and the orderly administration of Israel under Moses and Joshua. The name also appears elsewhere for other individuals, requiring contextual disambiguation.

Historical Context

As with many Hebrew names, Eleazar appears in several family lines and historical settings. The repeated use of the name reflects ordinary naming patterns in ancient Israel rather than a single unified figure.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Jewish usage, personal names often carried theological meaning. Eleazar’s name, meaning “God has helped,” fits the common biblical pattern of names that confess God’s action and faithfulness.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew: אֶלְעָזָר (ʾElʿāzār), commonly understood to mean “God has helped.”

Theological Significance

Eleazar is significant because the name is attached to priestly succession and covenant administration. The best-known Eleazar serves as a link in the continuity of Aaron’s line and reminds readers that God preserves ordered leadership in Israel.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Eleazar is not a doctrine in itself. Its significance comes from the persons who bear it and from the biblical narrative in which the best-known Eleazar serves.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not collapse all occurrences of the name into one person. Distinguish Eleazar son of Aaron from other biblical men with the same name by context.

Major Views

Bible dictionaries typically treat Eleazar as a personal name entry, with primary attention given to Aaron’s son and brief notice of other referents.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should not be used to build doctrine apart from the actual biblical texts. Its value is historical and narrative, not conceptual or speculative.

Practical Significance

Eleazar’s prominence helps readers trace priestly continuity, inheritance administration, and the faithfulness of God in preserving leadership for his people.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Eleazar

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