Meaning & History
'El'azar is the Biblical Hebrew form of the name Eleazar, derived from the Hebrew elements אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "to help". Thus, it signifies "God has helped". In the Old Testament, 'El'azar appears as the name of one of the sons of Aaron (Exodus 6:23), who succeeded his father as high priest. Following Aaron's death, 'El'azar served as a leader of Israel during the wilderness wanderings and entered the Promised Land with Joshua.
Cultural and Religious Significance
As a biblical high priest, 'El'azar held a crucial role in the religious life of ancient Israel. He oversaw sacrifices, maintained the sanctuary, and instructed the people in the Law. The name embodies the Hebrew ideal of divine assistance, reflecting a reliance on God's intervention. Notably, 'El'azar's descendant (Coar) in the genealogy of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew connects the righteous line of Aaron to the Christian messiah.
Linguistic Variants
The name 'El'azar gave rise to numerous forms across languages, including Ghazar (Armenian), Eliezer (Hebrew), Lazarus (African English via Latin), Lazaros (Greek), and Lazar (Serbian). Through the Latin rendition Eleazar, it entered early Christian and later European usage.
- The name means "God has helped."
- It is of Biblical Hebrew origin.
- It belongs to the son of Aaron and high priest of Israel.
- It appears in both the Old and New Testaments.
- This naming tradition has influenced many languages.