Meaning & History
'Eli'ezer is the Biblical Hebrew form of the name Eliezer (often transliterated with a diacritic to indicate the pharyngeal ayin, though it represents the same original vocalization). Found exclusively in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), it derives from two Hebrew elements: אֵל (ʾel), meaning "God," and עֵזֶר (ʿezer), meaning "help." The compounded meaning of the name is "my God is help," a theophoric statement affirming divine assistance.
Biblical Figures
Two figures in the Old Testament bear this name. The first is a servant of Abraham, mentioned in Genesis 15:2 (where Abraham recounts his household), identified by tradition as Eliezer of Damascus, sent to find a wife for Isaac. The second, more prominent bearer is the second son of Moses and Zipporah, named in Exodus 18:4, where Moses declares, "The God of my father was my help and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh" — a direct explanation of the name's meaning. As noted in Exegetical literature, 'Eli'ezer serves as a living memorial of divine deliverance.
Use and Variants
Vowelless in the Hebrew consonantal text, the name is read as 'Eli'ezer (with a sheva under the ayin in most manuscripts). A related variant is 'El'azar, meaning "God has helped," which conflates the same root components but differs in tense. The name appears in later biblical Greek as Ἐλιαζερ (Eliazer) in some manuscript traditions, but the Septuagint standardly uses a Hellenized forms such as Ἐλιεζερ (Eliezer). Among Hebraists, the full Masoretic pointing (']E~li`eźer}) allows for meticulous phonology; for most English readers it is simply Eh-lee-EH-zer.
Cultural and Religious Legacy
Though not among the most common biblical names, 'Eli'ezer is referenced in rabbinical literature as an example of a first-millennium naming tradition rooted in gratitude. The name pattern – combining divine father-help terminology – parallels other similar Compounds like Elnatan ("God has given") and Elhanan ("God is gracious"). In modern contexts, especially among Hebrew-speakers and within biblical-studies scholarship, the name retains scholarly interest as a theomnesic witness to early Hebrew onymastic customs.
- Meaning: My God is help
- Origin: Biblical Hebrew
- Type: Given name
- Usage Regions: Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), source for later Eliezer