Azaziah

Azaziah is a biblical male name of Hebrew origin, found in the Old Testament. It means "Yahweh is strong," derived from the Hebrew root ʿazaz meaning "to be strong" and yah, a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh. The name is borne by three minor figures in the Scriptures.

Biblical Figures

In the First Book of Chronicles, Azaziah is mentioned as a Levitical musician who played the lyre during the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:21). Another Azaziah is noted as the father of Hoshea, a ruler of the tribe of Ephraim during David's reign (1 Chronicles 27:20). The third Azaziah was a Levite who oversaw the temple offerings under King Hezekiah during the religious reforms in Judah (2 Chronicles 31:13).

Etymology and Variants

The name is formed from two components: the element ʿazaz, meaning "to be strong," and the theophoric suffix -yah (short for Yahweh). Thus, Azaziah belongs to a class of names affirming divine strength, paralleling other biblical names like Azariah ("Yahweh has helped") and Uzziah ("Yahweh is my strength"). Variants include the Biblical Hebrew form 'Azazyahu', the Biblical Greek 'Ozazias', and the Biblical Latin 'Azazias' and 'Ozias' (though the latter is often associated with Uzziah).

Cultural Significance

Azaziah, like many biblical names of Hebrew theophoric origin, has been used by Puritans and other Christian groups since the Reformation, though it remains rare compared to better-known names such as Uzziah or Azariah. Its meaning continues to convey religious devotion and reliance on divine power.

• Meaning: "Yahweh is strong"
• Origin: Hebrew
• Type: Biblical male first name
• Usage regions: English Bibles; historically among Jews and Christians