Meaning & History
Eleazar is a theophoric name of Hebrew origin, appearing in English, Greek, and Latin Bible translations. It is derived from the Hebrew אֶלְעָזָר (ʾElʿazar), meaning "God has helped," from אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "to help."
Biblical Figures
In the Old Testament, Eleazar is a prominent figure: the third son of Aaron and Elisheba, and nephew of Moses. After the deaths of his older brothers Nadab and Abihu (who offered unauthorized fire), Eleazar succeeded Aaron as the second High Priest of Israel—a role his father held until his death as recorded in Numbers 20:28. During the Exodus, Eleazar played key liturgical roles, including creating the altar plating from the firepans of Korah's assembly (Numbers 17:1–5) and officiating the ritual of the red heifer (Numbers 19). His son Phinehas eventually succeeded him as High Priest. Notably, in Leviticus 10:16–18, Moses rebuked Eleazar and his brother Ithamar for not eating a sin offering inside the tabernacle, indicating their responsibility as priests to follow sacred laws meticulously. In the New Testament, the name appears in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:15), listing Eleazar as an ancestor between Eliud and Matthan.
Linguistic and Cultural Variants
The name and its cognates are widespread across languages influenced by Christianity. The Greek form Lazaros (Λάζαρος) is closely related through a phonetic shift; likewise, the Latin form Lazarus gave rise to English "Lazarus." Other variants include Armenian Ghazar, Serbian Lazar, French Lazare, and African English Lazarus. In Biblical Hebrew, alternate constructions such as 'Eli'ezer share the same root elements but reverse word order ("my God is help"). Because of Eleazar's priestly status in Israel, the name became emblematic of divine assistance, implying God’s active role in Israel's worship and lineage.
Historical Legacy
Beyond scripture, Eleazar has been borne by several later Jewish figures, especially among the Hasmoneans (e.g., Eleazar Avaran, brother of Judas Maccabeus, who died heroically at the Battle of Beth-zechariah in 162 BCE). The Latin Vulgate and Septuagint preserve the name prominently in post-exilic books, such as in 1 Maccabees and Sirach (Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach). In Christian tradition, Eleazar is sometimes conflated with the biblical Lazarus, given the shared etymology; nonetheless, separate narratives distinguish the two—Eleazar as Aaron’s successor and Lazarus as the man resurrected by Jesus. The legacy of Eleazar persists as a common first name in Jewish, Christian, and interfaith contexts requiring conveying divine assistance.
- Meaning: "God has helped"
- Origin: Hebrew, from ʾel (God) + ʿazar (to help)
- Type: First name, male
- Usage regions: English, Greek, Latin biblical contexts; also Jewish litrary tradition; modern usage may occasionally appear, less common than its variants
- Related names: Lazarus, Lazaros, Ghazar, Lazar
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Eleazar