יְחֶזְקֵאל
𐤉𐤇𐤆𐤒𐤀𐤋
Yechezeqel
H3168 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name meaning 'El (God) strengthens' or 'may El strengthen.' This theophoric name combines elements signifying divine strength or support. In the Hebrew Bible, it is most notably the name of an Israelite priest and exilic prophet, as well as a minor figure among the leaders listed in genealogies.
Semantic Range
personal name, 'El strengthens,' 'God will strengthen,' prophetic figure (Ezekiel), Israelite leader
Root / Etymology
יְחֶזְקֵאל is a theophoric personal name formed from the verb חָזַק (to be strong, to strengthen) and the divine element אֵל (El, God). The name thus literally means 'El strengthens' or 'may El strengthen.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
יְחֶזְקֵאל appears primarily as the name of a prominent prophetic figure during the Babylonian exile, serving as a priest among the Israelite exiles in Babylon. The name also occurs for a lesser-known leader in 1 Chronicles 24:16, likely indicating its broader use as a personal name in Israelite society. In later Jewish tradition and in the Septuagint, the name was rendered as Ἰεζεκιήλ (Iezekiēl) and later as 'Ezekiel,' influencing English and other modern translations. While some translations use 'Ezekiel' for the prophet and 'Jehezekel' or similar forms for minor characters, these distinctions reflect translation traditions rather than distinct Hebrew terminology. The theophoric structure of the name follows a common pattern in Israelite naming, expressing trust in divine support or describing an act of God. Comparable constructions appear in other Semitic cultures. The name is not directly associated with the later religious or ethnic use of terms like 'Jew' or 'Judean.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָזַק and אֵל; God will strengthen; Jechezkel, the name of two Israelites; Ezekiel, Jehezekel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חזק-אל (ḥ-z-q + ʾ-l) — to be strong, to strengthen, God (El)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3168-02 |
יְחֶזְקֵ֨אל | yechezeqel | HNp |
Ezekiel | El strengthens | 2 |
H3168-01 |
לִֽ/יחֶזְקֵ֖אל | lichezeqel | HR/Np |
to Jehezkel | to El-strengthens | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3168-02 |
Ezekiel 1:3 | יְחֶזְקֵ֨אל | yechezeqel | HNp |
Ezekiel | El strengthens |
H3168-02 |
Ezekiel 24:24 | יְחֶזְקֵ֤אל | yechezeqel | HNp |
Ezekiel | El strengthens |
H3168-01 |
1 Chronicles 24:16 | לִֽ/יחֶזְקֵ֖אל | lichezeqel | HR/Np |
to Jehezkel | to El-strengthens |