יַעֲזִיָּהוּ
𐤉𐤏𐤆𐤉𐤄𐤅
Yaaziyahu
H3269 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name meaning 'Yahweh strengthens' or 'may Yahweh give strength.' The name is composed of the verbal element indicating strength or boldness and the theophoric suffix referring to Yahweh. In the Hebrew Bible, יַעֲזִיָּהוּ is borne by an individual mentioned in post-exilic priestly and Levitical lists, specifically in relation to the return from the Babylonian exile. The term is used strictly as a proper noun (personal name), and does not function as a common noun or verb.
Semantic Range
personal name meaning 'Yahweh strengthens,' 'Yahweh emboldens'; found only as a proper noun in biblical contexts
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root יָעַז (Yaʻaz), meaning 'to be strong, to strengthen,' combined with the theophoric suffix יָהּ (Yah), referring to the divine name Yahweh. Hence, the name literally signifies 'Yahweh strengthens' or 'strong is Yahweh.' The root's precise form is less attested in Biblical Hebrew, with the theophoric construction being the primary context of attestation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יַעֲזִיָּהוּ appears as a personal name in post-exilic genealogical texts (e.g., Ezra 10:43; 1 Chronicles 24:26) relating to those returning from Babylonian exile. The meaning and structure of this name align with established patterns in biblical Hebrew theophoric names, which frequently invoke the divine name as an expression of devotion or hope. The root יָעַז is a rare or perhaps archaic alternative for 'strength,' more often found in personal names than as a stand-alone verb in the biblical corpus. In English translations, the name is typically rendered as "Jaaziah" or "Jaazijah," both of which are attempts at transliteration rather than translation. The older gloss "emboldened of Jah" reflects the connection with root ideas of strength and courage, but standard modern scholarship understands the sense to be more generically 'Yahweh strengthens.' The individual with this name is described as an Israelite in the relevant contexts, with no particular association with priestly or other tribal office beyond the genealogical lists in which the name appears.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָעַז and יָהּ; emboldened of Jah; Jaazijah, an Israelite; Jaaziah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יעז (y-ʿ-z) — to be strong, to strengthen, to embolden
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3269-01 |
לְ/יַֽעֲזִיָּ֣הֽוּ | leyaaziyahu | HR/Np |
from Jaaziah | to Yahweh-strengthens | 1 |
H3269-02 |
יַעֲזִיָּ֥הֽוּ | yaaziyahu | HNp |
of Jaaziah | Yahweh strengthens | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3269-02 |
1 Chronicles 24:26 | יַעֲזִיָּ֥הֽוּ | yaaziyahu | HNp |
of Jaaziah | Yahweh strengthens |
H3269-01 |
1 Chronicles 24:27 | לְ/יַֽעֲזִיָּ֣הֽוּ | leyaaziyahu | HR/Np |
from Jaaziah | to Yahweh-strengthens |