אֲבִיעֶזֶר
𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤏𐤆𐤓
Aviezer
H44 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'my father is help/support' or 'my father is (a) helper.' Used for an Israelite clan ancestor, specifically a descendant of Manasseh, and for an individual mentioned as a companion of David. The name expresses a theophoric assertion of divine (or paternal) support or assistance, and reflects broader Israelite naming patterns emphasizing the role of the father or God as a source of aid.
Semantic Range
personal name, clan name, one's father as source of help, divine or paternal support; used as both individual and group designation
Root / Etymology
Compound from אָב ('av, 'father') + עֵזֶר ('ezer, 'help,' 'support'). The name synthesizes these elements into a construct form: אֲבִי־ ('avi-', 'my father of') + עֶזֶר ('ezer', 'help'). The root meanings are: אָב (אבב) – 'to be a father, ancestor'; עזר – 'to help, support.' Thus, אֲבִיעֶזֶר is properly understood as 'my father is help/support.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֲבִיעֶזֶר refers both to (1) a descendant of Manasseh, specifically head of a clan known as 'the Abiezrites' (Judges 6:11, 15, referencing the Israelite period), and (2) a companion of David from Anathoth (1 Chronicles 11:28, associated with the monarchic period). The theophoric naming formula using 'my father' (אֲבִי־) is common in Israelite personal names and may refer to one's actual biological father or metaphorically to God as a fatherly figure or divine helper. In translation traditions, including English Bibles, the name is often left untranslated as 'Abiezer,' which can obscure its etymological significance. There are no indications that the individuals named אֲבִיעֶזֶר were connected by kinship, reflecting the recurrence of the name in separate historical contexts. The Abiezrite clan was notable in the time of the Judges, particularly in the person of Gideon, and is referenced geographically near Ophrah. The meaning of 'help' here is most naturally understood in the sense of 'support' or 'assistance,' characteristic of both familial and divine aid in broader ancient Israelite culture.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָב and עֵזֶר; father of help (i.e. helpful); Abiezer, the name of two Israelites; Abiezer.
Bantu Hebrew
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אבזר (ʾ-b-z-r) — to father, become ancestor; to help, support, assist
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H44-01 |
אֲבִיעֶ֜זֶר | aviezer | HNp |
Abiezer | My-Father-is-Help | 7 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H44-01 |
Joshua 17:2 | אֲבִיעֶ֜זֶר | aviezer | HNp |
Abiezer | My-Father-is-Help |
H44-01 |
Judges 6:34 | אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר | aviezer | HNp |
Abiezer | My-Father-is-Help |
H44-01 |
Judges 8:2 | אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר | aviezer | HNp |
of Abiezer | My-Father-is-Help |
H44-01 |
2 Samuel 23:27 | אֲבִיעֶ֨זֶר֙ | aviezer | HNp |
Abiezer | My-Father-is-Help |
H44-01 |
1 Chronicles 7:18 | אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר | aviezer | HNp |
Abiezer | My-Father-is-Help |
H44-01 |
1 Chronicles 11:28 | אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר | aviezer | HNp |
Abiezer | My-Father-is-Help |
H44-01 |
1 Chronicles 27:12 | אֲבִיעֶ֥זֶר | aviezer | HNp |
Abiezer | My-Father-is-Help |