עַדְרִיאֵל
𐤏𐤃𐤓𐤉𐤀𐤋
Aderiel
H5741 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'my help is God' or 'flock of God,' borne by an Israelite figure mentioned during the monarchic period. The word functions as a proper noun, designating an individual rather than an object or concept. While the name combines elements signifying 'flock' (or possibly 'help') and 'God' (El), its primary lexical meaning is that of a theophoric Israelite personal name.
Semantic Range
proper name, Israelite personal name, 'flock of God,' possibly 'my help is God'
Root / Etymology
Formed from עֵדֶר (ʿéder, 'flock') or possibly עֵזֶר (ʿézer, 'help'), compounded with אֵל ('God'). The precise derivation is uncertain, as the N stems and vowel pattern differ from typical hypocoristic forms. 'El' is a standard theophoric component in Hebrew names, meaning 'God.' Thus, either 'flock of God' or 'my help is God' is plausible etymologically, but the traditional form strongly favors the meaning 'flock of God.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
עַדְרִיאֵל (Adriel) appears in the narratives concerning Saul and David (e.g., 1 Samuel 18:19; 2 Samuel 21:8) as the man to whom Saul gives Merab his daughter in marriage. This name is structurally similar to other Hebrew theophoric personal names combining an object or virtue with -אֵל (El, God). The components may suggest an association with protection or blessing, as 'flock' was a common symbol for a community under divine care, but there is no direct evidence for this function within the texts. Later translation traditions sometimes render the name directly as 'Adriel' without further interpretation. There is no association with later terms such as 'Jew' or 'Judaism'. Usage of this name is limited and specific to pre-exilic Israelite society, with no extant extrabiblical attestations. English translation simply preserves it as 'Adriel,' and the phrase 'flock of God' does not capture potential nuances of 'protection' or 'help' implicit in Hebrew naming conventions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עֵדֶר and אֵל; flock of God; Adriel, an Israelite; Adriel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עדר-אל (ʿ-d-r / ʾ-l) — to gather as a flock, flock, help, God
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5741-01 |
לְ/עַדְרִיאֵ֥ל | leaderiel | HR/Np |
for Adriel | Flock-of-God | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5741-01 |
1 Samuel 18:19 | לְ/עַדְרִיאֵ֥ל | leaderiel | HR/Np |
to Adriel | Flock-of-God |
H5741-01 |
2 Samuel 21:8 | לְ/עַדְרִיאֵ֥ל | leaderiel | HR/Np |
for Adriel | Flock-of-God |