עֶזְרָא
𐤏𐤆𐤓𐤀
Ezera
H5831 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name: Ezra. Denotes a prominent Israelite leader and scribe active during the post-exilic period, particularly known for his role in restoring and teaching Torah observance among the returning exiles from Babylon. The name carries the sense of 'Ezra,' understood as 'help' or 'helper.' While the term itself is a proper noun, its underlying association is with assistance or aid, derived from the Hebrew root for 'help.'
Semantic Range
personal name (Ezra), helper (via underlying root in personal naming); in biblical text, strictly the proper name of the scribe and priest
Root / Etymology
From the root עזר meaning 'to help, assist.' The form עֶזְרָא is a shortened theophoric or personal name found both in Hebrew and Aramaic contexts; in the Book of Ezra and later Jewish literature, עֶזְרָא refers specifically to the priest and scribe. The root meaning, 'to help,' informs the semantic background of the name, but as a proper noun its meaning is fixed as a personal name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֶזְרָא is consistently used to refer to an individual — the notable scribe and priest of the Persian period — who led a group of returnees from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 7–10, Nehemiah 8). In both Hebrew and Aramaic sections of the biblical corpus, the name takes this historical application. The term does not carry the broader ethnic or religious connotations of later designations like 'Jew' or 'Judean,' but refers to a specific Israelite leader from a priestly lineage. The English 'Ezra' is a direct transliteration. While the root עזר (to help) underlies the name, its function is as a proper name, not as a common noun or descriptive adjective. In Greek and later Christian traditions the name is sometimes rendered 'Esdras' (Ἔσδρας). In biblical usage, 'Ezra' refers only to the historical scribe and priest, not generically to Israelites or leaders. English translations generally preserve the name as 'Ezra,' and this accurately reflects the historical individual without narrowing or expanding the meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to עֶזְרָא; Ezra, an Israelite; Ezra.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עזר (ʿ-z-r) — help, assist, support
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3134 | יוֹעֶזֶר | and YHWH-is-help |
| H3270 | יַעֲזֵיר | in He-helps |
| H373 | אִיעֶזְרִי | the Iezerite clansman |
| H461 | אֱלִיעֶזֶר | God is help |
| H5809 | עַזּוּר | Azzur |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5831-01 |
עֶזְרָ֨א | ezera | ANp |
Ezra | Ezra | 2 |
H5831-02 |
לְ/עֶזְרָ֣א | leezera | AR/Np |
to-Ezra | to Ezra | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences