אֲרִיאֵל
𐤀𐤓𐤉𐤀𐤋
Ariel
H740 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper name used both as a personal name and, symbolically, as a designation for Jerusalem. Its primary lexical meaning is 'Ariel,' interpreted contextually as either '(God is) my lion,' 'lion of God,' or as a poetic or symbolic title for Jerusalem. The term also occurs as the proper name of a member of the Israelite community in post-exilic texts.
Semantic Range
(1) proper name of an Israelite, (2) symbolic designation for Jerusalem, (3) poetic or prophetic epithet implying strength or divine association, (4) altar hearth (Ezekiel 43:15-16, possibly as a metaphor for the altar itself)
Root / Etymology
From the root ארי ('ary, 'lion') + אל (ʾēl, 'God'); literally 'lion of God' or possibly 'God is my lion.' The root ארי denotes the animal 'lion,' and אל is the common term for 'God' or 'divine.' The formation reflects an anthroponymic or symbolic theophoric construction common in the Hebrew Bible.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, 'Ariel' appears both as an individual proper name (e.g. Ezra 8:16, a post-exilic Israelite) and as a figurative designation for Jerusalem, especially in poetic or prophetic contexts (notably Isaiah 29:1-2, 7). Its symbolic use with reference to Jerusalem may highlight qualities of strength, divine favor, or cultic centrality, and some scholars suggest a connection to temple imagery or the sacrificial altar (Ezekiel 43:15-16 uses the term in this sense). The term was not used as a common ethnic descriptor (i.e., for Israelite or Judahite identity per se), nor does it appear in the patriarchal period. Its use as a symbolic title for Jerusalem arises in the monarchic or exilic periods, reflecting developments in prophetic literature and possibly cultic symbolism. Standard English translations render it as 'Ariel,' but without explanatory note, modern readers may miss its symbolic resonance. In later tradition, 'Ariel' was sometimes taken as a synonym for Jerusalem, but this is based on specific biblical contexts. The English term 'Ariel' has been appropriated in modern times for various literary and religious uses, which should not be confused with the biblical references.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
xlit ʼĂrîʼêl corrected to ʼĂrîyʼêl; the same as אֲרִיאֵל; Ariel, a symbolical name for Jerusalem, also the name of an Israelite; Ariel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ארי (ʾ-r-y) — lion, strength, power; God, deity
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H690 | אֲרָא | Ara |
| H691 | אֶרְאֵל | lion-mighty warrior |
| H739 | אֲרִיאֵל | Lion of God |
| H744 | אַרְיֵה | the lions |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H740-01 |
אֲרִיאֵ֣ל | ariel | HNp |
Ariel | Lion-of-God | Ariel | 3 |
H740-03 |
לַֽ/אֲרִיאֵ֑ל | laariel | HR/Np |
Ariel | to Lion-of-God | to Ariel | 2 |
H740-02 |
כַּ/אֲרִיאֵֽל | kaariel | HR/Np |
like Ariel | like Lion-of-God | like Ariel | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H740-01 |
Isaiah 29:1 | אֲרִיאֵ֣ל | ariel | HNp |
Ariel | Lion-of-God | Ariel |
H740-01 |
Isaiah 29:1 | אֲרִיאֵ֔ל | ariel-2 | HNp |
Ariel | Lion-of-God | Ariel |
H740-03 |
Isaiah 29:2 | לַֽ/אֲרִיאֵ֑ל | laariel | HR/Np |
Ariel | to Lion-of-God | to Ariel |
H740-02 |
Isaiah 29:2 | כַּ/אֲרִיאֵֽל | kaariel | HR/Np |
like Ariel | like Lion-of-God | like Ariel |
H740-01 |
Isaiah 29:7 | אֲרִיאֵ֑ל | ariel | HNp |
Ariel | Lion-of-God | Ariel |
H740-03 |
Ezra 8:16 | לַ/אֲרִיאֵ֡ל | laariel | HR/Np |
to-Ariel | to Lion-of-God | to Ariel |