1271. Barzillay
Lexical Summary
Barzillay: Barzillai

Original Word: בַּרְזִלַּי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Barzillay
Pronunciation: bar-zil-LAI
Phonetic Spelling: (bar-zil-lah'-ee)
KJV: Barzillai
NASB: Barzillai
Word Origin: [from H1270 (בַּרזֶל - iron)]

1. iron-hearted
2. Barzillai, the name of three Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Barzillai

From barzel; iron-hearted; Barzillai, the name of three Israelites -- Barzillai.

see HEBREW barzel

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from barzel
Definition
"man of iron," three Isr.
NASB Translation
Barzillai (12).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
בַּרְזִלַּי proper name, masculine (man of iron) **no adjective from names of metals; perhaps Aramaic, and בַּר = son NesZPV xv.257; AJSL Apr. 1897. 173. —

1 a Gileadite 2 Samuel 17:27; 2 Samuel 19:32; 2 Samuel 19:33; 2 Samuel 19:35; 2 Samuel 19:40; 1 Kings 2:7; בַּרְזִלָּי֑ 2 Samuel 19:34; Ezra 2:61 = Nehemiah 7:63 בְּנֵי בַרְזִלַּי אֲשֶׁר לָקַח מִבְּנוֺת בַּרְזִלַּי הַגִּלְעָדִי וַיִּקָּרֵא עַלשְֿׁמָם, where 2nd Barzillai = above, & former is

2 a priest Ezra 2:61 = Nehemiah 7:63, who adopted name בַּרְזִלַּי.

3 2 Samuel 21:8 a Meholathite.

Topical Lexicon
Occurrences and Persons

1. Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim (2 Samuel 17:27; 2 Samuel 19:31-39; 1 Kings 2:7; Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 7:63).
2. Barzillai the Meholathite, father of Adriel (2 Samuel 21:8).
3. The post-exilic priestly family that adopted the name through marriage to the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite (Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 7:63, each counted twice in the Hebrew text).

Historical Setting

Barzillai the Gileadite emerges during Absalom’s rebellion when King David retreats east of the Jordan. Rogelim lies in Gilead, north of Mahanaim. The episode takes place near the close of David’s reign, around 970 BC. Barzillai the Meholathite is connected to an earlier generation under Saul, while the priestly family appears more than four centuries later during the return from Babylonian exile (circa 538 BC).

Barzillai the Gileadite: Loyal Benefactor of David

2 Samuel 17:27-29 records Barzillai’s immediate response to David’s need: “They brought bedding, bowls, and articles of pottery, along with wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from cattle, for David and the people with him to eat. For they said, ‘The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.’”

His generosity is free of calculation; no entreaty prompts the gift. He perceives the covenant king’s distress and acts as if ministering to the Lord Himself (compare Matthew 25:40). Scripture gives no hint that Barzillai expected repayment, yet his kindness becomes the ground for lasting blessing.

Character and Virtues

• Fidelity in crisis – stands with the anointed when many defect (2 Samuel 19:32).
• Humility – declines David’s invitation to the royal court because of advanced age, opting to die among his own (2 Samuel 19:34-37).
• Self-denial – sends his servant Chimham in his place, placing the younger man’s welfare above his own honor.
• Generational vision – his spiritual generosity outlives him through Chimham and the later priestly family that bears his name.

David’s Public Commendation

Upon David’s restoration, the king seeks to honor his benefactor: “You will cross over with me to Jerusalem, and I will provide for you there” (2 Samuel 19:33). When Barzillai courteously refuses, David responds, “Whatever you desire of me I will do for you” (2 Samuel 19:38). Solomon later receives a charge: “Deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom” (1 Kings 2:7). Thus royal favor extends to successive generations, illustrating Proverbs 11:25, “he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

Covenant Implications

Barzillai’s ministry corroborates the biblical principle that those who bless the Lord’s anointed will be blessed (Genesis 12:3; Psalm 18:50). His hospitality foreshadows New Testament patterns of supporting gospel ministry (Philippians 4:15-19; 3 John 5-8). By honoring David, he indirectly honors the greater Son of David, anticipating the Messianic fulfillment.

Influence on Post-Exilic Identity

In Ezra 2:61 and Nehemiah 7:63 a priestly clan is disqualified from temple service because their genealogy cannot be confirmed. The text notes that an ancestor “had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name.” This detail shows Barzillai’s family held such esteem that in-laws adopted the name. The incident underscores the importance Israel placed on verified lineage while also preserving Barzillai’s memory among the returnees.

Barzillai the Meholathite

2 Samuel 21:8 names “Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite,” husband of Saul’s daughter Merab. Though unrelated to the Gileadite benefactor, this Barzillai provides a chronological anchor: his son-in-law suffers in the atonement for Saul’s bloodguilt against the Gibeonites, illustrating collective responsibility and covenant justice.

Ministerial Lessons

1. Practical mercy in crisis demonstrates covenant loyalty.
2. Humility in refusing personal rewards elevates the giver’s testimony.
3. Blessings promised to generous believers may extend to subsequent generations (Psalm 112:2).
4. Taking on a godly name is not enough; true priestly service requires authentic lineage—ultimately fulfilled in believers’ union with the Great High Priest (Hebrews 7:23-25).

Key Passages for Study

2 Samuel 17:27-29; 2 Samuel 19:31-39; 1 Kings 2:7; Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 7:63.

Forms and Transliterations
בַּרְזִלַּ֖י בַּרְזִלַּ֤י בַּרְזִלָּ֑י בַרְזִלַּ֗י בַרְזִלַּ֤י ברזלי וּבַרְזִלַּ֥י וּבַרְזִלַּי֙ וברזלי לְבַרְזִלַּי֙ לברזלי bar·zil·lay bar·zil·lāy ḇar·zil·lay barzilLai barzillay barzillāy ḇarzillay lə·ḇar·zil·lay ləḇarzillay levarzilLai ū·ḇar·zil·lay ūḇarzillay uvarzilLai varzilLai
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Samuel 17:27
HEB: מִלֹּ֣א דְבָ֔ר וּבַרְזִלַּ֥י הַגִּלְעָדִ֖י מֵרֹגְלִֽים׃
NAS: from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite
KJV: of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite
INT: of Ammiel Lo-debar and Barzillai the Gileadite Rogelim

2 Samuel 19:31
HEB: וּבַרְזִלַּי֙ הַגִּלְעָדִ֔י יָרַ֖ד
NAS: Now Barzillai the Gileadite
KJV: And Barzillai the Gileadite came down
INT: now Barzillai the Gileadite had come

2 Samuel 19:32
HEB: וּבַרְזִלַּי֙ זָקֵ֣ן מְאֹ֔ד
NAS: Now Barzillai was very old,
KJV: Now Barzillai was a very aged
INT: now Barzillai old was very

2 Samuel 19:33
HEB: הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־ בַּרְזִלָּ֑י אַתָּה֙ עֲבֹ֣ר
NAS: said to Barzillai, You cross over
KJV: said unto Barzillai, Come thou over
INT: the king to Barzillai You cross

2 Samuel 19:34
HEB: וַיֹּ֥אמֶר בַּרְזִלַּ֖י אֶל־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ
NAS: But Barzillai said to the king,
KJV: And Barzillai said unto the king,
INT: said Barzillai to the king

2 Samuel 19:39
HEB: וַיִּשַּׁ֨ק הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ לְבַרְזִלַּי֙ וַיְבָ֣רֲכֵ֔הוּ וַיָּ֖שָׁב
NAS: then kissed Barzillai and blessed
KJV: kissed Barzillai, and blessed
INT: kissed the king Barzillai and blessed returned

2 Samuel 21:8
HEB: לְעַדְרִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־ בַּרְזִלַּ֖י הַמְּחֹלָתִֽי׃
NAS: the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
KJV: the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
INT: to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite

1 Kings 2:7
HEB: וְלִבְנֵ֨י בַרְזִלַּ֤י הַגִּלְעָדִי֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־
NAS: to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite,
KJV: unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite,
INT: to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite show

Ezra 2:61
HEB: הַקּ֑וֹץ בְּנֵ֣י בַרְזִלַּ֗י אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָ֠קַח
NAS: the sons of Barzillai, who
KJV: the children of Barzillai; which took
INT: of Hakkoz the sons of Barzillai who took

Ezra 2:61
HEB: לָ֠קַח מִבְּנ֞וֹת בַּרְזִלַּ֤י הַגִּלְעָדִי֙ אִשָּׁ֔ה
NAS: from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite,
KJV: of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite,
INT: took the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite A wife

Nehemiah 7:63
HEB: הַקּ֑וֹץ בְּנֵ֣י בַרְזִלַּ֗י אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָ֠קַח
NAS: the sons of Barzillai, who
KJV: the children of Barzillai, which took
INT: of Hakkoz the sons of Barzillai who took

Nehemiah 7:63
HEB: לָ֠קַח מִבְּנ֞וֹת בַּרְזִלַּ֤י הַגִּלְעָדִי֙ אִשָּׁ֔ה
NAS: of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite,
KJV: [one] of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite
INT: took of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite A wife

12 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1271
12 Occurrences


bar·zil·lāy — 5 Occ.
lə·ḇar·zil·lay — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇar·zil·lay — 3 Occ.
ḇar·zil·lay — 3 Occ.

1270
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