236. azal

Lexical Summary

azal: To go, to depart, to disappear, to cease

Original Word: אֲזַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: azal
Pronunciation: aw-zal'
Phonetic Spelling: (az-al')
KJV: go (up)
NASB: went, go, gone, went off
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) the same as H235 (אָזַל - gone)]

1. to depart

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

go up

(Aramaic) the same as 'azal; to depart -- go (up).

see HEBREW 'azal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to azal
Definition
to go, go off
NASB Translation
go (1), gone (1), went (4), went off (1).

Topical Lexicon

Root and Historical Setting

אֲזַל occurs exclusively in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel, books that chronicle life and witness under foreign powers during and after the Babylonian exile. Every appearance is situated in politically charged narratives where God’s people interact with imperial authority, underscoring that human movement unfolds within divine sovereignty.

Patterns of Use

1. Rapid compliance with royal decrees (Ezra 4:23; Daniel 6:19).
2. Official inspection or reporting (Ezra 5:8).
3. Commissioning for sacred purposes (Ezra 5:15).
4. Faith‐driven initiative in crisis (Daniel 2:17, Daniel 2:24).
5. Personal anguish turned toward providence (Daniel 6:18).

Ezra: Restoration and Opposition

• Ezra 4:23 records adversaries who “went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and by force and power compelled them to stop”. The verb highlights swift hostility, yet the larger narrative proves that no imperial order can thwart God’s redemptive timetable.
• In Ezra 5:8 the Persian officials testify, “we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God.” Their journey authenticates the work’s legitimacy, illustrating that even pagan oversight can vindicate the people of God.
• Cyrus’ command, “Take these articles and go” (Ezra 5:15), links אֲזַל with restoration worship. Movement toward Jerusalem is movement toward covenant renewal.

Daniel: Wisdom and Deliverance in the Courts of Empire

• Daniel 2:17–24 pivots on Daniel’s decisive going: from house to friends for prayer, then to Arioch for intercession, and finally before the king. אֲזַל frames a progression from revelation sought to revelation shared, modeling intercessory ministry and courageous proclamation.
• Daniel 6:18–19 portrays Darius’ restless pacing between palace and lions’ den. The king’s physical going underscores God’s unseen action; while Darius moves helplessly, the Angel of the Lord secures Daniel. Thus the verb subtly contrasts human limitation with divine omnipotence.

Theological Themes

Movement Under Mandate – Every occurrence involves a command, whether imperial (Ezra) or spiritual (Daniel’s conscience before God). The believer’s obedience in exile demonstrates that true authority is God’s.

Providence in Motion – אֲזַל narrates footsteps that fulfill prophetic words (Jeremiah 25:11–12; Isaiah 44:28). Human journeys advance the prewritten plan.

Witness in the Public Square – The verb’s settings—royal courts, official dispatches, public works—place faith on display before the nations, anticipating Acts’ description of the gospel “going forth.”

Ministry Implications

• Prompt obedience: delay can hinder worship (Ezra 5:15) or endanger lives (Daniel 2:24).
• Prayer precedes action: Daniel’s first “going” is home to pray, teaching dependence.
• Courage in governance: believers today may be summoned into political or corporate arenas; like Daniel, their movement should carry truth and deliverance.
• Comfort in opposition: hostile edicts may compel temporary stoppage (Ezra 4:23), yet God’s purposes continue; perseverance is justified by the finished narrative.

Christological and Eschatological Echoes

The verb’s motif of mission from a place of authority foreshadows the incarnational “coming” of the Son (John 1:14) and the Great Commission’s “Go therefore” (Matthew 28:19). As Scripture closes with nations walking by the Lamb’s light (Revelation 21:24), every faithful journey marked by אֲזַל becomes an early footstep toward that consummation.

Forms and Transliterations

אֲזַ֑ל אֲזַ֜לְנָא אֲזַ֣ל ׀ אֲזַ֨ל אֲזַ֨לוּ אֲזַֽל׃ אֵֽזֶל־ אזל אזל־ אזל׃ אזלו אזלנא ’ă·za·lū ’ă·zal ’ă·zal·nā ’ăzal ’ăzalnā ’ăzalū ’ê·zel- ’êzel- aZal aZalna aZalu ezel

Englishman's Concordance

Ezra 4:23
HEB: סָפְרָ֖א וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן אֲזַ֨לוּ בִבְהִיל֤וּ לִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙
NAS: and their colleagues, they went in haste
KJV: and their companions, they went up in haste
INT: the scribe and their colleagues went haste to Jerusalem

Ezra 5:8
HEB: לְמַלְכָּ֗א דִּֽי־ אֲזַ֜לְנָא לִיה֤וּד מְדִֽינְתָּא֙
NAS: to the king that we have gone to the province
KJV: unto the king, that we went into the province
INT: to the king forasmuch have gone of Judah to the province

Ezra 5:15
HEB: מָֽאנַיָּ֔א שֵׂ֚א אֵֽזֶל־ אֲחֵ֣ת הִמּ֔וֹ
NAS: utensils, go [and] deposit
KJV: these vessels, go, carry them
INT: utensils Take go deposit them

Daniel 2:17
HEB: דָּֽנִיֵּ֖אל לְבַיְתֵ֣הּ אֲזַ֑ל וְ֠לַחֲנַנְיָה מִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל
NAS: Daniel went to his house
KJV: Daniel went to his house,
INT: Daniel to his house went Hananiah Mishael

Daniel 2:24
HEB: לְחַכִּימֵ֣י בָבֶ֑ל אֲזַ֣ל ׀ וְכֵ֣ן אֲמַר־
NAS: of Babylon; he went and spoke
KJV: [men] of Babylon: he went and said
INT: the wise of Babylon went follows and spoke

Daniel 6:18
HEB: אֱ֠דַיִן אֲזַ֨ל מַלְכָּ֤א לְהֵֽיכְלֵהּ֙
NAS: the king went off to his palace
KJV: the king went to his palace,
INT: Then went the king to his palace

Daniel 6:19
HEB: דִֽי־ אַרְיָוָתָ֖א אֲזַֽל׃
NAS: at the break of day, and went in haste
KJV: in the morning, and went in haste
INT: forasmuch to the lions' and went

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 236
7 Occurrences

’ă·zal — 4 Occ.
’ă·zal·nā — 1 Occ.
’ă·za·lū — 1 Occ.
’ê·zel- — 1 Occ.