5809. Azzur

Lexical Summary

Azzur: Azzur

Original Word: עַזּוּר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Azzuwr
Pronunciation: ahz-ZOOR
Phonetic Spelling: (az-zoor')
KJV: Azur, Azzur
NASB: Azzur
Word Origin: [from H5826 (עָזַר - help)]

1. helpful
2. Azzur, the name of three Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Azur, Azzur

Or mazzur {az-zoor'}; from azar; helpful; Azzur, the name of three Israelites -- Azur, Azzur.

see HEBREW azar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from azar
Definition
"helpful," three Isr.
NASB Translation
Azzur (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

עַזּוּר and (once) עַזֻּר proper name, masculine Αζωρ, Εζερ Ιαζερ:

1 father of Hananiah Jeremiah 28:1.

2 עַזֻּר Ezekiel 11:1

3 a chief of people Nehemiah 10:18.

Topical Lexicon

Occurrences and Contexts

• Nehemiah 10:17 — Azzur stands among the signatories who renewed covenant fidelity with the returned exiles under Nehemiah. The scene reflects a community-wide pledge to walk in the Law of Moses and not repeat the sins that had led to exile (compare Nehemiah 9:32-38).
• Jeremiah 28:1 — Azur appears as the father of Hananiah, the false prophet who contradicted Jeremiah by predicting an early end to Babylonian domination. “Hananiah son of Azur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD”. The episode highlights the clash between presumptive optimism and the sober word of the LORD.
• Ezekiel 11:1 — In a visionary transport to Jerusalem, Ezekiel is shown “Jaazaniah son of Azur” among twenty-five city officials “who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city”. Judgment swiftly follows (Ezekiel 11:13).

Historical Setting

1. Late sixth century B.C. — The fathers of Hananiah (Jeremiah) and Jaazaniah (Ezekiel) belong to the final decades of the kingdom of Judah, a milieu marked by political instability, reliance on foreign alliances, and theological compromise.
2. Mid-fifth century B.C. — The Azzur of Nehemiah’s list lives a century later, when the restored community seeks fresh obedience after the exile. Whether the name refers to the same family line cannot be demonstrated, yet the repetition shows the name remained common within post-exilic Judah.

Covenant Faithfulness and Reform (Nehemiah 10:17)

Azzur is linked to a moment of corporate repentance. The sealing of the covenant underscores several themes:
• Leadership accountability: heads of families publicly bind themselves to obedience.
• Transmission of faith: the vow includes a pledge to instruct children (Nehemiah 10:28-29).
• Separation from surrounding nations: they promise not to intermarry with pagans or violate Sabbath economics.

Azzur’s inclusion therefore associates his house with reform rather than rebellion.

Opposition to True Prophecy (Jeremiah 28:1)

The Azur of Jeremiah is remembered chiefly through his son’s error. Hananiah’s popular but false assurances contradicted the word given through Jeremiah and tempted the nation to dismiss divine discipline. The narrative illustrates:
• The seductive power of optimistic deception (Jeremiah 28:10-11).
• The LORD’s vindication of genuine prophecy (verses 15-17).
• The responsibility of family heritage: Azur’s name, meaning “help,” becomes tragically ironic as his offspring spreads hurtful counsel.

Corrupt Civic Counsel (Ezekiel 11:1)

Jaazaniah son of Azur personifies the ruling elite who presumed Jerusalem invincible (“This city is the pot, and we are the meat,” Ezekiel 11:3). In response, God announces removal and sword (verses 8-10). Azur is here tied to:
• Political presumption set against divine holiness.
• The collapse of civic leadership when detached from covenant truth.
• The mingling of temple proximity with moral decay—even those standing “at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD” (verse 1) are not immune to judgment.

Theological and Ministry Lessons

1. A name of hope does not ensure a heritage of faith. The contrast between Nehemiah’s Azzur and the fathers of two rebel leaders warns that spiritual standing rests on obedience, not lineage.
2. Parental influence is weighty but not determinative. Scripture records no speech or action by Azur himself, yet his sons’ choices shape national destiny. Contemporary ministry must therefore nurture both present obedience and the next generation’s discernment (see Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4).
3. False prophecy is often cloaked in patriotic or religious language. The episodes in Jeremiah and Ezekiel reinforce testing every spirit by the written Word (Deuteronomy 18:20-22; 1 John 4:1).
4. Covenant renewal remains the remedy for communal failure. The role of Azzur in Nehemiah points to the ongoing need for confession, Scripture-based agreements, and accountable leadership within the people of God.

Intertextual Connections

• Contrast Azzur’s covenant sealing with Joshua 24:25, where another covenant renewal occurs at Shechem.
• The fate of Hananiah recalls Micaiah’s confrontation with Zedekiah son of Chenaanah (1 Kings 22:24-28), underlining the perennial conflict between true and false messengers.
• Ezekiel’s vision of corrupt officials parallels Isaiah’s earlier denunciation of Jerusalem’s leaders (Isaiah 22:15-19).

Summary

Azur/Azzur surfaces at decisive moments in Israel’s story—covenant recommitment after exile, and prophetic confrontation before exile. The name gathers both promise and warning, illustrating that true “help” lies not in lineage, optimism, or civic power, but in humble submission to the revealed word of the LORD.

Forms and Transliterations

עַזֻּ֛ר עַזּ֨וּר עַזּֽוּר׃ עזור עזור׃ עזר ‘az·zur ‘az·zūr ‘azzur ‘azzūr azZur

Englishman's Concordance

Nehemiah 10:17
HEB: אָטֵ֥ר חִזְקִיָּ֖ה עַזּֽוּר׃
NAS: Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
KJV: Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
INT: Ater Hezekiah Azzur

Jeremiah 28:1
HEB: חֲנַנְיָה֩ בֶן־ עַזּ֨וּר הַנָּבִ֜יא אֲשֶׁ֤ר
NAS: the son of Azzur, the prophet,
KJV: the son of Azur the prophet,
INT: Hananiah the son of Azzur the prophet who

Ezekiel 11:1
HEB: יַאֲזַנְיָ֧ה בֶן־ עַזֻּ֛ר וְאֶת־ פְּלַטְיָ֥הוּ
NAS: son of Azzur and Pelatiah
KJV: the son of Azur, and Pelatiah
INT: Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5809
3 Occurrences

‘az·zūr — 3 Occ.