Lexical Summary azar: To help, to support, to assist Original Word: עָזַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance help, succour A primitive root; to surround, i.e. Protect or aid -- help, succour. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to help, succor NASB Translation ally (1), furthered (1), granted (1), help (38), helped (19), helper (6), helpers (2), helping (1), helps (8), protect (1), restrains (1), supporting (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [עָזַר]82 verb help, succour (Late Hebrew noun עֶזְרָה help; Phoenician in derivatives and compounds Lzb338f.; Arabic  excuse, exculpate, also aid; Aramaic  help, Palmyrene עדר, rarely עזר Lzb338 Cook89. 90); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular suffix עֲזָרָ֑נִי Psalm 118:13, עֲזָָֽרְךָ 1 Chronicles 12:19; 3plural suffix עֲזָרֻם 1 Chronicles 12:20, etc., Imperfect3masculine singular יַעֲזָרֿ Isaiah 50:7,9, suffix יַעְזְרֶךָּ Isaiah 44:2; 3masculine plural יַעְזֹ֑רוּ Isaiah 30:7; Isaiah 41:6, וַיַּעְזְרוּ 1 Kings 1:7 suffix יַעַזְרֻנִי Psalm 119:175, etc.; Imperative masculine singular suffix עָזְרֵנִי Psalm 109:26; Psalm 119:86 + Joshua 10:4 Kt, masculine plural suffix עִזְרֻנִי Qr, etc.; Infinitive construct לַעֲזֹר 1 Chronicles 22:17, לַעֲזוֺר 1 Chronicles 18:5, לַעְזֹר Joshua 10:33 5t., לַעְזוֺר2Chronicles 25:8 + 2 Samuel 18:3 Qr (> Kt לַעֲזִיר Hiph`il); suffix לְעָזְרֵנִי 1 Chronicles 12:17 2t., etc., Participle active עֹזֵר 1 Kings 20:16 +, etc.; passive עָזֻר Isaiah 31:3; — help, with accusative of person 1 Kings 20:16; Joshua 1:14 2Chronicles 28:23 (reading עֹזְרִים Ges§ 53o, for ᵑ0 מַעְזְרִים, apparently Hiph`il; subject false gods); with accusative of location (city) Joshua 10:33 (D); especially with suffix person Joshua 10:4,6 (+ הוֺשִׁיעַ; both J E), 1 Chronicles 12:18; 1 Chronicles 12:20; 1 Chronicles 12:23 (van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:17; v.1 Chronicles 12:19; v.1 Chronicles 12:22), 2 Chronicles 32:3; Ezra 8:22 (+ מִן of enemy), Ezra 10:15; Daniel 10:13 (subject Michael); subject often God (׳י), with accusative of person Psalm 10:14; 1 Chronicles 15:26, usually suffix Genesis 49:25 (poem in J), 1 Samuel 7:12; Isaiah 41:10,13,14 12t. + 2 Chronicles 26:7 (with עַל against), Psalm 37:40 (+ מִּלֵּט), Psalm 46:6 (suffix of city), Psalm 109:26 ("" הוֺשִׁיעַ); subject false gods Deuteronomy 32:8; 2Chronicles 28:23; with לְ person 2 Samuel 8:5 + 1 Chronicles 18:5 4t. + 2 Samuel 18:3 (read Qr לַעֲזוֺר, or לְעֹזֵר ? compare HPS); subject ׳י Isaiah 50:7,9; with עִם person 1 Chronicles 12:22 (van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:21; + עַל against); with אַחֲרֵי person (construction praegn.) 1 Kings 1:7; with בְּ person against whom 2 Chronicles 20:23 (+ infinitive); with בֵּין ֗֗֗ לְ, of ׳י, 2 Chron 14:10; absolute Isaiah 30:7; 2Chronicles 26:13 (+ עַל against), 2 Chronicles 28:16; לְרָעָה ׳ע Zechariah 1:15 they helped, with evil result; ׳י subject, 2 Chronicles 25:8 (opposed to הַכְשִׁיל); also participle with suffix Ezekiel 30:8 3t.; with לְ person 2 Kings 14:26 5t., of ׳י Psalm 30:11; Psalm 54:6; absolute Isaiah 31:3; Isaiah 63:5; Jeremiah 47:4; Psalm 22:12; Psalm 107:12; construct עֹזְרֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה 1 Chronicles 12:1, עֹזְרֵי רָ֑הַב Job 9:13 (see רַהַב); Participle passive absolute as substantive he who is helped Isaiah 31:3. Niph`al Perfect וְנֶעֱזָרְ֑תִּי Psalm 28:7 I am helped (that is, by ׳י); Imperfect3masculine plural וַיֵּעָֽזְרוּ 1 Chronicles 5:20 (that is, id.; + עַל against, with noun cognate יֵעָֽזְרוּ עֵזֶר מְעָט Daniel 11:34; Infinitive construct הִפְלִיא לְהֵעָזֵר2Chronicles 26:15 he was wonderfully helped (literally made wonderful to be helped). Hiph`il dubious: Infinitive construct 2 Samuel 18:3 Kt, Participle plural מַעְזְרִים2Chronicles 28:23, see Qal. Topical Lexicon Overview of Scriptural Usage The root occurs across Genesis to Zechariah, weaving a consistent motif of Yahweh’s active intervention and the call for His people to mirror that intervention toward others. The contexts fall into four broad spheres: divine rescue, military alliance, fraternal aid, and liturgical confession. Divine Help The primary voice is the LORD Himself. From the psalmist’s cry, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2), to the oracle, “I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10), the verb highlights a God who stoops to lift. The help is often immediate (Exodus 18:4), sometimes delayed for sanctifying purposes (Psalm 22:11), but always covenant-grounded (Deuteronomy 33:7). Human Instruments of Help While God is the ultimate Helper, He frequently acts through people. Moses is urged, “Please help your servants” (Numbers 11:17). Ezra rallies Levites “to help with the work of the house of God” (Ezra 1:4). A godly king like Uzziah “sought God… and God helped him” (2 Chronicles 26:5), showing that divine aid energizes human agency. Military Contexts About one-third of the occurrences are tied to warfare. Judah pleads with Israel, “Come up quickly and help us” (1 Chronicles 12:17). Asa’s prayer, “LORD, there is none besides You to help the powerless against the mighty” (2 Chronicles 14:11), underlines the theological assertion that victory is never merely a product of human strength. The prophets warn against seeking Egypt’s cavalry for help (Isaiah 31:1), indicting misplaced reliance. Liturgical and Worship Usage Psalms turns the verb into doxology. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1), becomes a sung creed. The Hallel psalms frame deliverance as history’s anthem: “The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14), where salvation encapsulates help realized. Messianic and Redemptive Foreshadowing Isaiah 49:8 links the Servant’s mission to divine help extended to the nations: “I will keep You and make You a covenant for the people… to restore the land.” The ultimate Helper appears in human flesh, fulfilling every prior instance of help with incarnate finality (Matthew 12:18 quoting Isaiah 42:1 where the LXX reflects the same root idea). Covenant Faithfulness and Social Justice Prophetic rebukes expose failure to help the oppressed. Jeremiah laments leaders who “do not help the needy” (cf. Jeremiah 5:28). The verb thus embeds social responsibility in covenant life, anticipating James 1:27’s insistence on practical aid. Wisdom Literature Insights Proverbs links help with prudence: “A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth” (Proverbs 29:3). The concept of help is implicit—wisdom helps one navigate life. Ecclesiastes 4:10 generalizes: “If either falls, one can help the other up,” underscoring mutual aid as creation’s design. Help Refused or Withheld Tragic narratives feature withheld help: “They looked, but there was no one to help” (Psalm 107:12). The chilling refrain in Lamentations 1:7 exposes covenant curse when sin estranges Israel from her Helper. Names Derived from the Root Eliezer (“My God is help”), Ezra (“help”), Azariah (“Yahweh has helped”) and others memorialize divine intervention in personal identity, reminding every generation of constant dependence. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Reliance: Scripture consistently redirects confidence from human ingenuity to divine sufficiency. Practical Application for Believers Today • Prayer: Model Asa’s dependence (2 Chronicles 14:11). Selected Representative Occurrences Genesis 49:25 – “By the God of your father who helps you…” Deuteronomy 33:26 – “There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you.” 1 Samuel 7:12 – “Samuel took a stone and set it… and called its name Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us.’” 2 Chronicles 32:8 – “With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us.” Psalm 38:22 – “Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my Savior.” Isaiah 41:13 – “I am the LORD your God who takes your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’” Summary The verb encapsulates the gracious initiative of God and the covenantal ethic incumbent on His people. Whether rescuing from armies, supplying daily bread, or ultimately redeeming through the Messiah, the biblical portrait of help is God-centered, faith-inducing, and mission-shaping, calling every generation to trust, receive, and extend the same help until faith becomes sight. Forms and Transliterations בְּעֹזְרָ֑י בֶּעְזֹ֣ר בעזר בעזרי וְֽנֶ֫עֱזָ֥רְתִּי וְיַעְזְר֑וּנִי וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ וְיַעְזְרֻכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֣א וְעִזְרֻ֔נִי וְעָזְרֵ֔נוּ וַֽיַּעְזְר֔וּ וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם וַֽיַּעְזְרֽוּהוּ׃ וַיֵּעָזְר֣וּ וַיַּֽעֲזָר־ וַיַּעְזְרֵ֨הוּ וַעֲזַרְתֶּ֖ם ויעזר־ ויעזרהו ויעזרו ויעזרוהו׃ ויעזרוני ויעזרך ויעזרכם ויעזרם ולא ונעזרתי ועזרנו ועזרני ועזרתם יֵעָזְר֖וּ יַֽעֲזָר־ יַעְזְרֶ֑ךָּ יַעְזְרֶ֥הָ יַעְזֹ֑רוּ יַעֲזְרֻֽנִי׃ יעזר־ יעזרה יעזרו יעזרך יעזרני׃ לְהֵעָזֵ֖ר לְעָזְר֑וֹ לְעָזְרֵ֑נִי לְעָזְרֵ֔נִי לְעָזְרֵ֔נוּ לְעָזְרֵ֥נוּ לְעֹ֣זְרֶ֔ךָ לַעְז֕וֹר לַעְז֥וֹר לַעְזֹ֔ר לַעְזֹ֕ר לַעְזֹ֖ר לַעְזֹ֥ר לַעְזֹֽור׃ לַעְזוֹר֙ להעזר לעזור לעזור׃ לעזר לעזרו לעזרך לעזרנו לעזרני מַעְזְרִ֣ים מעזרים עֲזַרְתִּ֑יךָ עֲזַרְתִּ֔יךָ עֲזַרְתִּֽיךָ׃ עֲזַרְתִּיךְ֙ עֲזַרְתַּ֥נִי עֲזָר֔וֹ עֲזָרְךָ֖ עֲזָרָ֥נוּ עֲזָרָֽנִי׃ עֲזָרֻֽם׃ עָ֭זְרֵנִי עָזְר֤וּ עָזְר֥וּ עָזְרֵ֜נוּ עָזְרֵ֤נוּ ׀ עָזְרֵֽנִי׃ עָזַ֥רְתָּ עָזֻ֔ר עֹ֣זְרֵי עֹֽזְרָ֑יו עֹזְרֵ֖י עֹזְרֶֽיהָ׃ עֹזֵ֑ר עֹזֵ֔ר עֹזֵ֖ר עֹזֵ֣ר עֹזֵ֥ר עֹזֵֽר׃ עוֹזֵ֖ר עוֹזֵֽר׃ עוֹזֵר֙ עוזר עוזר׃ עזר עזר׃ עזרו עזרי עזריה׃ עזריו עזרך עזרם׃ עזרנו עזרני עזרני׃ עזרת עזרתיך עזרתיך׃ עזרתני ‘ă·zā·rā·nî ‘ă·zā·rā·nū ‘ă·zā·rə·ḵā ‘ă·zā·rōw ‘ă·zā·rum ‘ā·zar·tā ‘ă·zar·ta·nî ‘ă·zar·tî·ḵā ‘ă·zar·tîḵ ‘ā·zə·rê·nî ‘ā·zə·rê·nū ‘ā·zə·rū ‘ā·zur ‘ăzārānî ‘ăzārānū ‘ăzārəḵā ‘ăzārōw ‘āzartā ‘ăzartanî ‘ăzartîḵ ‘ăzartîḵā ‘ăzārum ‘āzərênî ‘āzərênū ‘āzərū ‘āzur ‘ō·w·zêr ‘ō·zə·rāw ‘ō·zə·rê ‘ō·zə·re·hā ‘ō·zêr ‘ōwzêr ‘ōzêr ‘ōzərāw ‘ōzərê ‘ōzərehā azaRani azaRanu azareCha azaRo aZarta azarTani azartiCh azarTicha azaRum Azereni azeRenu azeRu aZur be‘·zōr bə‘ōzərāy be‘zōr bə·‘ō·zə·rāy beozeRai beZor la‘·zō·wr la‘·zōr la‘zōr la‘zōwr laZor lə‘āzərênî lə‘āzərênū lə‘āzərōw lə‘ōzəreḵā lə·‘ā·zə·rê·nî lə·‘ā·zə·rê·nū lə·‘ā·zə·rōw lə·‘ō·zə·re·ḵā lə·hê·‘ā·zêr leazeReni leazeRenu leazeRo ləhê‘āzêr leheaZer leOzeRecha ma‘·zə·rîm ma‘zərîm mazeRim oZer ozeRav ozeRei ozeReiha vaazarTem vaiyaazor vaiyazeRehu vaiyazeRem vaiyazeRu VaiyazeRuhu vaiyeazeRu veazeRenu veizRuni veLo veNeeZareti veyazeReka veyazeruChem veyazeRuni wa‘ăzartem wa·‘ă·zar·tem way·ya‘·zə·rê·hū way·ya‘·zə·rêm way·ya‘·zə·rū way·ya‘·zə·rū·hū way·ya·‘ă·zār- way·yê·‘ā·zə·rū wayya‘ăzār- wayya‘zərêhū wayya‘zərêm wayya‘zərū wayya‘zərūhū wayyê‘āzərū wə‘āzərênū wə‘izrunî wə·‘ā·zə·rê·nū wə·‘iz·ru·nî wə·lō wə·ne·‘ĕ·zā·rə·tî wə·ya‘·zə·re·kā wə·ya‘·zə·ru·ḵem wə·ya‘·zə·rū·nî wəlō wəne‘ĕzārətî wəya‘zərekā wəya‘zəruḵem wəya‘zərūnî ya‘·zə·re·hā ya‘·zə·re·kā ya‘·zō·rū ya‘ăzār- ya‘ăzrunî ya‘zərehā ya‘zərekā ya‘zōrū ya·‘ă·zār- ya·‘ăz·ru·nî yaazor yaazRuni yazeReha yazeReka yaZoru yê‘āzərū yê·‘ā·zə·rū yeazeRuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 49:25 HEB: מֵאֵ֨ל אָבִ֜יךָ וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ וְאֵ֤ת שַׁדַּי֙ NAS: of your father who helps you, And by the Almighty KJV: of thy father, who shall help thee; and by INT: the God of your father helps the Almighty blesses Deuteronomy 32:38 Joshua 1:14 Joshua 10:4 Joshua 10:6 Joshua 10:33 1 Samuel 7:12 2 Samuel 8:5 2 Samuel 18:3 2 Samuel 21:17 1 Kings 1:7 1 Kings 20:16 2 Kings 14:26 1 Chronicles 5:20 1 Chronicles 12:1 1 Chronicles 12:18 1 Chronicles 12:19 1 Chronicles 12:19 1 Chronicles 12:20 1 Chronicles 12:22 1 Chronicles 12:23 1 Chronicles 15:26 1 Chronicles 18:5 1 Chronicles 22:17 2 Chronicles 14:11 81 Occurrences |
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