5840. Azriqam
Lexical Summary
Azriqam: Azriqam

Original Word: עַזְרִיקָם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Azriyqam
Pronunciation: az-ree-KAHM
Phonetic Spelling: (az-ree-kawm')
KJV: Azrikam
NASB: Azrikam
Word Origin: [from H5828 (עֵזֶר - help) and active participle of H6965 (קוּם - arose)]

1. help of an enemy
2. Azrikam, the name of four Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Azrikam

From ezer and active participle of quwm; help of an enemy; Azrikam, the name of four Israelites -- Azrikam.

see HEBREW ezer

see HEBREW quwm

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ezer and qum
Definition
"my help has risen," four Isr.
NASB Translation
Azrikam (6).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עַזְרִיקָם proper name, masculine Εζρεικαν, Εζρικαμ etc.,

1 descendant of David 1 Chronicles 3:23.

2 prince in Judah2Chronicles 28:7.

3 Benjamite 1 Chronicles 8:38; 1 Chronicles 9:44.

4 Levite 1 Chronicles 9:14; Nehemiah 11:15.

Topical Lexicon
Occurrences in Scripture

Azrikam appears six times in the Old Testament (1 Chronicles 3:23; 8:38; 9:14; 9:44; 2 Chronicles 28:7; Nehemiah 11:15). The references point to four separate men who lived in widely differing settings—from the royal line of David to the temple-serving Levites to an officer in the court of King Ahaz.

Genealogical Bearing

1 Chronicles 3:23 names Azrikam as a post-exilic descendant of King David through Neariah: “The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam—three in all.” This brief note keeps the Davidic family record intact up to the time when the Chronicler writes, underscoring the promise that the royal line continued despite exile and hardship.

Two other Azrikams are found in Benjamin’s genealogy. 1 Chronicles 8:38 and its parallel in 9:44 list him as one of the six sons of Azel. These texts preserve the continuity of Benjamin after the return from exile and show that tribal records, like Judah’s, were carefully maintained.

Levitical Lineage and Service

A fourth Azrikam stands inside the Levitical registers. Both 1 Chronicles 9:14 and Nehemiah 11:15 speak of “Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah,” identifying this Azrikam as a Merarite. His placement midway in that genealogy indicates that his family line was still active in temple duties following the exile. By linking the same line in both Chronicles and Nehemiah, Scripture presents a unified testimony that the Levites reassumed their ordained functions when Jerusalem was resettled.

Royal Administration and Martyrdom

2 Chronicles 28:7 places yet another Azrikam in the turbulent reign of Ahaz: “Zichri, a mighty warrior of Ephraim, struck down Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, the second to the king.” As “officer in charge of the palace” (literally, “over the house”), he would have overseen royal affairs much like a chief of staff. His death in the northern Israelite raid against Judah illustrates the far-reaching consequences of Ahaz’s apostasy; even faithful servants within the palace suffered when covenant faithfulness was ignored.

Historical Context

The distribution of the name across Judah, Benjamin, and Levi highlights the Chronicler’s aim: to document continuity for every key segment of the post-exilic community—royal, tribal, and priestly. Each mention of Azrikam therefore supports the larger narrative that God preserved a remnant in every sphere of Israel’s life, despite national sin and foreign domination.

Theological Implications

1. Preservation of Promise. The Davidic Azrikam demonstrates that the line leading to the Messiah remained intact.
2. Fidelity in Ministry. The Levitical Azrikam reminds readers that temple service resumed exactly as ordained when conditions allowed.
3. Consequences of Unbelief. The slain courtier Azrikam testifies that national infidelity brings collateral suffering, urging leaders and laity alike to walk in covenant obedience.
4. Inter-tribal Solidarity. The Benjamite occurrences show that God’s care extended beyond Judah; every tribe had a stake in restoration.

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

• Every name matters in God’s redemptive record. Even little-known figures like Azrikam serve as witnesses to God’s meticulous faithfulness.
• Positions of influence—royal, tribal, or priestly—are ultimately accountable to the covenant. Spiritual compromise at the top can imperil those who serve faithfully underneath.
• Ministry continuity can survive exile, displacement, and political upheaval when anchored in divine calling rather than human circumstance.
• The Chronicler’s and Nehemiah’s blended witness encourages believers to value both historical memory and present obedience: the same God who preserved Azrikam’s lines continues to build His church today.

Forms and Transliterations
וְעַזְרִיקָ֖ם ועזריקם עַזְרִיקָ֖ם עַזְרִיקָ֥ם עַזְרִיקָ֥ם ׀ עזריקם ‘az·rî·qām ‘azrîqām azriKam veazriKam wə‘azrîqām wə·‘az·rî·qām
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 3:23
HEB: אֶלְיוֹעֵינַ֧י וְחִזְקִיָּ֛ה וְעַזְרִיקָ֖ם שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃
NAS: Hizkiah and Azrikam, three.
KJV: and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.
INT: Elioenai Hizkiah and Azrikam three

1 Chronicles 8:38
HEB: וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם עַזְרִיקָ֥ם ׀ בֹּ֙כְרוּ֙ וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל
NAS: [were] their names: Azrikam, Bocheru,
KJV: whose names [are] these, Azrikam, Bocheru,
INT: and these their names Azrikam Bocheru Ishmael

1 Chronicles 9:14
HEB: חַשּׁ֛וּב בֶּן־ עַזְרִיקָ֥ם בֶּן־ חֲשַׁבְיָ֖ה
NAS: the son of Azrikam, the son
KJV: the son of Azrikam, the son
INT: of Hasshub the son of Azrikam the son of Hashabiah

1 Chronicles 9:44
HEB: וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם עַזְרִיקָ֥ם ׀ בֹּ֙כְרוּ֙ וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל
NAS: are these: Azrikam, Bocheru
KJV: whose names [are] these, Azrikam, Bocheru,
INT: are these names Azrikam Bocheru and Ishmael

2 Chronicles 28:7
HEB: הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאֶת־ עַזְרִיקָ֖ם נְגִ֣יד הַבָּ֑יִת
NAS: son and Azrikam the ruler
KJV: son, and Azrikam the governor
INT: son the king's and Azrikam the ruler of the house

Nehemiah 11:15
HEB: חַשּׁ֛וּב בֶּן־ עַזְרִיקָ֥ם בֶּן־ חֲשַׁבְיָ֖ה
NAS: the son of Azrikam, the son
KJV: the son of Azrikam, the son
INT: of Hasshub the son of Azrikam the son of Hashabiah

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5840
6 Occurrences


‘az·rî·qām — 5 Occ.
wə·‘az·rî·qām — 1 Occ.

5839
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