Lexical Summary Ariel: Ariel Original Word: אֲרִיאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lion of God, lion-like men Or (arilel {ar-ee-ale'}; from 'ariy and 'el; lion of God; i.e. Heroic -- lionlike men. see HEBREW 'ariy see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ari and el Definition "lioness of El," an Isr. name, also a man of Moab NASB Translation Ariel (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲרִיאֵל 1. proper name, feminine (probably, see Ew) Ariel (lioness of El) name applied to Jerusalem Isaiah 29:1,2(twice in verse); Isaiah 29:7 (so Ges Ew Che Di and others; Tagum De Brd Or and others say hearth of El, compare אֲרִאֵיל). 2. proper name, masculine a chief man among returning exiles Ezra 8:16. 3 אֲרִאֵל מוֺאָב 2 Samuel 23:20 = ׳אֲרִיאֵל מ 1 Chronicles 11:26 taken by ᵐ5 RV DrSm and others as proper name, masculine, read two sons of Ariel of Moab; RSSemitic i. 469 compare אראל MI12, altar-hearth (so Sm & So, and DrSm xci, see below אֲרִיאֵיל) and translation מוֺאָב ׳א altar-hearths of Moab. 4 Ezekiel 43:15 & Qr Ezekiel 43:15; Ezekiel 43:16 see below אֲרִיאֵיל. **DuIs 29:1 (q. v.) makes 1 = אֲרִיאֵיל, from אָרָה + ל afformative, hearth (not + אֵל hearth of El). Topical Lexicon Scope of the Term Within the narrative of David’s mighty men, “אֲרִיאֵל” designates two formidable Moabite warriors who were renowned for their ferocity. The term evokes leonine strength joined to a perceived divine backing, underscoring why their defeat would have carried unusual weight for Israel’s morale. Usage in Scripture 2 Samuel 23:20 and 1 Chronicles 11:22 record the same historical event: “Benaiah son of Jehoiada … struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion” (Berean Standard Bible). Both accounts situate the exploit amid David’s elite troops, emphasizing that the victory occurred in hand-to-hand combat, not in a conventional battle line. By pairing the slaying of the two “Ariels” with the killing of an actual lion, the text makes a deliberate literary parallel—Benaiah conquered men whose prowess was proverbially lionlike and then conquered a literal lion. Historical Context Moab lay east of the Dead Sea and frequently clashed with Israel (Numbers 22–24; Judges 3:12–30; 2 Kings 3). These “lionlike men” likely represented a warrior-elite or royal guard in Moabite service. Their downfall at the hands of an Israelite commander signaled the eclipse of Moab’s perceived might during David’s rise and reinforced Israel’s conviction that the Lord grants victory over even the fiercest opposition (Psalm 60:8; Isaiah 16:6). Theological Themes 1. Divine empowerment of faithful warriors: Benaiah’s triumph illustrates that courage anchored in covenant loyalty overcomes opponents who appear invincible (Deuteronomy 20:1–4). Ministry Application • Spiritual leadership today must combine skill with godly bravery. Like Benaiah, believers confront both literal and metaphorical “lions” (1 Peter 5:8). Forms and Transliterations אֲרִאֵל֙ אֲרִיאֵל֙ אראל אריאל ’ă·ri·’êl ’ă·rî·’êl ’ări’êl ’ărî’êl ariElLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 23:20 HEB: אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י אֲרִאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב וְ֠הוּא NAS: the two [sons of] Ariel of Moab. KJV: two lionlike men of Moab: INT: killed the two Ariel of Moab he 1 Chronicles 11:22 2 Occurrences |
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