Azarias
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Azarias in the Bible?
The name Azarias identifies several distinct individuals in biblical literature: a layman who divorced his foreign wife under Ezra's leadership, a Levite who assisted in the public reading and interpretation of the Law, a companion of the prophet Daniel in the Book of Daniel, a general serving under Judas Maccabeus, and one of the three youths thrown into the fiery furnace in the apocryphal addition to Daniel.
SIGNIFICANCE
Distinguishing between these various figures named Azarias clarifies the complex layering of historical accounts and literary traditions within the biblical canon, preventing conflation of separate historical actors and textual sources.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Azarias in this passage?
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.