Azor is an individual whose primary significance lies in his place within the lineage of Jesus Christ. He is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but his name is preserved in the New Testament within the royal genealogy tracing the legal line of Christ’s descent through Joseph.
The name Azor ($\text{’Aζώρ}$) is a Hellenized (Greek) form of a Hebrew name, likely related to Azariah or Azar, meaning “Helper” or “Helped of God.”
A Link in the Royal Genealogy
Azor appears in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, which begins by providing the legal, royal lineage of Christ through His earthly father, Joseph. This genealogy is carefully structured to trace the descent from Abraham to David, and finally to the Messiah. The inclusion of Azor is critical to proving that Jesus had the legal right to the throne of David.
Azor is listed in the section of the genealogy that covers the period after the Babylonian Captivity, placing him centuries after the kings of Judah and before the time of the Messiah. This was a time when the descendants of David no longer held the actual throne but maintained their lineage within the community of Judah.
The King James Version records his specific place in the chain:
And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:13–16)
The section containing Azor is:
…And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; (Matthew 1:13-14)
Significance of the Lineage
Although we know nothing of Azor’s personal life, profession, or deeds, his existence is vital to the Christian faith. The meticulous preservation of the genealogy through figures like Azor achieves two crucial theological goals:
- Fulfilling Prophecy: It provides irrefutable proof that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be a descendant of David and Abraham.
- Maintaining Legal Claim: By being an ancestor of Joseph, Azor helped ensure that Jesus inherited the legal rights and titles belonging to the Davidic royal family, even though He was not Joseph’s biological son.
Azor, therefore, is a quiet but indispensable link in the chain, confirming the divine purpose that guided the history of the world toward the birth of the Saviour.