The name Ariel, like Arieh, is rooted in the Hebrew word for “lion” (ari) combined with the divine name El (God), giving it the profound meaning of “Lion of God” or “Hearth of God.” This dual meaning points to the two primary ways the name is used in scripture: as a strong personal name and as a prophetic title for the Holy City.
1. Ariel: The Prophetic Name for Jerusalem
The most significant and repeated use of Ariel is in the book of the prophet Isaiah, where it is used as a symbolic designation for Jerusalem. This is where the name truly takes on a powerful theological weight, found in Isaiah 29:1-2 and Isaiah 29:7:
“Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices. Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel… And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.” (KJV, emphasis added).
The name’s dual meaning perfectly fits Isaiah’s message of judgment and ultimate preservation:
- “Lion of God”: This meaning recalls Jerusalem’s strength, its royal connection to the tribe of Judah (the “Lion’s whelp,” Genesis 49:9), and its divine protection. The prophet warns the proud “Lion of God” that its strength is no shield against God’s judgment.
- “Hearth of God” or “Altar Hearth”: In the context of the siege and distress, this meaning is particularly chilling. Jerusalem, the place where sacrifices were continually consumed on the great altar, would itself become a place of fire and consumption through divine judgment. The city would become an Ariel—an altar hearth—where lives are consumed.
Despite the severe warning of siege and destruction, the prophecy concludes with the promise of divine intervention, ensuring that the enemies who fight against Ariel shall vanish like a dream, affirming the city’s ultimate, Messianic destiny.
2. Ariel: The Man Sent by Ezra
Ariel is also found as the proper name of a person in the book of Ezra, during the time of the return from the Babylonian exile. He is mentioned as one of the leading men whom Ezra called upon to assist in gathering the Levitical ministers needed for the service of the newly re-established Temple.
Ezra 8:16 states:
“Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.” (KJV, emphasis added).
As a “chief man” and “man of understanding,” this Ariel was evidently a trusted and influential figure among the Jewish community in exile. His role in this pivotal passage highlights the importance of dedicated and knowledgeable leadership in restoring true worship after the long captivity.
3. Ariel: A Reference to Moabite Champions
There is a final, less clear-cut use of the word in the historical accounts of David’s mighty men. 2 Samuel 23:20 records the feats of Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada:
“And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab:” (KJV, emphasis added).
The phrase translated here as “lionlike men” is a rendering of Ariel in the original Hebrew. Many scholars believe this is not an adjective but a reference to the “two sons of Ariel of Moab,” or perhaps two Moabite champions renowned for their strength. The use of this word once again leans on the core meaning of the name: a representation of strength and lion-like power.
In conclusion, Ariel is a multifaceted name in the KJV, used to describe both a faithful leader aiding the restoration of God’s people and, most memorably, as a powerful, symbolic designation for Jerusalem that encapsulates the city’s glory, its coming judgment, and its final, secure place in the Divine plan.