The name Azzur is borne by at least two distinct individuals in the Old Testament, both associated with the tumultuous and prophetic period of the Kingdom of Judah just before and during the Babylonian Captivity.
The name Azzur ($\text{‘Azzūr}$) is a Hebrew name that means “Helper” or “He Has Helped.”
1. Azzur the Father of a False Prophet
The first Azzur is mentioned as the father of Hananiah, a well-known false prophet who directly opposed the prophet Jeremiah in Jerusalem shortly before the final Babylonian invasion.
Hananiah, driven by a false sense of security and a desire to please the people, publicly declared that God would soon break the yoke of Babylon and restore the Temple vessels. He even took the wooden yoke from Jeremiah’s neck and broke it.
Azzur’s son’s action forced a direct confrontation with God’s true prophet.
The King James Version records the identity of the false prophet:
And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azzur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. (Jeremiah 28:1–2)
Jeremiah foretold that, because of his false prophecy, Hananiah would die within the year. The prophet’s word came true, confirming that Azzur’s son was not speaking by the Spirit of the Lord.
2. Azzur the Prince Who Sealed the Covenant
A second Azzur appears in the book of Nehemiah, centuries later, among the prominent lay leaders who sealed the solemn covenant of obedience under the leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra. This event took place after the return from exile, demonstrating a commitment to avoid the very sins that had led to the earlier downfall.
This Azzur is listed as a prince or chief among the people. His public affirmation of the Law was vital to establishing the spiritual foundation of the restored community.
The King James Version includes him in the list of signatories:
The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
…Azzur, Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, (Nehemiah 10:17)
Significance of the Name
The two individuals associated with the name Azzur (“Helper”) frame a key contrast in biblical history:
- The first Azzur fathered a son who offered false hope and proved to be an enemy of God’s true word, resulting in death.
- The second Azzur was a leader who offered true help by upholding the covenant and committing to the spiritual restoration of the nation.
The name, therefore, serves as a reminder that the true help comes only from God, and that one’s legacy is defined by one’s allegiance to His truth.