Lazarus
/ˈlæzərəs/
proper noun
Origin
Aramaic
Eleazar — God has helped
Overview
Meaning Now
- A biblical figure appearing in the New Testament, notably the brother of Mary and Martha whom Jesus raised from the dead.
- A person who has survived a life-threatening illness or situation and has ostensibly returned to active life.
Literal older meaning
God has helped
Language path
Hebrew → Aramaic → Ancient Greek → Latin → English
Earliest form
Λάζαρος (Lazaros)
Earliest period
1st century
Journey
The name represents the Hellenized version of the Hebrew 'Eleazar'. In medieval times, the name became associated with lepers, leading to the term 'lazaretto' for a leper colony, derived from the beggar Lazarus mentioned in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
Evolution
- Biblical Hebrew
Eleazar
“God has helped”
- Aramaic
Laʿzār
“God has helped”
Contracted form of Eleazar.
- Koine Greek
Lazaros
“God has helped”
Hellenized transliteration of the Aramaic form.
- Latin
Lazarus
“God has helped”
Connections
Word parts
El
root
God
azar
root
to help
Related across languages
Italian
Lazzaro
Lazarus
French
Lazare
Lazarus
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.