Who was Eleazar in the bible?

Eleazar is a man named in the genealogy recorded in Matthew 1, where he appears as an ancestor in the line leading to Jesus Christ. The Greek form of his name (Ἐλεάζαρ) is of Hebrew origin.

Eleazar in Scripture

Eleazar appears within the sequence of generations in Matthew’s opening chapter. The genealogy moves forward through named fathers and sons, placing Eleazar between Eliud and Matthan.

“Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.” (Matthew 1:15, WEB)

The immediate context shows Eleazar set within a longer line of descent. The verses leading up to him trace the sequence through Zerubbabel and onward, providing the setting for where Eleazar’s name fits.

“Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.” (Matthew 1:13, WEB)

“Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.” (Matthew 1:14, WEB)

After Eleazar, the genealogy continues through Jacob and Joseph, and then identifies Mary and Jesus, “who is called Christ.” In this way, Eleazar’s significance in the passage is genealogical: he is one named link in the chain Matthew presents that culminates in Jesus.

“Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” (Matthew 1:16, WEB)

Matthew then summarizes the structure of the genealogy by grouping the generations into three sets of fourteen, stretching from Abraham to David, from David to the exile to Babylon, and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ. Eleazar is included within that final sweep of generations leading “to the Christ.”

“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.” (Matthew 1:17, WEB)

The chapter then transitions from genealogy to narrative about the birth of Jesus Christ, beginning with Mary’s engagement to Joseph and stating that before they came together “she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.” This narrative context frames the genealogy’s purpose: it introduces the birth of “Jesus Christ.”

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18, WEB)

Name and Meaning

In the Greek text the name is written Ἐλεάζαρ (Eleazar), pronounced el-eh-ad’-zar. The lexicon information given connects the name to a Hebrew origin (H0499), indicating it is not a name coined in Greek but carried over from Hebrew usage.

Observation

Matthew presents Eleazar briefly but precisely as a generational link: “Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan” (Matthew 1:15), placing him within the ordered lineage that Matthew traces “to the Christ” (Matthew 1:17).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Eleazar mean?

Eleazar is a name of Hebrew origin.

How many times does Eleazar appear in the Bible?

Eleazar appears 2 times.

Who was Eleazar?

Eleazar is a person named in the Bible.

Where is Eleazar mentioned in the Bible?

Eleazar is mentioned in Matthew 1:15.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Eleazar interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).