Who was Azor in the bible?

Azor is a man named in the genealogy recorded in Matthew 1, presented as an ancestor in the line leading to “Jesus, who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:16). The Greek name form is of Hebrew origin (as noted in the lexicon derivation), and in Scripture Azor is identified by his place between Eliakim and Zadok.

Azor in Scripture

Azor appears only within Matthew’s genealogical sequence. The immediate statement that introduces him places him as the son of Eliakim, within a chain of “became the father of” relationships.

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

In the next verse, Azor’s own role in the genealogy is given: he is the father of Zadok.

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

Matthew 1 situates Azor within a wider framed genealogy that connects earlier generations to later ones. The surrounding context in the same chapter establishes that this list includes a transition point described as “the exile to Babylon,” and it places Azor in the sequence after that marker. The verses immediately preceding Azor’s mention read:

“Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Babylon.” (Matthew 1:11)

“After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.” (Matthew 1:12)

Azor, then, comes several generations after the “exile to Babylon” reference, through the line “Zerubbabel … Abiud … Eliakim … Azor” (Matthew 1:13). From Azor, the genealogy continues through several named descendants toward Joseph and Jesus. The continuation after Azor is given first in Matthew 1:14 and then proceeds as follows:

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

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

Within this chapter, Azor is not described by occupation, location, or actions; his identification is entirely genealogical. His place is defined by two linked statements: “Eliakim became the father of Azor” (Matthew 1:13) and “Azor became the father of Zadok” (Matthew 1:14). Through these connections, Azor is part of the listed ancestry that culminates in Jesus’ birth as narrated in summary form: “from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:16).

Matthew also provides an organizing statement about the genealogy as a whole, dividing it into three sets of “fourteen generations” and explicitly including the period marker “the exile to Babylon” and the endpoint “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)

Placed within that structure, Azor belongs to the final segment described as “from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ” (Matthew 1:17), since his mention occurs after the statement “After the exile to Babylon” (Matthew 1:12) and before the statement that Jesus “is called Christ” (Matthew 1:16).

Name and Meaning

In the Greek text tradition represented by the lexicon entry, the name is written Ἀζώρ (Azōr), transliterated Azor and pronounced ad-zore’. The lexicon derivation describes it as a Greek form “of Hebrew origin” (comparing a Hebrew entry), which identifies the name’s linguistic background; within the verses cited, however, the significance of the name is not explained, and Azor is presented simply as a person in the genealogy.

Brief observation

Matthew’s genealogy gives Azor a concise but definite place in the chain of descent, linking him between Eliakim and Zadok and embedding him in the generational sequence that Matthew summarizes as reaching “to the Christ” (Matthew 1:17).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Azor in the Bible?

Azor is a person named in a genealogy in Matthew 1. Matthew 1:13 says Eliakim became the father of Azor, and Matthew 1:14 says Azor became the father of Zadok.

How many times does Azor appear in the Bible?

Azor appears 2 times.

Where is Azor mentioned?

Azor is mentioned in Matthew 1:13 and Matthew 1:14.

Who were Azor’s father and son according to Matthew?

Matthew 1:13 says Azor’s father was Eliakim. Matthew 1:14 says Azor became the father of Zadok.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Azor 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).