or חֲזָהאֵל; from חָזָה and אֵל; God has seen; Chazael, a king of Syria; Hazael.
Transliteration:Chăzâʼêl
Pronunciation:khaz-aw-ale'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew proper noun חֲזָאֵל (Chăzâʼêl, `{{H2371}}`) is a compound name derived from the verb חָזָה (chazah, `{{H2372}}`), meaning "to see, behold, gaze, perceive," and the divine name אֵל (el, `{{H410}}`), meaning "God." Thus, the name literally translates to "God has seen" or "God has beheld." As a proper noun, its semantic range is fixed to the specific individual it designates, namely, the king of Aram. However, the etymological meaning of the name carries significant theological weight within the biblical narrative, suggesting divine observation, knowledge, or even foresight regarding the individual and his actions, even when applied to a figure who stands in opposition to God's covenant people.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Hazael is a prominent figure in the historical narratives of the books of Kings, serving as a powerful instrument in the unfolding of God's purposes for Israel. His first mention occurs when Elijah is commanded by God to anoint him king over Aram, alongside Jehu over Israel and Elisha as prophet ([[1 Kings 19:15-17]]). This initial divine decree sets the stage for Hazael's significant role in executing God's judgment.
The direct encounter between Hazael and Elisha is recounted in [[2 Kings 8:7-15]]. While Elisha is in Damascus, Ben-Hadad, the ailing king of Aram, sends Hazael, his chief servant, to inquire of the prophet whether he will recover. Elisha reveals to Hazael that Ben-Hadad will die and that Hazael himself will become king. More chillingly, Elisha weeps as he prophesies the terrible atrocities Hazael will commit against the people of Israel: burning their fortresses, killing their young men, dashing their infants, and ripping open their pregnant women ([[2 Kings 8:12]]). Hazael expresses shock and disbelief at the prospect of such wickedness, but upon returning to Ben-Hadad, he murders his master by suffocating him and seizes the throne ([[2 Kings 8:15]]).
Hazael's subsequent reign is marked by the fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy. He wages relentless war against Israel, particularly during the reigns of Jehu and Jehoahaz. He "cut off from Israel all the territory east of the Jordan" ([[2 Kings 10:32-33]]) and "oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz" ([[2 Kings 13:3]], [[2 Kings 13:22]]). His military campaigns extended even to Judah, where he captured Gath and threatened Jerusalem, only withdrawing after King Joash paid a heavy tribute from the Temple treasury ([[2 Kings 12:17-18]]). Hazael's actions are consistently presented not merely as geopolitical conflict, but as divine chastisement for Israel's apostasy and idolatry.
### Related Words & Concepts
The name Hazael is intrinsically linked to its etymological roots:
* **חָזָה (chazah, `{{H2372}}`):** The verb "to see" connects directly to the meaning of Hazael's name, "God has seen." This root is used to describe prophetic visions (e.g., [[Isaiah 1:1]]), divine perception, and careful observation. The irony is profound: God "saw" Israel's sin, and He "saw" Hazael as the instrument for their discipline.
* **אֵל (el, `{{H410}}`):** The generic term for God, emphasizing the divine agent behind the "seeing."
The narrative surrounding Hazael also connects to broader biblical themes:
* **Prophecy and Fulfillment:** Hazael's story is a powerful testament to the certainty of God's prophetic word. Both Elijah's initial command and Elisha's specific prophecy concerning Hazael's kingship and his destructive actions against Israel are meticulously fulfilled.
* **Divine Sovereignty:** Hazael, an Aramean king and an enemy of Israel, serves as an unwitting agent of God's will. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and rulers, using even those outside the covenant to achieve His purposes (cf. [[Isaiah 10:5-7]] regarding Assyria).
* **Divine Judgment/Discipline:** Hazael's campaigns are explicitly understood as God's righteous judgment upon Israel for their persistent sin and idolatry ([[2 Kings 10:32]], [[2 Kings 13:3]]). He is the "rod" of God's anger.
* **Jehu (`{{H3058}}`):** As a contemporary king of Israel, Jehu is often paired with Hazael in prophetic pronouncements ([[1 Kings 19:16]]). Both are instruments of God's judgment, Jehu against the house of Ahab in Israel, and Hazael against Israel as a whole.
### Theological Significance
The figure of Hazael carries significant theological weight for several reasons:
1. **God's Sovereignty over History and Nations:** Hazael's rise to power and his subsequent military successes are not presented as mere historical accidents but as divinely ordained events. He is raised up by God to execute judgment, demonstrating that God's authority extends over all peoples and kings, even those who do not acknowledge Him. This underscores a core biblical truth that God is actively involved in the course of human history, shaping events to fulfill His redemptive and disciplinary purposes ([[Daniel 2:21]]).
2. **Divine Justice and Discipline:** Hazael's brutal oppression of Israel serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of covenant disobedience. The suffering inflicted by Hazael is explicitly attributed to God's anger against Israel's idolatry and sin ([[2 Kings 10:32]], [[2 Kings 13:3]]). He embodies God's disciplinary hand, showing that God will use external forces to bring His people to repentance or to purify them.
3. **The Irony of the Name "God Has Seen":** The meaning of Hazael's name is deeply ironic and theologically poignant. While it might typically imply divine favor or protection, in Hazael's case, it signifies God's *seeing* of Israel's sin and His *seeing* of Hazael as the chosen instrument for their chastisement. God "saw" the wickedness of His people and "saw" the means by which He would address it, highlighting His omniscience and active response to human actions.
4. **Validation of Prophetic Word:** The precise fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy concerning Hazael's ascent to the throne and his future atrocities against Israel powerfully validates the authenticity and authority of the prophetic word. It confirms that the words spoken by God's true prophets are not mere human predictions but divinely inspired declarations that will inevitably come to pass.
### Summary
Hazael (חֲזָאֵל, Chăzâʼêl, `{{H2371}}`), a name meaning "God has seen," designates the king of Aram (Syria) who rose to power in the 9th century BCE. His narrative, primarily detailed in the books of Kings, is crucial for understanding God's sovereign hand in history and His justice. Prophesied by both Elijah and Elisha as an instrument of divine judgment, Hazael seized the Aramean throne through regicide and subsequently became a relentless oppressor of the northern kingdom of Israel. His military campaigns, which inflicted severe suffering and territorial loss upon Israel, are explicitly presented as God's disciplinary response to His people's persistent idolatry and disobedience. The study of Hazael underscores profound theological truths: God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and rulers, His use of even ungodly individuals to accomplish His divine purposes, and the unfailing certainty of His prophetic word and divine justice. The irony embedded in his name, "God has seen," powerfully conveys that God's observation extends to all human actions, leading to both blessing and, in Hazael's case, a divinely appointed role in judgment.
TRV