### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼÂtsêl**, represented by `{{H682}}`, is defined as **noble**. It appears 7 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. This term is used both as the name of an Israelite, **Azel**, and as a place in Palestine, **Azal**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H682}}` is used in two distinct contexts: as a proper name for a person and a place. In the book of Zechariah, it is the name of a location, **Azal**, marking the extent to which a valley{H1516} of the mountains will reach during a future event [[Zechariah 14:5]]. The majority of its occurrences, however, are in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles. Here, **Azel** is an Israelite, listed as the son{H1121} of Eleasah{H501} ([[1 Chronicles 8:37]], [[1 Chronicles 9:43]]) and the father of six{H8337} sons{H1121} ([[1 Chronicles 8:38]], [[1 Chronicles 9:44]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the contexts in which **ʼÂtsêl** is found:
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (a son): This word is fundamental to the genealogical passages where Azel is mentioned, establishing his lineage as the **son** of Eleasah and the father of his own **sons** [[1 Chronicles 8:37-38]].
* `{{H1516}}` **gayʼ** (valley): This term defines the geographical feature associated with the place name Azal. A great **valley** of the mountains will be formed that reaches this location [[Zechariah 14:5]].
* `{{H7494}}` **raʻash** (earthquake): This word connects the prophetic event in Zechariah to a historical one. The flight of the people will be like the flight from the **earthquake** in the days{H3117} of king{H4428} Uzziah{H5818} [[Zechariah 14:5]].
* `{{H5840}}` **ʻAzrîyqâm** (Azrikam): As one of the six sons of Azel, the name **Azrikam** demonstrates the continuation of the family line detailed in the chronicles [[1 Chronicles 8:38]].
### Theological Significance
While primarily a proper name, the use of `{{H682}}` carries significance in two key areas:
* **Preservation of Lineage:** The repeated mention of **Azel** and his **six** sons in 1 Chronicles underscores the meticulous preservation of genealogical records within Israel. It demonstrates the importance of identity and inheritance, with each individual forming a link in the nation's history [[1 Chronicles 9:44]].
* **Prophetic Geography:** In Zechariah, the place **Azal** is not merely a location but a significant landmark in a prophecy concerning the Day of the LORD{H3068}. The landscape itself is altered by divine action, with a **valley** reaching to this point, signifying a moment of dramatic change and divine arrival [[Zechariah 14:5]].
* **A Noble Name:** The definition of **ʼÂtsêl** as "noble" connects a specific person and a specific place to a quality of distinction. This name{H8034} is embedded in both the historical record of a family and the prophetic landscape of future events.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H682}}` **ʼÂtsêl** functions specifically as a proper name for both a person and a place. Its appearances in 1 Chronicles are vital for establishing a specific family lineage, while its single mention in Zechariah gives it prophetic weight as a geographical marker for the end times. The name **Azel** or **Azal** illustrates how even less-frequently mentioned names in Scripture hold precise roles, contributing to both the historical record and the landscape of divine prophecy.
TRV