Word Study for H740 (אֲרִיאֵל)

ʼĂrîyʼêl /ar-ee-ale'/ Ask about this word

Meaningxlit ʼĂrîʼêl corrected to ʼĂrîyʼêl; Ariel, a symbolical name for Jerusalem, also the name of an Israelite

KJV usageAriel.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼĂrîyʼêl — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʼĂrîyʼêl, represented by H740, is used both as a symbolical name for Jerusalem and as the name of an Israelite. It appears 6 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, carrying significant prophetic weight in its primary context.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The word H740 is most prominently featured in the book of Isaiah, where it serves as a poetic and symbolic title for Jerusalem. The prophet declares, "Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt" Isaiah 29:1, directly linking the name to the historic capital. In this context, God proclaims that He will distress Ariel and bring heaviness and sorrow upon it Isaiah 29:2. However, there is also a promise that the multitude of nations that fight against Ariel will ultimately be like a dream of a night vision Isaiah 29:7. In a different context, a man named Ariel is listed among the chief men sent for by Ezra Ezra 8:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of ʼĂrîyʼêl:

H1945 hôwy (Woe): This word of lament or warning introduces the prophecy against Jerusalem, setting a somber tone for the message directed at Ariel Isaiah 29:1.
H1732 Dâvid (David): The connection to David is crucial for identifying Ariel as Jerusalem, described as the city where David dwelt Isaiah 29:1.
H7151 qiryâh (city): This term explicitly defines Ariel's identity in the Isaiah passages, confirming it refers to a specific urban center Isaiah 29:1.
H7218 rôʼsh (chief): This word defines the status of the Israelite named Ariel in the book of Ezra, where he is identified as one of the "chief men" Ezra 8:16.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H740 is centered on its use in Isaiah's prophecy.

Divine Accountability: The cry of "Woe to Ariel" demonstrates that even God's chosen city, the center of worship where sacrifices were offered, is subject to divine judgment for its complacency Isaiah 29:1.
Sovereign Distress: God is presented as the direct agent of the city's trouble, stating, "Yet I will distress Ariel" Isaiah 29:2. This highlights His sovereignty over the nations and His use of them to enact His purposes.
Prophetic Deliverance: Despite the impending judgment, the name Ariel is also associated with a promise of deliverance. The formidable armies arrayed against her will vanish like a dream, showing God's ultimate power to save Isaiah 29:7.

Summary

In summary, H740 is a multifaceted word. While it appears once as a personal name for an Israelite leader, its primary significance lies in its symbolic application to Jerusalem. As ʼĂrîyʼêl, the city is addressed in a prophecy that encompasses both its esteemed heritage as David's dwelling and its profound accountability before God, ultimately marking it for both divine distress and miraculous preservation.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 6 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

אֲרִיאֵל
אֲרִיאֵל

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses); never once in the other 37.

Ezra

Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.