Jaazaniah

Jaazaniah (Hebrew: יַאֲזַנְיָהוּ, Ya'azanyahu) is a Hebrew name meaning "The Lord hears" or "God hears." It appears as the name of several individuals in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament).

Multiple people bearing this name are mentioned, making it important to consider context:

• Jaazaniah son of Shaphan: Mentioned in Ezekiel 8:11 as one of the seventy elders of Israel seen by Ezekiel in a vision, practicing idolatry in secret. Shaphan was a scribe in the court of King Josiah.

• Jaazaniah son of Azzur: Identified in Ezekiel 11:1 as a prince of the people and one of those Ezekiel prophesies against.

• Jaazaniah the Maachathite: An army commander who rallied to Gedaliah after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:23; Jeremiah 40:8). He is also referred to as Jezaniah in Jeremiah 42:1.

The existence of multiple individuals named Jaazaniah highlights the prevalence of theophoric names (names incorporating a divine element) in ancient Israel, particularly names invoking the Israelite God, Yahweh. These names served as expressions of faith and often reflected the parents' hopes and beliefs. Analyzing the roles and actions attributed to each Jaazaniah within the biblical narrative provides insight into the social and religious context of the periods described.