Jaazaniah יַאֲזַנְיָ֫הוּ
Leader among the twenty-five men in Ezekiel's vision.
Biography
Jaazaniah, the son of Azzur, is mentioned in Ezk.11.1 as one of the twenty-five men who appeared in Ezekiel's vision at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord's house. Along with Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, Jaazaniah is described as a leader among these men.
In the vision, God identifies these men as those who were devising iniquity and giving wicked counsel in the city (Ezk.11.2). They were encouraging the people to build houses and promising them safety, despite the impending judgment that God had revealed to Ezekiel (Ezk.11.3).
As a leader, Jaazaniah would have had significant influence over the people, but he used his position to lead them astray and promote false security. God condemns their actions and declares that He will bring judgment upon them and the city (Ezk.11.7-12).
Jaazaniah's presence in this vision highlights the corruption and wickedness of Jerusalem's leaders, who were leading the people away from God and toward destruction. It also demonstrates the severity of God's judgment against those who persist in sin and reject His warnings.
Family
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יַאֲזַנְיָ֫הוּ | H2970I |
Jaazaniah
(1) In 2Ki 25:23, "son of the Maacathite," and one of the Judean "captains of the forces" who joined Gedaliah, the Babylonian governor appointed by Nebuchadrezzar over Judah, at Mizpah. He is the "Jezaniah" of Jer 40:8; 42:1. Though not mentioned by name, he was presumably one of those captains who joined Johnnan in his attack on Ishmael after the latter had slain Gedaliah (Jer 41:11-18). He is also the same as Azariah of Jer 43:2, a name read by the Septuagint's Codex Vaticanus in 42:1 also. Jer 43:5 relates how Johnnan and his allies, Jaazaniah (= Azariah) among them, left Judah with the remnant, and took up their abode in Egypt.
(2) In Jer 35:3, son of Jeremiah (not the prophet), and a chief of the Rechabite clansmen from whose "staunch adherence to the precepts of their ancestor" Jeremiah "points a lesson for his own countrymen" (Driver, Jeremiah, 215).
(3) In Eze 8:11, son of Shaphan, and one of the seventy men of the ciders of Israel whom Ezekiel saw in a vision of Jerusalem offering incense to idols.
(4) In Eze 11:1, son of Azzur, and one of the 25 men whom Ezekiel saw in his vision of Jerusalem, at the East door of the Lord's house, and against whose iniquity he was commanded to prophesy (11:1-13).
David Francis Roberts
ja'-a-zer (ya`azer).
See JAZER.
ja-a-zi'-a (ya`aziyahu, "Yah strengthens"): In 1Ch 24:26,<ref osisR