חֲזָהאֵל (cha.za.el)
cha.za.el
Hazael
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 19 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Hazael means "God sees" or "one who sees God." It appears nineteen times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the historical books of Kings and Chronicles. The figure is a significant political actor during the era of the Divided Monarchy, serving first as an official under King Ben-hadad of Aram-Damascus before rising to power himself.
His story begins when the prophet Elisha encounters him, marking a turning point in Israel’s history. Later, Hazael assassinates his former master and seizes the throne, leading to prolonged conflicts with the kings of Israel and Judah over strategic territories like Ramoth-gilead. The name itself serves as a theological counterpoint to these violent events, reminding readers that divine observation persists even amid human ambition and warfare.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hazael carries the meaning "God sees" or "one who sees God." This title stands in quiet contrast to his life story, which is marked by political ambition and military conflict. While he sought power through force, the biblical narrative reminds us that divine observation remains constant regardless of human actions.
For believers today, this word offers a gentle reassurance. It suggests that no matter how complex or troubling our circumstances become, God’s awareness does not waver. Even when leaders act with harshness or when history seems chaotic, the One who sees is present and sovereign over all events.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 19 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hazael19×
- and/ Hazael1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲזָאֵ֖ל5×
- חֲזָהאֵ֖ל3×
- חֲזָאֵ֣ל2×
- חֲזָאֵ֔ל2×
- חֲזָהאֵ֥ל1×
- חֲזָהאֵ֗ל1×
- חֲזָהאֵ֔ל1×
- חֲזָאֵל֮1×
- חֲזָאֵ֥ל1×
- חֲזָאֵ֛ל1×
- חֲזָאֵ֑ל1×
- וַֽ/חֲזָאֵל֙1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 19:15
Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
This verse marks the beginning of Hazael’s rise, showing how God initiates historical change through prophetic instruction rather than military might.
-
II Kings 8:12
Hazael said, “Why do you weep, my lord?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire, and you will kill their young men with the sword, and will dash their little ones in pieces, and rip up their pregnant women.”
Elisha weeps here because he foresees the suffering Hazael will bring to Israel, highlighting the heavy weight of knowing future evil while trusting in God’s ultimate plan.
-
II Kings 8:13
Hazael said, “But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he could do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “Yahweh has shown me that you will be king over Syria.”
Hazael’s humble question about being a dog contrasts sharply with his eventual cruelty, illustrating the gap between human self-perception and divine destiny.
-
Amos 1:4
but I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad.
This prophecy demonstrates that even powerful foreign kings are subject to God’s judgment, showing that no earthly ruler escapes divine oversight.