עֶזְרָה (ez.rah)
ez.rah
help
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ezrah denotes active support or assistance, appearing fourteen times in the Old Testament with a strong presence in Psalms and Judges. It is not a passive wish for well-being but a tangible intervention that addresses immediate need. The word captures the essence of succor, describing the practical aid that rescues someone from distress or danger.
A key nuance lies in its application to divine help. In Psalm 121:1-2 and Isaiah 41:10, ezrah is paired with God as the ultimate source of strength, emphasizing that human weakness is met by reliable, external support. This usage distinguishes it from general kindness, framing it instead as critical assistance in moments of crisis.
The term also appears in Judges 5:23, where it describes those who provide help to the Lord’s cause. Here, the word carries a weight of military or communal aid, highlighting that ezrah often involves standing with another in a struggle. It reflects a covenantal loyalty where support is given not out of obligation alone, but as a steadfast commitment to the well-being of the other.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ezrah points to active, tangible support rather than a passive wish for well-being. It describes practical aid that rescues someone from immediate distress or danger. In moments of crisis, this is the reliable assistance that meets human weakness with external strength.
Scripture frequently pairs this term with God as the ultimate source of such help. When we face overwhelming circumstances, ezrah reminds us that we do not stand alone. It reflects a steadfast commitment to our well-being, offering a foundation of trust when all other sources fail.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- for/ help4×
- to/ [the] help of2×
- help/ my2×
- to/ help/ my1×
- to/ help1×
- help/ our1×
- [the] help of1×
- [is] help/ my1×
- [had been] <to> a help1×
- <in>/ help/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/עֶזְרָ֔ה4×
- עֶזְרָתֵ֖/נוּ1×
- עֶזְרָתִֽ/י\׃1×
- עֶזְרָתִ֥/י1×
- עֶזְרָתִ֣/י1×
- עֶזְרָ֣תָה1×
- עֶזְרַ֖ת1×
- לְ/עֶזְרָ֥תִ/י1×
- לְ/עֶזְרָ֖ה1×
- לְ/עֶזְרַ֥ת1×
- לְ/עֶזְרַ֣ת1×
- בְּ/עֶזְרָתִֽ/י\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 27:9
Don’t hide your face from me. Don’t put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don’t abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation.
The psalmist directly addresses God as 'my help,' personalizing the concept of divine support during a time of potential abandonment.
-
Psalms 94:17
Unless Yahweh had been my help, my soul would have soon lived in silence.
This verse highlights the necessity of divine intervention, stating that without Yahweh as help, the soul would have fallen into silence.
-
Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek Yahweh!
The prophet contrasts seeking help from Egypt with trusting the Holy One of Israel, warning against relying on human military power instead of God.