Eliezer

Eliezer is a given name of Hebrew origin. It is a variant of Eleazar, meaning "God is my help" or "God has helped." The name combines the elements El, meaning God, and ezer, meaning help. In Hebrew and Christian Bibles the name appears in several forms and bears significance in early religious narratives.

In the Hebrew Bible, the most well-known bearer is Eliezer of Damascus, Abraham's trusted steward whom God promises will inherit Abraham’s estate if he remains childless (Genesis 15:2; 24:2–9). Another prominent figure is Eleazar, the son of Aaron, who serves as High Priest after his father’s death and plays a continuing role in priestly succession (Numbers 20:28; Leviticus 8:36).

Today, Eliezer remains a common given name among Jewish communities and in Israel. It appears in various spellings and transliterations, including Eleazar and Eleazar, with pronunciation adapting to different languages and cultures. The name is also used in secular contexts and across Christian communities, reflecting its historical and religious resonance.

Notable people with the name include Eliezer Ben-Yehuda (1858–1922), a key figure in the revival of Modern Hebrew; Elie Wiesel (born Eliezer Wiesel; 1928–2016), a Holocaust survivor, writer, and Nobel laureate; and Eliezer Yudkowsky (born 1979), an American researcher and writer on artificial intelligence and rationality. The name continues to be used globally, maintaining its historical connection to faith and heritage.