Lazarus

Lazarus is a term used in religion, science, and culture with several distinct meanings. It derives from the Hebrew name Eleazar, meaning “God has helped,” and in Greek transliteration became Lazarus. In the New Testament, Lazarus of Bethany is a central figure: the brother of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus raised from the dead after four days, an event interpreted as a sign of Jesus’ authority over life and death and influential in Christian art and liturgy.

Beyond its biblical use, Lazarus is a common given name and appears in literature, film, and music. It is also used as a place name, such as Lazarus Island in Singapore.

Several modern terms adopt the name. The Lazarus phenomenon, or Lazarus syndrome, describes the spontaneous return of circulation after failed resuscitation and is discussed in medical literature. In paleontology and ecology, a Lazarus taxon refers to a species that disappears from the fossil record or local extinction and later reappears, apparently revived from a prior state.

Computing uses of the name include Lazarus, an open-source integrated development environment for the Free Pascal compiler, designed to be cross-platform and Delphi-compatible.

In popular culture, “Lazarus” has been used as a title for various works. Notably, the David Bowie song “Lazarus” was released in 2016 as part of his final album Blackstar, drawing on themes associated with the biblical Lazarus.