Ariel

the capital city of Moab, frequently mentioned in Scripture, Ezr 8:16. See MOAB.

Ariel, 1

A´riel, a word meaning ’lion of God,’ and correctly enough rendered by ’lion-like,’ in 2Sa 23:20; 1Ch 11:22. It was applied as an epithet of distinction to bold and warlike persons, as among the Arabians, who surnamed Ali ’The Lion of God.’

Ariel, 2

The same word is used as a local proper name in Isa 29:1-2, applied to Jerusalem—’as victorious under God’—says Dr. Lee; and in Eze 43:15-16, to the altar of burnt-offerings.

The lion of God, one of Ezra’s chief men, Ezr 8:16 . This word is used, in 2Sa 24:25 ; 1Ch 11:22, as a descriptive or perhaps a family name of two lion-like men of Moab. In another sense, Ezekiel applies it to the altar of God, Eze 43:15, and Isaiah to Jerusalem, as the hearth on which both the burnt offerings and the enemies of God should be consumed, Isa 29:1,2,7 . See also Gen 49:9 .\par

A’riel. (lion of God).

1. One of the "chief men" who, under Ezra, directed the caravan which he led back from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezr 8:16. (B.C. 459). The word occurs also in reference to two Moabites slain by Benaiah. 2Sa 23:20; 1Ch 11:22.

Many regard the word as an epithet, "lion-like"; but it seems better to look upon it as a proper name, and translate "two sons of Ariel."

2. A designation, given by Isaiah, to the city of Jerusalem. Isa 29:1-2; Isa 29:7. We must understand by it either "lion of God", as the chief city, or "hearth of God", a synonym for the Altar of Burnt Offering.

On the whole, it seems most probable that, as a name given to Jerusalem, Ariel means "lion of God", whilst the word used by Ezekiel, Eze 43:15-16 means "hearth of God".

("lion of God".)

1. A brave "chief," who directed under Ezra (Ezr 8:16) the caravan from Babylon to Jerusalem. ARELI is akin (Num 26:17). In 2Sa 23:20 Winer translates for "two like-like men" two (sons) of Ariel; but Gesenius supports the KJV.

2. A symbolic name for Jerusalem (Isa 29:1-2), the lion of God, rendered by God invincible. For "the lion of the tribe of Judah" is on her side (Rev 5:5). "It shall be unto Me as Ariel"; it shall emerge from its dangers invincible, Sennacherib’s invasion shall recoil on himself. In Eze 43:15 "the altar"; the secret of Israel’s lion-like strength, her having God at peace with her through the atoning sacrifice there. Menochius guesses that the lieu (aril) was carved on it; but as the word in Hebrew of Eze 43:15 (arieil) is somewhat different from that in Isaiah, perhaps in Ezekiel it menus, from an Arabic root, "the hearth of God." Ganneau has deciphered on the Moabite stone that the Ariel of David is mentioned as taken by Mesha, the Moabite king, at Ataroth, and dragged before the face of Chemosh at Kerioth. The Ariel here must mean a lion carved altar of God.

(Heb. Ariel’, אֲרִיאֵל, Sept. Α᾿ριήλ), a word meaning "lion of God," and correctly enough rendered by “lion-like” in 2Sa 23:20; 1Ch 11:22. It was applied as an epithet of distinction to bold and warlike persons, as among the Arabians, who surnamed Ali "The’ Lion of God" (Abulf. Ann. 1, 96; Bochart, Hieroz. 1, 716). Others, as Thenius, Winer, Furst, look upon it in these passages as a proper name, and translate “two [sons] of Ariel,” supplying the word בְּנֵי, which might easily have fallen out. SEE ARELI.

1. One of the chief men sent for by Ezra to procure Levites for’ the services of the sanctuary (Ezr 8:16). B.C. 459.

2. The same word is used as a local proper name in Isa 29:1-2; Isa 29:7, applied to Jerusalem, “as victorious under God,” says Dr. Lee; and in Eze 43:15-16, to the altar of burnt-offerings. SEE HAREL.

In this latter passage Gesenius (Thes. Heb. p. 147) and others, unsatisfied with the Hebrew, resort to the Arabic, and find the first part of the name in Ar-i, fire-hearth (cognate with Heb. אוֹר, light, i.e. fire), which, with the Heb. El, God, supplies what they consider a more satisfactory signification (but see Havernick, Comment. in loc.). It is thus applied, in the first place, to the altar, and then to Jerusalem as containing the altar. Henderson gives the word this etymology also in the passage in Isaiah (see Comment. in loc.).

Ariel (â’ri-el or a-rî’el), lion of God. One of Ezra’s chief men who directed the caravan which Ezra led from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezr 8:16. Jerusalem being the chief city of Judah, whose emblem was a lion, Gen 49:9, the word Ariel is applied to that city. Isa 29:1.

[A’riel]

1. Symbolical name of Jerusalem, signifying ’Lion of God,’ probably in reference to the lion being the emblem of Judah. Isa 29:1-2; Isa 29:7. In the margin of Eze 43:15, the altar is called the ’lion of God;’ but the word is slightly different and is translated by some the ’hearth of God,’ the place for offering all sacrifices to God.

2. One whom Ezra sent to Iddo at Casiphia. Ezr 8:16.

3. In 2Sa 23:20; 1Ch 11:22, we read that Benaiah slow two ’lion-like men,’ which some prefer to translate ’two [sons] of Ariel.’ The Hebrew is literally ’two lions of God.’

By: Morris Jastrow, Jr., Crawford Howell Toy, Marcus Jastrow, Louis Ginzberg

—Biblical Data:

1. Proper name of a man (Ezra viii. 16). The name is recognizable in the name of the Gadite clan Areli (Gen. xlvi. 16; Num. xxvi. 17, Ariel in LXX.), and occurs also in II Sam. xxiii. 20, R. V., and in I Chron. xi. 22, R. V. The text is corrupt. LXX. in Samuel has "two sons of Ariel"; Targ. "two mighty men." Proposed emendations are: "two lions (or, lion whelps)" or "two sons of Uriel." The reference may be to persons or to beasts. Form and meaning are uncertain. Suggested interpretations are: "lion of God," or, by change of vowel, "light of God," or "God is my light." 2.Poetic name for Jerusalem (Isa. xxix. 1, 2, 7), variously explained (Targ. "altar"). The illustration in verse 2 ("Ariel . . . shall be unto me as Ariel," the city shall reek with blood, like an altar) suggests that the second "Ariel" equals "altar" or "altar hearth"; so probably in Ezek. xliii. 15, 16, and in the inscription of Mesha, line 12. For a proposed sense, "cresset" or "candelabrum," see note on Ezek. xl. 49 in "Sacred Books of the O. T." (ed. Haupt). The etymology of the word is uncertain, possibly , "hearth," with ל formative. The name of the city will then be an imitation of the name "Jerusalem" (perhaps properly Urushalem, "city of Shalem"), "city of God" (Uriel or Uruel). It is otherwise interpreted as "altar-hearth of God"; that is, the place devoted to the worship of God.

J. Jr. T.—In Rabbinical Literature:

The name Ariel ("Lion of God") was applied not only to the altar (Targum, Isa. xxix. 1), but also to the whole Temple. The Talmud (Mid. iv. 7) points out that the Temple—that is, the Hekal—resembled a lion in being broad in front and tapering toward the rear. Concerning the name Ariel, a Midrash remarks that the Temple is called "lion" (Isa. l.c.), and so also is the house of David (Ezek. xix. 2-7) and Judah (Gen. xlix. 9). Nebuchadnezzar, likewise, is called "lion" (Jer. iv. 7); and it was this lion that destroyed the Temple, deposed the house of David, and carried Judah into captivity (Ex. R. xxix. 9).

ARIEL.—1. One of Ezra’s chief men (Ezr 8:16). 2. The name of a Moabite (according to RV [Note: Revised Version.] of 2Sa 23:20, 1Ch 11:22) whose two sons were slain by Benaiah. 3. A name of uncertain meaning, perhaps = ‘God’s altar-hearth,’ given to Jerusalem by Isaiah (Isa 29:1 ff.). It has recently been proposed to read Uri-el (‘city of God’) as a paronomasia or play of words on Uru-salim, the earliest recorded form of the name ‘Jerusalem.’

A. R. S. Kennedy.

Symbolic name of Jerusalem, as a strong city, occurring in Isaias, 29, and meaning "lion of God."

ā´ri-el (אריאל, ’ărı̄y’ēl or אראל, ’ărı̄’ēl, “lioness of God”): But the word occurs in Eze 43:15, Eze 43:16, and is there translated in the Revised Version (British and American) “ALTAR HEARTH.”

(1) According to the Revised Version (British and American) a man of Moab whose two sons were slain by David’s warrior Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (2Sa 23:20; 1Ch 11:22). Here the King James Version translates “two lionlike men of Moab.”

(2) A name applied to Jerusalem (Isa 29:1, Isa 29:2, Isa 29:7). The many explanations of the name are interesting, but mainly conjectural.

(3) One of the members of the delegation sent by Ezra to the place Casiphia, to secure temple ministers for his expedition to Jerusalem (Ezr 8:16).