Lazarus
/ˈlæzərəs/noun
A biblical man whom Jesus is said to have raised from the dead, or someone dramatically restored after apparent ruin.
Did you know?The name comes from the Hebrew Eleazar, and the New Testament uses “Lazarus” for both the resurrected man of Bethany and a poor man in Jesus’ parable.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
אֶלְעָזָר (Elʿāzār)
“A personal name meaning “God has helped,” formed from El, “God,” and ʿazar, “to help.””
Second Temple Period
Aramaic
אֶלְעָזָר (ʾElʿāzār)
“The Aramaic form of the Hebrew name, used among Jewish communities of the period.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Ancient Greek
Λάζαρος (Lázaros)
“Greek transliteration of the Semitic name, used in the New Testament for Lazarus.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Lazarus
“Latin form of the Greek biblical name.”
Middle English
English
Lazarus
“A biblical proper name inherited through Latin and Christian religious tradition.”
Modern English
English
Lazarus
“A person or thing that returns to life, prominence, or usefulness after seeming to be finished.”