Ariel

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("lion of God".)

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

2. A symbolic name for Jerusalem ( Isaiah 29:1-2), the lion of God, rendered by God invincible. For "the lion of the tribe of Judah" is on her side ( Revelation 5:5). "It shall be unto Me as Ariel"; it shall emerge from its dangers invincible, Sennacherib's invasion shall recoil on himself. In  Ezekiel 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  Ezekiel 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.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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.  Ezra 8:16. (B.C. 459). The word occurs also in reference to two Moabites slain by Benaiah.  2 Samuel 23:20;  1 Chronicles 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.  Isaiah 29:1-2;  Isaiah 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,  Ezekiel 43:15-16 means "Hearth Of God".

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A symbolic name for Jerusalem ( Isaiah 29:1,2,7 ) as "victorious under God," and in  Ezekiel 43:15,16 , for the altar (marg., Heb. 'ariel) of burnt offerings, the secret of Israel's lion-like strength.

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Ariel'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/a/ariel.html. 1897.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Symbolical name of Jerusalem, signifying 'Lion of God,' probably in reference to the lion being the emblem of Judah.  Isaiah 29:1,2,7 . In the margin of  Ezekiel 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.  Ezra 8:16 .

3. In  2 Samuel 23:20;  1 Chronicles 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.'

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ARIEL . 1 . One of Ezra’s chief men (  Ezra 8:16 ). 2 . The name of a Moabite (according to RV [Note: Revised Version.] of   2 Samuel 23:20 ,   1 Chronicles 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 (  Isaiah 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.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The lion of God, one of Ezra's chief men,  Ezra 8:16 . This word is used, in  2 Samuel 24:25;  1 Chronicles 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,  Ezekiel 43:15 , and Isaiah to Jerusalem, as the hearth on which both the burnt offerings and the enemies of God should be consumed,  Isaiah 29:1,2,7 . See also  Genesis 49:9 .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

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.  Ezra 8:16. Jerusalem being the chief city of Judah, whose emblem was a lion,  Genesis 49:9, the word Ariel is applied to that city.  Isaiah 29:1.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) In the Cabala, a water spirit; in later folklore, a light and graceful spirit of the air.

(2): Alt. of Ariel gazelle

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Ezra 8:16 2 Isaiah 29:1

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

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

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Ariel', אֲרִיאֵל , Sept. Ἀριήλ ), a word meaning "Lion Of God," and correctly enough rendered by "lion-like" in  2 Samuel 23:20;  1 Chronicles 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 ( Ezra 8:16). B.C. 459.

2. The same word is used as a local proper name in  Isaiah 29:1-2;  Isaiah 29:7, applied to Jerusalem, "as victorious under God," says Dr. Lee; and in  Ezekiel 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.).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ā´ri - el ( אריאל , 'ărı̄y'ēl or אראל , 'ărı̄'ēl , "lioness of God"): But the word occurs in  Ezekiel 43:15 ,  Ezekiel 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 ( 2 Samuel 23:20;  1 Chronicles 11:22 ). Here the King James Version translates "two lionlike men of Moab."

(2) A name applied to Jerusalem ( Isaiah 29:1 ,  Isaiah 29:2 ,  Isaiah 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 ( Ezra 8:16 ).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ariel, 1

A´riel, a word meaning 'lion of God,' and correctly enough rendered by 'lion-like,' in  2 Samuel 23:20;  1 Chronicles 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  Isaiah 29:1-2, applied to Jerusalem—'as victorious under God'—says Dr. Lee; and in  Ezekiel 43:15-16, to the altar of burnt-offerings.

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

An idol of the Moabites, an outcast angel.