Topic: Persons Of The Bible --  Ariel

The name "Ariel" means "lion of God" in Hebrew.

A person named "Ariel" was sent by Ezra to procure Levites for the sanctuary (Ezra 8:16). Ariel was one of the "chief men" who directed the caravan which he led back from Babylon to Jerusalem. (Ezra 8:16) (B.C. 459.)

The word "Ariel" also occurs 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 the name or meaning as "two sons of Ariel."

"Ariel" was also a symbolic designation given by Isaiah to the city of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 29:1,2,7) We must understand it as 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."

Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries

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