KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

The Blue Letter Bible

Dictionaries :: Barzillai

Choose a new font size and typeface
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Barzillai:

of iron. (1.) A Meholathite, the father of Adriel (2Sa 21:8).

(2.) A Gileadite of Rogelim who was distinguished for his loyalty to David. He liberally provided for the king's followers (2Sa 17:27). David on his death-bed, remembering his kindness, commended Barzillai's children to the care of Solomon (1Ki 2:7).

(3.) A priest who married a daughter of the preceding (Ezr 2:61).

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Barzillai:

son of contempt; made of iron

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Barzillai:

bar-zil'-a-i, bar-zil'-i (barzillay; Berzelli, "man of iron" (BDB, but compare Cheyne, Encyclopedia Biblica)):

(1) A Gileadite of Rogelim who brought provisions to David and his army to Mahanaim, in their flight from Absalom (2Sa 17:27-29). When David was returning to Jerusalem after Absalom's defeat, Barzillai conducted him over Jordan, but being an old man of 80 years of age, he declined David's invitation to come to live in the capital, and sent instead his son Chimham (2Sa 19:31-39). David before his death charged Solomon to "show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai." (1Ki 2:7). Cheyne in Encyclopedia Biblica, without giving any reason, differentiates this Barzillai from Barzillai the Gileadite (Ezr 2:61 =Ne 7:63). See (2) below.

(2) The father of a family of priests who in Ezra's time, after the return of the exiles, could not trace their genealogy. "Therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood." This Barzillai had taken "a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite," and had adopted his wife's family name (Ezr 2:61,62 =Ne 7:63,64). His original name is given as Jaddus (the King James Version Addus) (1 Esdras 5:38). (See ZORZELLEUS; the Revised Version, margin "Phaezeldaeus.")

(3) Barzillai the Meholathite, whose son Adriel was married to Saul's daughter, either Michal (2Sa 21:8) or Merab (1Sa 18:19).

Written by T. Rees

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Barzillai:

(iron, i.e., strong).

(1.) A wealthy Gileadite who showed hospitality to David when he fled from Absalom (2 Samuel 17:27). (B.C. 1023) He declined the king's offer of ending his days at court (2 Samuel 19:32-39).

(2.) A Meholathite, whose son Adriel married Michal, Saul's daughter (2 Samuel 21:8). (B.C. before 1062)

(3.) Son‐in‐law to Barzillai the Gileadite (Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 7:63-64). (B.C. before 536)

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
 [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV

Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.