Meaning of the Name Lazarus
The Greek Lazaros is a shortened form of the Hebrew name Elazar, meaning 'God has helped' ('El', God, plus 'azar', has helped).
Origin
The name Lazarus is of Greek (from a Hebrew root) origin.
Who is Lazarus in the Bible?
Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany, called out of the tomb by Jesus on the fourth day after his death. This event is the scene of the saying in John, 'I am the resurrection and the life.' The poor man in one of Luke's parables bears the same name.
The story of Lazarus in the Bible
Lazarus lives in Bethany with his sisters Martha and Mary and is a friend whom Jesus loves. When he falls ill, the sisters send word to Jesus, who delays two days; by the time he reaches Bethany, Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. In his conversation with Martha comes one of John's best-known declarations: Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and whoever believes in him will live even though they die. At the tomb Jesus weeps; then he orders the stone removed, prays aloud, and calls Lazarus out by name. The dead man comes out, hands and feet bound in grave cloths, and Jesus tells them to unbind him. Many believe in Jesus because of this, while the authorities begin plotting against both Jesus and Lazarus. Soon afterward Lazarus sits at table with Jesus at a dinner in Bethany. Luke also tells a parable about a poor man of the same name who lies at a rich man's gate and after death is comforted at Abraham's side. The name, meaning God has helped, suits both stories.
Is Lazarus mentioned in the Quran?
The name Lazarus does not appear in the Quran; his story belongs to the Gospels. His being called out of the tomb is told in the Gospel of John, and the parable of the poor man bearing the same name in the Gospel of Luke.
Verses where Lazarus appears
- John 11:1-44 —
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha. It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was…
- John 12:1-2 —
Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the…
- Luke 16:19-31 —
“Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs…