Azaria

Azaria is a variant spelling of Azariah, which is actually a Biblical masculine name. Modern American parents, however, have hijacked this ancient Hebrew name and made it female through usage. In Hebrew (עֲזַרְיָה) the name means “Yahweh has helped” which is apropos once you’re familiar with Azariah’s Biblical story.‎ Azariah lived around 600 B.C. during the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar II. He is mentioned as one of three nobly born Jews who remained faithful to their Hebrew God (the other two being Shadrach and Meshach). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are the Babylonian equivalents to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, respectively (their original Hebrew names). The Babylonian names given to the three men refer instead to Babylonian pagan gods. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, along with Daniel, were hand-picked by King Nebuchadnezzar to serve in his court. He selected these high born Judeans specifically for their good appearance and wisdom. What Nebuchadnezzar failed to understand was that these three Israelite men were completely devoted to their own God first and foremost. When the king realized that Shadrach (Hananiah), Meshach (Mishael) and Abednego (Azariah) paid no respect to him or his Babylonian gods, in a rage he ordered their executions by the fiery furnace (a common Babylonian punishment). An angel of God intervened and kept the men out of harm’s way so that “the fire had no power over [their] bodies” and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego emerged from the blazing furnace unscathed. Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed by the miraculous scene that he allowed the three men to worship their own God freely while also promoting them in the province of Babylon. So Abednego/Azariah’s story is illustrative of God’s protection over those who demonstrate unwavering devotion to Him. In return, God (or Yahweh) “helped” Azariah and his fellow Jews avoid certain death by fire.