"And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth."
Biblical Name · Hebrew/Greek Origin
Lazarus Meaning in the Bible
Lazarus
boy
Lazarus means "God has helped", a boy's name of Hebrew/Greek origin. Lazarus appears in the King James Bible, and John 11:43-44 is the passage most often tied to it. Lazarus proclaims that God helps even in death — no situation is beyond the reach of divine intervention.
Is Lazarus in the Bible?
Yes — Lazarus appears in the King James Bible, including John 11:43-44.
Pronunciation:/LAZ-ah-rus/
OriginHebrew/Greek
MeaningGod has helped
What does Lazarus mean?
Lazarus is a boy name of Hebrew/Greek origin meaning "God has helped". Lazarus appears in two significant New Testament stories: the brother of Mary and Martha whom Jesus raised from the dead, and the poor beggar in Jesus' parable.
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Editor’s reflection
'God has helped' — the name given to the dead man Jesus called out by it.
Lazarus (Λάζαρος) is the Greek form of Eleazar, Hebrew El'azar, 'God has helped.' It is the same name borne by Aaron's son in Exodus 6:23, worn down through Aramaic into the shorter form.
Two men carry it in the Gospels. One is the beggar at the rich man's gate in Luke 16 — the only character in any of Jesus' parables given a personal name, which is itself part of the point: the rich man is anonymous, the beggar is named. The other is the brother of Mary and Martha in John 11, whom Jesus loved, who had been four days in the tomb when Jesus arrived at Bethany, and who came out at the sound of his own name: 'Lazarus, come forth.'
Because of John 11 the name became a word — 'lazaretto' for a hospital, 'lazar' for a leper in older English. As a given name it has come back strongly in Spanish (Lázaro), Russian, and now English, where families choose it precisely for the resurrection story rather than in spite of it.
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life.”
Why parents choose Lazarus today
- •Direct meaning — 'God has helped' — through Hebrew Eleazar
- •Attached to the most famous raising in the Gospels
- •Nicknames Laz, Lars and Lazar keep it from feeling heavy
- •Widely used across Spanish, Greek and Slavic families
What does Lazarus mean in the Bible?
Lazarus means "God has helped" and is a name of Hebrew/Greek origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Where does Lazarus appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Lazarus is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with John 11:43-44. Each verse is quoted in full below.
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Which books of the Bible mention Lazarus?
Lazarus is mentioned across 2 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Lazarus?
Lazarus proclaims that God helps even in death — no situation is beyond the reach of divine intervention.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Lazarus:
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What names are related to Lazarus?
Names like Lazarus
Other Hebrew/Greek biblical names that share the spirit of "God has helped" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Lazarus
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Lazarus
Download a printable name card with the KJV verse and meaning — perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, or a baptism keepsake.
Lazarus name meaning: frequently asked questions
No. They are two different figures: the beggar in Luke 16 belongs to a parable Jesus told, while Lazarus of Bethany in John 11 is the brother of Mary and Martha whom Jesus raised after four days. They share one very common name, Greek for the Hebrew Eleazar.
Yes — Lazarus appears in the King James Bible, including John 11:43-44.
Lazarus means "God has helped." It is a Hebrew/Greek name. The King James Bible uses it in John 11:43-44, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Lazarus
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Lazarus?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Lazarus?
You can read every verse where Lazarus appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.