Boy Old Testament Rare
Adriel
the flock of God
עַדְרִיאֵל ad.ri.el
Adriel (Hebrew: עַדְרִיאֵל, ad.ri.el) means “the flock of God”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 2 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 3,935 children in the United States, ranking 84. Use is rising. Around 34,751 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Aiah in 2 Samuel 21.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Adriel
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 2 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- United Monarchy
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 3,935 | Rising |
| All-time total | 34,751 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 3,935 in 2025 | Its highest year on record |
| Ten-year trend | +230% | Change in share of births |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Samuel 18:19 |
| Last appears | 2 Samuel 21:8 |
| Cross-references | 12 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Meholathites co-occurrence Appears with Meholathites in 1 Samuel 18.
- Armoni co-occurrence Appears with Armoni in 2 Samuel 21.
- Mephibosheth co-occurrence Appears with Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 21.
- Merab co-occurrence Appears with Merab in 1 Samuel 18.
- Barzillai co-occurrence Appears with Barzillai in 2 Samuel 21.
- Rizpah co-occurrence Appears with Rizpah in 2 Samuel 21.
- Aiah co-occurrence Appears with Aiah in 2 Samuel 21.
- Ishbi-benob co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Ishbi-benob.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.18.19;
son of: Barzillai (H1271H); married to Merab (H4764)
§ Adriel = "flock of God"
son of Barzillai, and the man to whom Saul gave his daughter Merab in marriage although she was already promised to David
Adriel married Saul's daughter Merab and had five sons.
The biblical story
Adriel was the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. King Saul had promised his eldest daughter Merab to David, but instead gave her in marriage to Adriel. Merab bore Adriel five sons. During David's reign, these five sons were handed over to the Gibeonites and put to death to avenge Saul's earlier massacre of the Gibeonites, with whom Israel had a treaty. (1Sa.18.19; 2Sa.21.8).
Key verses
Adriel appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
1 Samuel 18:19 -
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
2 Samuel 21:8
Show all 2 references
1 Samuel (1)
- 1 Samuel 18:19
2 Samuel (1)
- 2 Samuel 21:8