Boys · Hebrew · Old Testament · rare · Early monarchy
Adriel
/AY-dree-el/
עַדְרִיאֵל
"Flock of God; God is my help"
1 Samuel 18:19
RoleSon-in-law of King Saul
Etymology
From 'eder' (עֵדֶר, flock) and 'El' (God). Literally 'flock of God' — a pastoral image of divine care and shepherding. Some connect it to 'my help is God.'
Who they were
Adriel appears briefly in the biblical narrative as the man who married Merab, Saul's eldest daughter. Saul had originally promised Merab to David after his victory over Goliath, but gave her to Adriel instead — one of several ways Saul tried to manipulate and diminish David. Adriel's five sons were later handed over to the Gibeonites by David as part of a complex resolution of a blood debt from Saul's reign. Despite his minor role, Adriel's name carries one of the Bible's most tender images — God as shepherd of a flock — making it appealing as a modern name even for those unfamiliar with its bearer's story.
Family
- Father
- Barzillai the Meholathite
- Spouse
- Merab (Saul's eldest daughter)
Character qualities
- Quiet presence
- Caught in larger events
Where they appear
Themes
Variants & related forms
Adreel
Read their story
Adriel's story begins in 1 Samuel.
The full passage is at 1 Samuel 18:19. Any modern translation will do — the NLT and NIV are the most readable; the ESV and NKJV stay close to the wording the church has used for centuries.
Find a Bible to read it in →