Lexical Summary Lael: Lael Original Word: לָאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Lael From the prepositional prefix and 'el; (belonging) to God; Lael an Israelite -- Lael. see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a preposition prefix and el Definition "belonging to God," a Levite NASB Translation Lael (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs לָאֵל proper name, masculine (belonging to God; compare Palmyrene לשמש: see NöWZKM, 1892, 314 GrayHeb. Names, 207) a Gershonite-Levite; Numbers 3:24, ᵐ5 Δαηλ, Δαουηλ. לאם (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Numbers 3:24: “The leader of the fathers’ households of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.” Historical Context Lael stands within the wilderness setting where the newly constituted nation of Israel received detailed instructions concerning worship at Mount Sinai. In Numbers 3 Moses and Aaron, at the LORD’s command, arrange the Levitical clans around the Tabernacle. The Gershonites camp on the west side (Numbers 3:23); Lael’s son Eliasaph serves as their chief, indicating that Lael belongs to an honored family line entrusted with safeguarding the sanctuary’s movable fabrics. Role within the Levitical Structure 1. Clan Placement: West of the Tabernacle, near the tent entrance curtains and courtyard screens (Numbers 3:23–26). Because Eliasaph inherits charge over these responsibilities, Lael is implicitly linked to the practical care of the visible worship space—tasks critical for maintaining purity and order in Israel’s approach to the LORD. Spiritual and Theological Insights • The name, conveying the idea of belonging to God, highlights covenant identity. Even a solitary mention underscores that every household is known to the LORD. Practical Ministry Lessons 1. Generational Stewardship: Parents shape future servants; unseen investment produces visible leadership. Related Passages for Further Study Exodus 26; Numbers 3:17–26; Numbers 4:21–28; 1 Chronicles 6:17–21; Hebrews 3:5. Forms and Transliterations לָאֵֽל׃ לאל׃ lā’êl lā·’êl laElLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 3:24 HEB: אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־ לָאֵֽל׃ NAS: [was] Eliasaph the son of Lael. KJV: [shall be] Eliasaph the son of Lael. INT: Eliasaph the son of Lael |
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bind up, or together, III. reconcile, bring together (Thes BaNB§ 65 n. 2); > LagBN 180 who compare 
be low, ignoble, 
[plural] common ones, hence לְאֹם properly common, vulgar people).