414. Ela
Lexicon
Ela: Terebinth tree, Oak tree

Original Word: אֵלָא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ela'
Pronunciation: ay-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-law')
Definition: Terebinth tree, Oak tree
Meaning: Ela

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Elah

A variation of 'elah; oak; Ela, an Israelite -- Elah.

see HEBREW 'elah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
an Isr.
NASB Translation
Ela (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֵלָא proper name, masculine father of an officer of Solomon 1 Kings 4:18 (= II. אֵלָה terebinth?).

I. אלה (assumed as √ of אֵל, (אֱלוֺהַּ) אֱלֹהִים god, God, but question intricate, & conclusions dubious It is uncertain whether אֵל & אֱלֹהִים are from the same √. Following are the chief theories:

1. a. Thes makes אֵל & אֱלֹהִים distinct, and both really primitive, but associates אֵל in treatment with אֵל strong, Participle of √ אול; strong, according to Thes, being derived from meaning be in front of; (different order in Lex. Man., Rob-Ges);

b. אֵל & אֱלֹהִים distinct; former from אול strong; latter plural of אֱלֹהַּ from √ [אלהּ] = () go to and fro in perplexity or fear, hence אֱלֹהַּ fear & object of fear, reverence, revered one; = פחד אל trepide confugere ad Hosea 3:5; אלהים = פחד Genesis 31:42 = מוֺרָא Isaiah 8:13 DeGn 1887,48 (compare σέβασμα, post-Biblical Hebrewיִרְאָה NHWB; Aramaic דַּחֲלָא CWB); so De following Fl in DeGn ed. 4, 57, compare MV.

2 אֵל & אֱלֹהִים possibly connected; אֵל = leader, lord, from √ אול be in front; so NöMBAk 1880, 760 f; SBAk 1882, 1175 f.

3. a. אֵל & אֱלֹהִים connected, & both from a √ אלה (= אלהּ) to which is assigned meaning strong; so Ew§ 146 d, 178 b (see also Jahrbücher d. bibl. Wiss. x. 11, Bibl. Theol. ii. 330);

b. אֵל from √ אלה strong (not אלהּ), & אֱלֹהִים expanded from אֵל, compare plural אֲמָהוֺת from אמה etc.; so Di on Genesis 1:1; he supports meaning strong by reference to phrase יֵשׁ לְאֵל יָדִי Genesis 31:29 and elsewhere;

c. similarly, אֵל, being very early & common Shemitic word, formed plural אלהים, from which singular אֱלוֺהַּ was afterwards inferred, NesTheol. Stud. a. Württ., 1882, 243 (criticized by NöSBA 1.c.).

4 אֵל (אֱלוֺהַּ, אֱלֹהִים disregarded) from √ אלה stretch out to, reach after (compare preposition אֵל, אֱלִי, also אָלָה swear), God as the one whom men strive to reach, 'das Ziel aller Menschensehnsucht und alles Menschenstrebens,' LagOr. ii. 3; Gn 1882:173 = M 96. — compare SpurrellHebrew Text of Genesis, App. ii, where all these views are stated somewhat more fully, & briefly criticized; on the use of אֵל & אֱלֹהַּ in Shemitic languages see, exhaustively, NöMBAk, SBAk, 1.c.).

Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from the Hebrew root אֵל (El), which is often associated with strength or might.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Greek equivalents for the Hebrew name Ela in the Strong's Concordance. However, the concept of strength and endurance associated with the name can be related to Greek terms that convey similar meanings, such as "δυνατός" (dunatos, Strong's Greek 1415), meaning "powerful" or "mighty."

Usage: The name Ela appears in the context of genealogies and historical accounts within the Hebrew Bible. It is used to identify specific individuals, often in relation to their lineage or role in Israel's history.

Context: Ela in the Bible: The name Ela is mentioned in the context of the genealogies of the tribes of Israel. It is notably associated with the father of Shimei, who was one of the leaders of the tribe of Benjamin during the time of King David. The name is also linked to other individuals in the historical narratives of the Old Testament, reflecting its use as a personal name among the Israelites.
Significance: The use of the name Ela in the Bible highlights the importance of lineage and heritage in the Israelite culture. Names often carried significant meaning, reflecting characteristics or attributes valued by the community. In the case of Ela, the association with "oak" or "terebinth" trees may symbolize strength, stability, and resilience, qualities esteemed in leaders and ancestors.
Cultural Context: In ancient Israel, names were not only identifiers but also conveyed messages about the individual's role or the hopes of the parents for their child. The name Ela, with its connotations of strength, would have been a fitting name for someone expected to play a significant role in their community or family lineage.

Forms and Transliterations
אֵלָ֖א אלא ’ê·lā ’êlā eLa
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Kings 4:18
HEB: שִׁמְעִ֥י בֶן־ אֵלָ֖א בְּבִנְיָמִֽן׃ ס
NAS: Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
KJV: Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
INT: Shimei the son of Ela Benjamin

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 414
1 Occurrence


’ê·lā — 1 Occ.















413
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