Lexical Summary Elyasaph: Elyasaph Original Word: אֶלְיָסָף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Eliasaph From 'el and yacaph; God (is) gatherer; Eljasaph, the name of two Israelites -- Eliasaph. see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW yacaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom el and yasaph Definition "God has added," two Isr. NASB Translation Eliasaph (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶלְיָסָף proper name, masculine (God has added) a. chief of Gad Numbers 1:14; Numbers 2:14; Numbers 7:42,47; Numbers 10:20. b. chief of Gershon Numbers 3:24. Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Contexts The name Eliasaph appears six times, designating two distinct men active during Israel’s wilderness era (Numbers 1:14; 2:14; 3:24; 7:42; 7:47; 10:20). One represents the tribe of Gad, the other supervises the Gershonite Levites. Tribal Leadership and Census At Sinai the LORD instructed Moses to number the fighting men of Israel. “from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel” (Numbers 1:14). By receiving his commission at the very outset of the census, Eliasaph of Gad stands among the original twelve tribal chiefs whose names are permanently recorded. His presence signals Gad’s full participation in the covenant community and anticipates the tribe’s later valor east of the Jordan (Numbers 32; Joshua 22). Camp Arrangement and Marching Order When the tribes took their positions, Gad camped southward under Reuben’s standard. “and the leader of the sons of Gad was Eliasaph son of Reuel” (Numbers 2:14). During each departure, “Eliasaph son of Deuel was over their division” (Numbers 10:20). The steady repetition associates Eliasaph with order, discipline, and fidelity to God-given structure. Every move of the nation carried the imprint of leaders like him who ensured the people advanced in unity. Dedication of the Tabernacle On the sixth day of the tribal presentations, “Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the sons of Gad, drew near” (Numbers 7:42) and offered the identical tribute presented by the other chiefs, culminating in the peace offerings (Numbers 7:47). His gift affirmed Gad’s wholehearted devotion to the central sanctuary. The uniformity of the offerings testifies that no tribe—large or small—received preferential treatment; each stood equal before the LORD. Levitical Oversight A second bearer of the name emerges in the Levitical census: “and the leader of the Gershonite families was Eliasaph son of Lael” (Numbers 3:24). The Gershonites were charged with the tent curtains, coverings, screens, and cords (Numbers 3:25–26). Oversight of such items required reliability, for without them the sacred vessels would be exposed and worship disrupted. Eliasaph’s leadership secured the outward framework that safeguarded the inner glory. His ministry underscores how unseen service sustains visible worship. Theological and Practical Lessons 1. Divine increase. The very name hints that God “adds” or “augments.” In Gad’s chief the LORD added military strength and orderly governance; in the Gershonite overseer He added faithful stewardship over holy things. Legacy within the Canon Though neither man speaks a recorded word, Scripture preserves their names to demonstrate that God values steadfast, unspectacular faithfulness. Eliasaph of Gad exemplifies civic responsibility in the public square; Eliasaph of Levi models diligence in sacred duty. Together they remind the Church that God builds His people through leaders who gladly take their assigned place—whether under the standard of battle or beneath the curtains of worship—so that “all things be done decently and in order” (echoing 1 Corinthians 14:40). Forms and Transliterations אֶלְיָסָ֖ף אליסף ’el·yā·sāp̄ ’elyāsāp̄ elyaSafLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 1:14 HEB: לְגָ֕ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־ דְּעוּאֵֽל׃ NAS: of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel; KJV: Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel. INT: of Gad Eliasaph the son of Deuel Numbers 2:14 Numbers 3:24 Numbers 7:42 Numbers 7:47 Numbers 10:20 6 Occurrences |
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