5943. Illay

Strong's Lexicon

Illay: Most High

Original Word: עִלַּי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: `illay
Pronunciation: il-lah'ee
Phonetic Spelling: (il-lah'-ee)
Definition: Most High
Meaning: supreme

Word Origin: Derived from the Aramaic root עִלָּא (illa), meaning "high" or "upper."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G5310 (ὕψιστος, hupsistos) - Often translated as "Most High" in the New Testament, used to refer to God in a similar manner as "Illay."

Usage: The term "Illay" is used in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, particularly in the Book of Daniel, to refer to God as the "Most High." It emphasizes God's supreme authority and sovereignty over all creation. This title underscores the belief in God's ultimate power and dominion, setting Him above all earthly and heavenly beings.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near Eastern context, the concept of a "Most High" deity was common among various cultures, often used to denote the supreme god in a pantheon. However, in the Hebrew Bible, "Illay" is uniquely applied to the God of Israel, highlighting His unparalleled supremacy and the monotheistic belief that He alone is the true God. The use of Aramaic in parts of Daniel reflects the historical context of the Babylonian exile, where Aramaic was the lingua franca of the region.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to illi
Definition
"highest," a name of God
NASB Translation
most high (10).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[עִלָּי K^{§ 59 l}) e)] adjective highest; — always emphatic עליא Kt, עִלָּאָה Qr, the Most High God: ׳אֱלָהָא ע Daniel 3:26; Daniel 3:32; Daniel 5:18,21; ׳ע alone, the Most High, Daniel 4:14; Daniel 4:21; Daniel 4:22; Daniel 4:29; Daniel 4:31; Daniel 7:25 (compare Nabataean proper name עליאל Lzb³⁴¹ SAC⁹¹).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

most high

(Aramaic) corresponding to illiy; supreme (i.e. God) -- (most) high.

see HEBREW illiy

Forms and Transliterations

וּלְעִלָּאָה֙ ולעלאה עִלָּאָ֑ה עִלָּאָ֔ה עִלָּאָ֖ה עִלָּאָ֜ה עִלָּאָה֙ עלאה ‘il·lā·’āh ‘illā’āh illaAh ū·lə·‘il·lā·’āh ūlə‘illā’āh uleillaAh

Englishman's Concordance

Daniel 3:26
HEB: [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָ֖ה ק) פֻּ֣קוּ
NAS: out, you servants of the Most High God,
KJV: ye servants of the most high God,
INT: forasmuch God high come and come

Daniel 4:2
HEB: [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָ֑ה ק) שְׁפַ֥ר
NAS: which the Most High God
KJV: and wonders that the high God
INT: toward God high has seemed thought

Daniel 4:17
HEB: [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָ֜ה ק) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת
NAS: may know That the Most High is ruler
KJV: may know that the most High ruleth
INT: forasmuch is ruler high the realm of mankind

Daniel 4:24
HEB: [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָה֙ ק) הִ֔יא
NAS: is the decree of the Most High, which
KJV: [is] the decree of the most High, which is come
INT: king is the decree high and this which

Daniel 4:25
HEB: [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָה֙ ק) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת
NAS: you recognize that the Most High is ruler
KJV: thou know that the most High ruleth
INT: forasmuch is ruler high the realm of mankind

Daniel 4:32
HEB: [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָה֙ ק) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת
NAS: you recognize that the Most High is ruler
KJV: thou know that the most High ruleth
INT: forasmuch is ruler high the realm of mankind

Daniel 4:34
HEB: [וּלְעִלָּיָא כ] (וּלְעִלָּאָה֙ ק) בָּרְכֵ֔ת
NAS: to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised
KJV: and I blessed the most High, and I praised
INT: me returned high blessed who

Daniel 5:18
HEB: [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָ֔ה ק) מַלְכוּתָ֤א
NAS: O king, the Most High God granted
KJV: O thou king, the most high God gave
INT: king God high sovereignty grandeur

Daniel 5:21
HEB: [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָה֙ ק) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת
NAS: he recognized that the Most High God
KJV: he knew that the most high God
INT: is ruler God high the realm of mankind

Daniel 7:25
HEB: [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָה֙ ק) יְמַלִּ֔ל
NAS: out against the Most High and wear down
KJV: against the most High, and shall wear out
INT: words against high will speak the saints

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5943
10 Occurrences

‘il·lā·’āh — 9 Occ.
ū·lə·‘il·lā·’āh — 1 Occ.