Lexical Summary elem: Youth, young man Original Word: עֶלֶם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance young man, stripling From alam; properly, something kept out of sight (compare almah), i.e. A lad -- young man, stripling. see HEBREW alam see HEBREW almah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a young man NASB Translation youth (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֶ֫לֶם noun masculine young man; — ׳ע absolute 1 Samuel 20:22, הָעָ֑לֶם 1 Samuel 17:56; ׳ע; probably also 1 Samuel 17:42; 1 Samuel 16:12 (for ᵑ0 עִם) Gr KrenkelZAW ii (1882), 309 Bu HPS. Topical Lexicon Overview עֶלֶם (’elem) denotes a male in the stage between boyhood and mature adulthood. Scripture employs the term sparingly, yet its two appearances place it at decisive turning points in Israel’s history, underscoring how God often advances His purposes through individuals who are still considered “youths.” Occurrences in Scripture • 1 Samuel 17:56 – “Find out whose son this young man is,” said the king. Portrait of Youthful Servanthood The עֶלֶם is consistently portrayed as one who serves under authority while carrying responsibilities exceeding his years. Whether standing before a king or accompanying a prince, the youth occupies a position that simultaneously displays dependence, teachability, and the capacity for decisive action. David the עֶלֶם: Humility and Anointing In 1 Samuel 17 David has already slain Goliath, yet Saul still identifies him simply as “this young man.” The focus is not on David’s triumph but on his lineage—“whose son” he is. Scripture thus links youthfulness with covenant identity: the pedigree that matters is spiritual, not social. David’s labeling as an עֶלֶם also heightens the contrast between the apparent weakness of youth and the strength of the LORD, who “does not save by sword or spear” (1 Samuel 17:47). The term therefore becomes a literary vehicle to magnify divine initiative in David’s rise, foreshadowing the Messianic pattern of humble origins leading to exaltation. Jonathan’s Unnamed עֶלֶם: Innocence within Conflict In 1 Samuel 20 Jonathan employs an anonymous youth to retrieve arrows, using the exercise as a covert signal to David. The lad is oblivious to the deeper intrigue: “Jonathan knew, but the boy did not know anything” (20:39). The עֶלֶם thus represents innocent agency. His very ignorance secures the secrecy of Jonathan’s covenant with David and preserves the future king’s life. The episode illustrates how youthful simplicity can serve divine providence in complex political circumstances. Theological Themes 1. God’s Preference for the Lowly: The selection of a mere youth to defeat a giant echoes earlier patterns (Genesis 41: Joseph; Judges 6: Gideon) and anticipates later ones (Jeremiah 1:6–7; Luke 1–2: Mary). Historical Notes The events occur near the latter portion of Saul’s reign (c. 1025–1010 BC). The culture valued age and seniority, so identifying someone as an עֶלֶם signaled societal limitation. Against that backdrop, David’s prominence while still a youth broke conventional expectations, underscoring the Spirit’s anointing that had come upon him earlier at Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:13). Application for Ministry • Recognize and cultivate youthful gifting. “Do not let anyone despise your youth” (1 Timothy 4:12) resonates with the biblical portrayal of the עֶלֶם. The rare but strategic use of עֶלֶם in 1 Samuel thus affirms the continuity of God’s pattern: He advances His redemptive plan through the humble and the young, confounding worldly criteria while displaying His sovereign grace. Forms and Transliterations הָעָֽלֶם׃ העלם׃ לָעֶ֔לֶם לעלם hā‘ālem hā·‘ā·lem haAlem lā‘elem lā·‘e·lem laElemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 17:56 HEB: מִי־ זֶ֖ה הָעָֽלֶם׃ ס NAS: whose son the youth is. KJV: thou whose son the stripling [is]. INT: whose he the youth 1 Samuel 20:22 2 Occurrences |
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