בְּאֵר אֵלִים
Beer-Elim, a place in the Desert
Definition
Beer-Elim is a proper noun referring to a specific location in the wilderness, mentioned only once in the Bible. Its name means 'well of heroes' or 'well of mighty ones.' The site is listed in Isaiah 15:8 as one of the places lamented during the prophetic oracle against Moab, indicating it was likely a Moabite settlement or a significant watering place in the region. As a 'well' (be'er), it would have been a vital source of water and life in the arid desert, while the 'Elim' component suggests a place of strength or divine association, though its exact historical location remains uncertain.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 15:8. It appears within a prophetic lament describing the desolation coming upon the land of Moab. The context is a list of Moabite towns and locations that will mourn, placing Beer-Elim within the geography and social landscape of Moab's territory during the prophet's time.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'be'er' (H875), meaning 'well' or 'pit,' and 'elim,' the plural form of 'el' (H410), which can mean 'god,' 'mighty one,' or 'hero.' Thus, Beer-Elim literally translates to 'well of the mighty ones' or 'well of heroes.' This construction is similar to other biblical place names that combine a geographical feature with a divine or heroic reference.
Semantic Range
While Beer-Elim itself is not a central theological term, its appearance in Isaiah 15 underscores God's sovereign judgment against the nations, including Moab. The mention of its 'well'—a symbol of life and sustenance—being encompassed by cries of lament highlights how divine judgment reaches even the sources of a people's survival. Understanding the name ('well of heroes') may ironically contrast the place's presumed strength with its impending desolation, emphasizing that no human might can withstand God's decree.
In the ancient Near East, wells were crucial for survival in desert regions, often giving rise to settlements and becoming community landmarks. Naming a well after 'heroes' or 'mighty ones' (elim) could indicate it was a site of legendary events, ancestral heroes, or even a place associated with divine beings (as 'elim' can refer to gods). For the original audience, the name would have conveyed a sense of historical significance and communal identity tied to that location.
Beer-Sheba (Bᵉʼêr Shebaʿ, H884) — A more famous 'well' associated with an oath; located in the Negev. || Beer (Bᵉʼêr, H875) — The generic term for a well or pit, the first element of the compound name.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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