אֵל
these or those
Definition
The Hebrew word אֵל (ʼêl) is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'these' or 'those,' used exclusively in the plural to point to specific people, things, or situations. It functions to identify and emphasize the objects being discussed, often in contexts of instruction, judgment, or promise. For example, in Genesis 19:8, Lot refers to his daughters as 'these' (אֵל) when pleading with the men of Sodom, while in Deuteronomy 4:42, it designates 'these' cities of refuge. Its usage is consistently as a pointer, without the nuance of proximity ('these' vs. 'those') found in English; context determines the specific referents.
Biblical Usage
אֵל appears only nine times in the Old Testament, primarily in the Torah (Genesis, Leviticus, Deuteronomy). It is used in direct speech or legal instruction to specify plural nouns. In narrative, it identifies key elements in a scene, as with Lot's daughters (Genesis 19:8) or the destroyed cities (Genesis 19:25). In legal texts, it points to statutes or locations, such as the pagan practices of 'those nations' (Leviticus 18:27) or 'these cities' of refuge (Deuteronomy 4:42, 19:11). Its pattern is declarative, often highlighting items critical to the passage's immediate context.
Etymology
אֵל is derived from a common Semitic demonstrative root. It is a shortened or archaic plural form related to the more frequent אֵלֶּה (ʼēlleh, H428), which also means 'these' or 'those.' The relationship suggests אֵל may be an older variant, preserved in specific phrases. Cognates appear in other Semitic languages with similar demonstrative functions. Its development reflects a basic linguistic function of deixis—pointing to entities within discourse.
Semantic Range
In ancient Hebrew, demonstratives like אֵל were essential for oral and written clarity, directly pointing to subjects without ambiguity. Unlike modern English, which often distinguishes 'these' (near) from 'those' (far), biblical Hebrew used context rather than the word itself to indicate proximity. This word helped listeners and readers identify the specific people, objects, or situations under discussion, especially in legal and narrative settings where precision mattered.
אֵלֶּה (ʼēlleh, H428) — The standard, more common plural demonstrative 'these/those,' used throughout the Old Testament.
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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