אֵלָה
Elah, the name of an Edomite, of four Israelites, and also of a place in Palestine
Definition
The proper noun אֵלָה (ʼÊlâh) refers primarily to several distinct individuals and one location in the Old Testament. Most notably, it is the name of King Elah, the son of Baasha, who reigned over Israel for two years before being assassinated (1 Kings 16:6-14). Another significant figure is Elah the son of Caleb from the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:15). The name also designates an Edomite chief (Genesis 36:41) and the father of one of King Solomon's officials (1 Kings 4:18). Geographically, the 'Valley of Elah' is the famous location where the battle between David and Goliath took place (1 Samuel 17:2, 19).
Biblical Usage
The name is used 15 times across historical books. It appears in Genesis 36:41 as an Edomite tribal name. Its most frequent use is in 1 Kings 16, detailing the reign and assassination of King Elah of Israel. In 1 Samuel 17, it identifies the valley where David fought Goliath. It also occurs in genealogical lists (1 Chronicles 4:15) and a historical note about Goliath's sword (1 Samuel 21:9). The usage is consistently as a proper name for people or a place, with no figurative meanings.
Etymology
The name אֵלָה (ʼÊlâh) is identical to the common noun אֵלָה (ʼēlâh, H424), meaning 'terebinth' or 'oak' tree. It is derived from the root אול ('wl), relating to strength or prominence, likely referring to the sturdy, large terebinth tree. As a personal or place name, it probably carried connotations of 'strength' or 'prominence,' or indicated a location marked by a notable terebinth tree.
Semantic Range
While primarily a historical name, its connection to the 'Valley of Elah' (1 Samuel 17) ties it to the foundational narrative of David's faith and God's deliverance, a key theme in biblical theology. The fate of King Elah (1 Kings 16) also serves as an example within the Deuteronomistic history of the consequences of evil leadership in Israel, fulfilling the prophecy against the house of Baasha.
In ancient Semitic culture, names were often descriptive or theophoric. 'Elah' as a name derived from a tree type reflects a common practice of naming individuals or places after natural, significant landmarks (like a large, enduring terebinth). The Valley of Elah was a specific, identifiable wadi in Judah, suitable for mustering armies, showing how geography shaped biblical events.
אַלּוֹן (ʼallôn, H437) — A different type of oak or strong tree. אֵל (ʼÊl, H410) — The generic word for 'god' or 'God,' a theophoric element not directly related to the tree.
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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