אֵלִיָּה
Elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other Israelites
Definition
אֵלִיָּה (Elijah) is the name of the most famous prophet in the Old Testament, whose ministry is recorded in 1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2. His name means 'Yahweh is my God,' a declaration central to his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:21-39). The name also belongs to two other minor biblical figures: a Benjamite chief (1 Chronicles 8:27) and a son of Harim who married a foreign wife during the exile (Ezra 10:26). In all cases, the name signifies a relationship with the God of Israel.
Biblical Usage
The name appears 65 times, predominantly in the narratives of 1 and 2 Kings detailing the prophet's life, miracles, and dramatic ascent to heaven (2 Kings 2:11). It is used in direct address, narrative description, and later prophetic references (e.g., Malachi 4:5). The other two individuals bearing the name appear only in genealogical and post-exilic lists (1 Chronicles 8:27, Ezra 10:26).
Etymology
Derived from אֵל (ʼēl, H410), meaning 'God,' and יָהּ (Yāh, H3050), a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh. Thus, the name is a compound theophoric name meaning 'Yahweh is my God' or 'God of Yahweh.' The longer form, אֵלִיָּהוּ (ʼĔlîyāhû), is also frequently used.
Semantic Range
Elijah is a towering prophetic figure embodying covenant faithfulness, divine power, and the call to exclusive worship of Yahweh. His ministry confronts idolatry, demonstrates God's provision (1 Kings 17), and culminates in his eschatological role as the forerunner announced in Malachi 4:5-6. This prophecy connects him directly to John the Baptist in the New Testament (Matthew 11:14, Luke 1:17), making his Hebrew name and its meaning ('Yahweh is my God') foundational for understanding biblical themes of repentance and God's ultimate revelation.
In ancient Israel, names were often meaningful statements of faith or circumstance. Naming a child 'Yahweh is my God' was a public confession of allegiance to the God of Israel, especially significant during periods of religious syncretism and Baal worship, which was the context of the prophet Elijah's ministry. The name asserts a distinct identity in contrast to the surrounding Canaanite culture.
אֵלִיָּהוּ (ʼĔlîyāhû, H452) — The extended, full form of the same name. אֱלִישָׁע (ʼĚlîšāʻ, H477) — Elisha, Elijah's successor, whose name means 'God is salvation.'
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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