אֱלִידָד
Elidad, an Israelite
Definition
Elidad is a proper name meaning 'God of (his) love' or 'God has loved.' It belongs to a man from the tribe of Benjamin, appointed as a representative to assist in the division of the Promised Land. His sole biblical appearance is in Numbers 34:21, where he is designated by God, through Moses, to serve alongside leaders from other tribes for this specific administrative and sacred task. The name itself is a compound, reflecting a personal devotion to God's covenantal love.
Biblical Usage
The name Elidad is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 34:21. It appears in a specific administrative and theological context: the appointment of tribal leaders to oversee the distribution of the land of Canaan west of the Jordan River. The usage is purely as a personal identifier for one of these divinely appointed representatives from the tribe of Benjamin.
Etymology
The name אֱלִידָד (ʼĔlîydâd) is a compound of two elements: 'El' (אֵל), a common term for God, and a form derived from the root דּוֹד (dôd), meaning 'love,' 'beloved,' or 'uncle.' It is related to the name Eldad (H419), found in Numbers 11:26-27. The construction signifies 'God of love' or 'God has loved,' portraying the named individual as under the care of a loving deity.
Semantic Range
While a single-use personal name, Elidad's role is theologically significant. His appointment in Numbers 34:21 underscores that the division of the Promised Land was a divinely orchestrated act, not a human political process. It highlights God's faithfulness in fulfilling the covenant with Abraham and His orderly provision for each tribe. The name's meaning, 'God of love,' personally reflects the covenantal love (ḥesed) that underpins the entire narrative of Israel's inheritance.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive or declarative, conveying hopes about the child's character or acknowledging divine action. 'Elidad' is a theophoric name, incorporating the divine element 'El,' which was common. His specific role as a tribal representative for land allocation was a position of great honor and responsibility, integral to establishing tribal identity and inheritance within the covenant community.
Eldad (ʼEldâd, H419) — A related name meaning 'God has loved' or 'beloved of God,' borne by a prophet in Numbers 11:26-27.
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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