אֱלִישָׁה
Elishah, a son of Javan
Definition
Elishah is a proper name referring to a descendant of Noah through his son Japheth and grandson Javan (Genesis 10:4, 1 Chronicles 1:7). In the Table of Nations, Elishah is listed as a son of Javan, making him a great-grandson of Noah and representing a people group or territory. The name also appears in a prophetic context in Ezekiel 27:7, where 'the coasts of Elishah' are noted as providing fine linen for the sails of the ship of Tyre, suggesting a region known for its textiles and maritime trade.
Biblical Usage
The name Elishah is used three times in the Old Testament. It appears twice in genealogical lists, establishing the lineage of the nations from Noah (Genesis 10:4, 1 Chronicles 1:7). Its third and most descriptive use is in Ezekiel's lament over Tyre, where it identifies a geographic region that traded luxury goods (Ezekiel 27:7). This shift from a personal name to a territorial designation shows how biblical names often evolved to represent clans or lands.
Etymology
The etymology of אֱלִישָׁה (ʼĔlîyshâh) is uncertain and likely of foreign, non-Hebrew origin, as indicated by many lexicons. It may be derived from a root meaning 'God is salvation' (אֵל + יָשַׁע), similar to the name Elisha (אֱלִישָׁע), but this connection is speculative. The name is generally considered a gentilic or geographic term adopted into Hebrew, possibly related to Alashiya, an ancient name for Cyprus or a coastal region in the eastern Mediterranean.
Semantic Range
Elishah's inclusion in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10) underscores the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over all peoples, tracing the spread of humanity after the flood. The reference in Ezekiel 27:7 highlights God's judgment on Tyre's pride and luxury, which depended on international trade with regions like Elishah. Understanding Elishah as both a person and a place enriches the reading of Scripture by showing how genealogies connect to historical geography and God's dealings with nations.
In its original context, Elishah likely referred to a well-known Aegean or eastern Mediterranean region, possibly Cyprus or part of modern-day Greece or Turkey, famous in antiquity for its purple dye and fine linen (as noted in Ezekiel 27:7). This cultural association with luxury trade goods would have been immediately recognizable to Ezekiel's audience, contrasting Tyre's opulence with its impending divine judgment. The name reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of identifying territories with ancestral founders.
Javan (יָוָן, H3120) — Elishah's father, representing the Ionian Greeks or broader Aegean peoples. Kittim (כִּתִּים, H3794) — Another son of Javan, often associated with Cyprus or maritime peoples, similar to Elishah's likely geographic reference. Tarshish (תַּרְשִׁישׁ, H8659) — A distant maritime trading region, like Elishah, mentioned in prophetic contexts for its wealth and trade (e.g., Ezekiel 27:12).
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.
Full methodology & sources →