אֵלֶּה
Definition
This word is the Aramaic form of the common Hebrew demonstrative pronoun meaning 'these.' It functions identically to its Hebrew counterpart (H428), used to point out or specify a group of nearby objects, persons, or ideas. Its single biblical occurrence is in the Aramaic portion of Jeremiah 10:11, a verse explicitly directed at the nations. There, it is part of a declaration contrasting the living God with lifeless idols, stating 'these' (the gods who did not make the heavens and earth) will perish.
Biblical Usage
This word occurs only once in the entire Old Testament, in Jeremiah 10:11. This verse is notable as the only verse in the book of Jeremiah written in Aramaic, the diplomatic and commercial language of the ancient Near East. Its usage here is deliberate, framing a theological proclamation about the falsity of idols specifically for a Gentile audience. The word is used in a standard demonstrative sense to refer to the aforementioned 'gods' (אֱלָהַיָּא).
Etymology
אֵלֶּה (ʼêlleh) is the direct Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew word אֵלֶּה (H428). Both derive from a common Semitic root for demonstrative pronouns. The Aramaic form features the characteristic Aramaic definite article suffix '-א' (aleph) on the plural noun it modifies, as seen in 'elaha' (gods) becoming 'elahaya' (the gods) in Jeremiah 10:11. Its meaning ('these') is stable across both languages.
Semantic Range
While a common grammatical word, its theological significance lies entirely in its unique context. Its sole use in an Aramaic verse (Jeremiah 10:11) serves as a direct address to the pagan nations, separating this stark warning about idolatry from God's messages to Judah. This highlights the universal scope of God's truth and His sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel. Understanding that this is Aramaic alerts the reader to a shift in intended audience, emphasizing that the folly of idolatry is a truth for all people.
The use of Aramaic in Jeremiah 10:11 reflects the linguistic reality of the Babylonian era, where Aramaic was the lingua franca of international communication. By inserting an Aramaic verse, the prophet makes the condemnation of idolatry immediately accessible to the surrounding nations under Babylonian influence. The word itself is mundane, but its linguistic setting is a powerful cultural signal, placing God's message directly into the broader conversation of the ancient world.
אֵלֶּה (ʼêlleh, H428) — The identical Hebrew demonstrative pronoun from which this Aramaic form is derived, used hundreds of times throughout the Hebrew 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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