אֶלְפַּעַל
Elpaal, an Israelite
Definition
Elpaal is a proper name meaning 'God has acted' or 'God is act,' signifying divine intervention or accomplishment. In the Bible, Elpaal is identified as a Benjamite, a descendant of Shaharaim through his wife Hodesh (1 Chronicles 8:11). He is noted as the head of a family, the father of multiple sons, and a builder of towns (1 Chronicles 8:12, 18). The name consistently refers to this specific individual within the genealogical records of the tribe of Benjamin.
Biblical Usage
The name Elpaal appears exclusively in the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles chapter 8, which details the lineage of the tribe of Benjamin. All three occurrences (1 Chronicles 8:11, 8:12, 8:18) are in the context of family descent and settlement. The usage establishes him as a patriarch and founder within his clan, highlighting his role in establishing communities after the exile.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'El' (H410, אֵל), meaning 'God,' and the verb 'pa'al' (H6466, פָּעַל), meaning 'to do, make, or act.' It is a theophoric name, a common practice in Israelite culture, where a divine name ('El') is combined with a verb or noun to form a personal name that expresses a theological truth—in this case, the active work of God.
Semantic Range
As a theophoric name, Elpaal serves as a small but constant reminder in the biblical text of God's active involvement in history and the lives of His people. It underscores the Israelite belief that identity and legacy are tied to God's deeds. For the modern reader, encountering such names in genealogies enriches understanding by revealing that these lists are not merely dry records but are infused with declarations of faith in a God who acts.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive and carried significant meaning, reflecting circumstances, hopes, or theological convictions. A name like Elpaal, declaring God's action, would have been given to a child as a statement of faith or in recognition of a perceived divine act, such as the child's birth. It places the individual and his family lineage under the narrative of God's ongoing work.
Eliab (ʼEliʼab, H446) — Means 'My God is father,' another theophoric name emphasizing a different aspect of God's character. | Eliezer (ʼEliʻezer, H461) — Means 'My God is help,' focusing on God as helper rather than actor. | Benaiah (Bᵉnāyâ, H1141) — Means 'Yahweh has built,' similar in declaring a divine action but using the covenant name Yahweh.
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 →