אֶלְיָשִׁיב
Eljashib, the name of six Israelites
Definition
אֶלְיָשִׁיב (Elyashib) is a Hebrew proper name meaning 'God will restore' or 'God restores.' It is borne by six different individuals in the Old Testament, most notably the high priest during the time of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:1, 20). This Elyashib oversaw the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls but later compromised by allowing Tobiah the Ammonite to occupy a temple chamber (Nehemiah 13:4-9). Other bearers include a priestly descendant of David (1 Chronicles 3:24), a priest in David's time (1 Chronicles 24:12), and three men who had married foreign wives during the post-exilic period (Ezra 10:24, 27, 36).
Biblical Usage
The name appears exclusively in post-exilic historical books (1 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah), reflecting its use during the Persian period. It is used for priests, Levites, and lay Israelites, often in genealogical or administrative contexts. In Nehemiah, it specifically identifies the high priest involved in both the sacred work of rebuilding and a significant act of ritual compromise.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew roots אֵל (ʼēl, H410), meaning 'God,' and שׁוּב (shûv, H7725), meaning 'to turn back, restore.' The name is a compound theophoric name expressing confidence that God acts to restore, return, or renew His people.
Semantic Range
The name itself is a theological statement of hope in God's restorative power, especially poignant for the post-exilic community rebuilding their nation. The narrative of the high priest Elyashib in Nehemiah provides a sobering contrast between his name ('God restores') and his actions, which required correction to restore proper worship. It highlights that God's work of restoration often involves confronting compromise, even among religious leaders.
As a theophoric name (containing God's name, 'El'), it was common in Israelite culture to embed faith declarations into personal identity. The expectation of divine restoration was central to the community returning from Babylonian exile, making this a name filled with national and spiritual hope.
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshua, H3091) — Another theophoric name ('Yahweh saves'); focuses on salvation rather than restoration. יְהוֹנָתָן (Yehonatan, H3083) — Means 'Yahweh has given'; emphasizes God's provision rather than His restorative action.
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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