אֶרְאֵל
a hero (collectively)
Definition
The Hebrew noun אֶרְאֵל (ʼerʼêl) refers to a collective group of heroes or mighty warriors. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 33:7, it describes the 'valiant ones' or 'heroes' who are weeping in distress, likely referring to the warriors of Judah who have failed in their duty. The term emphasizes collective military strength and valor, though in this context, that strength is portrayed as broken and lamenting. It is closely related to the more common term אֲרִיאֵל (ʼărîʼēl, H739), which can refer to a specific heroic individual or, in some contexts, to the altar or Jerusalem itself.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 33:7. The context is a prophetic lament describing the breakdown of social order and military defense in Judah. The 'heroes' (אֶרְאֵלִים, ʼerʼêlîm) are pictured weeping publicly, a stark image of failed strength and national shame. Its usage is poetic and dramatic, highlighting the complete reversal of fortune for Judah's mightiest defenders.
Etymology
אֶרְאֵל is likely a byform or poetic variant of אֲרִיאֵל (ʼărîʼēl, H739), which means 'lion of God' or 'hero of God.' The root involves אֲרִי (ʼărî, 'lion'), a common ancient Near Eastern symbol for strength and royalty, combined with אֵל (ʼēl, 'God'). Thus, the term carries the connotation of divinely endowed or lion-like strength and heroism. The shortened form אֶרְאֵל may have developed for metrical or stylistic reasons in poetry.
Semantic Range
The use of אֶרְאֵל in Isaiah 33:7 carries significant theological weight. It portrays the failure of human strength and military might, which are utterly dependent on God's favor. The weeping heroes symbolize the consequence of Judah's sin and rebellion against God, showing that even the most valiant are powerless without His protection. This enriches the reading of Isaiah by highlighting a key prophetic theme: true security is found not in human warriors but in trusting the Lord (Isaiah 31:1).
In the ancient Israelite context, heroes and mighty warriors were central to national identity and security, celebrated in song and story (e.g., David's mighty men in 2 Samuel 23). The public weeping of these אֶרְאֵלִм in Isaiah 33:7 would have been a culturally shocking image, representing total societal collapse and dishonor, as warriors were expected to embody strength and stoicism.
גִּבּוֹר (gibbôr, H1368) — a more common general term for a mighty man, warrior, or champion. אֲרִיאֵל (ʼărîʼēl, H739) — the closely related term meaning 'lion of God,' used for individual heroes or symbolically for Jerusalem.
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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