לָאֵל
Lael an Israelite
Definition
Lael is a proper name meaning 'belonging to God' or 'God's.' It is the name of a single individual in the Bible, the father of Eliasaph, who was the leader of the Gershonite clan of Levites (Numbers 3:24). As a name, it functions solely as a personal identifier for this Israelite. There are no other biblical senses or meanings for this specific term.
Biblical Usage
The word לָאֵל (Lael) is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Numbers 3:24. It is used strictly as a proper name to identify the father of Eliasaph, the chief of the Gershonites. This places it within the context of the census and organization of the Levitical clans during the wilderness wanderings.
Etymology
The name Lael is a compound word. It is formed from the prepositional prefix לְ (le-), meaning 'to' or 'belonging to,' and the divine name אֵל (ʼēl, H410), meaning 'God.' Therefore, its literal and only meaning is 'belonging to God.'
Semantic Range
While a single-use personal name, Lael's meaning—'belonging to God'—reflects a core theological concept of Israel's identity. The Levites, in particular, were set apart as belonging to God for service in the tabernacle (Numbers 3:12). This name serves as a small, personal reminder that individuals and families within the covenant community were understood to be God's possession.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive or theophoric (containing a divine name), expressing a hope, character trait, or relationship to God. Naming a child 'Lael' was a declaration of dedication, affirming that the individual and their lineage were under God's ownership and care. This differs from modern names, which are often chosen for sound or family tradition rather than explicit meaning.
Eliab (ʼEliʼab, H446) — Another theophoric name meaning 'My God is Father,' used for several individuals. Elihu (ʼElihu, H453) — A name meaning 'He is my God,' also borne by multiple biblical figures. Both share the element ʼēl (God) but have different constructions and meanings.
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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