אֱלִ֣ל
𐤀𐤋𐤋
ʼĕlîyl
worthless
A worthless or powerless thing, frequently denoting a cultic image or idol lacking substance or efficacy; used pejoratively of objects of worship considered empty, ineffectual, or lacking true divinity. In most biblical contexts, אֱלִיל refers to foreign deities or the images representing them, emphasizing their lack of power or reality compared to the God of Israel. The term can be extended metaphorically to denote that which is unsubstantial or vain.
Job 13:4 · Word #6
Lexicon H457
| Lemma | אֱלִיל |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤋 |
| Transliteration | ʼĕlîyl |
| Strong's | H457 |
| Definition | A worthless or powerless thing, frequently denoting a cultic image or idol lacking substance or efficacy; used pejoratively of objects of worship considered empty, ineffectual, or lacking true divinity. In most biblical contexts, אֱלִיל refers to foreign deities or the images representing them, emphasizing their lack of power or reality compared to the God of Israel. The term can be extended metaphorically to denote that which is unsubstantial or vain. |
Morphology HNcmsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
Common Translation
| Phrase | worthless |
SIBI-P1 Translation H457-02
powerless idol-thing
| Morphological Notes | Noun, masculine singular, absolute state. |
| Rendering Rationale | The rendering reflects the root idea of weakness and lack of substance (אלל) while preserving the singular masculine noun form. "Idol-thing" conveys its frequent cultic reference, and "powerless" preserves the pejorative sense of ineffectuality inherent in the root. |
View full lexicon entry for H457 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
powerless idol-thing
| Same as P1 | Yes |
| Rationale | P1 accurately maintains the pejorative nuance and specificity required by the SILEX definition. |