ἐλοΐ
eloḯ
G1682 Aramaic loanword
SILEX Entry
Definition
A vocative or emphatic form meaning 'my God,' used as a direct address to the deity. Found as a transliteration representing the Aramaic אֱלָהִי (ʾĔlāhî), typically employed in liturgical or lament contexts. The word is used in prayer or distress, expressing a personal plea or invocation to God.
Semantic Range
my God (direct personal address); as a transliteration of an Aramaic cry within prayers or lament; specific liturgical or passionate invocation of God in distress
Root / Etymology
Loanword from Aramaic אֱלָהִי (ʾĔlāhî), meaning 'my God,' itself derived from the root אלה ('elah, 'god') plus a first-person singular pronominal suffix. The Greek usage is a direct phonetic rendering of the Aramaic form, not a native Greek development.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the New Testament, ἐλοΐ occurs in direct speech attributed to Jesus in Mark 15:34, preserved as a transliteration of his Aramaic cry on the cross, reflecting Psalm 22:1 (LXX: Ὁ θεός μου, ὁ θεός μου). The use of the Aramaic form instead of the Hebrew (אֵלִי, 'ēlî) underlines the linguistic milieu of the period, where Aramaic was spoken among Judeans in the first century CE. Its presence in the Greek text signals a significant moment or preserves the authenticity of the original utterance. English translations often render ἐλοΐ as 'Eloi' or substitute with 'My God,' but this loses the geographic and linguistic specificity of the Aramaic cry. Not to be confused with the Hebrew form אֵלִי (ēlî), which is also transliterated at times as Ἠλί (Ēlí) in Greek (see Matthew 27:46 for parallel usage). The word does not occur outside Christian texts in Greek and is used specifically in quoting or alluding to Psalm 22 within the passion narratives.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Chaldean origin (אֱלָהּ with pronominal suffix) my God:--Eloi.
Root Family
אלה (Aramaic root: א-ל-ה) (eloḯ) — deity, god, to be god, to address as God
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1682-01 |
Ἐλωῒ | eloi | TF |
Eli | My God! | Eloi | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1682-01 |
Matthew 27:46 | Ἐλωῒ | eloi | TF |
Eli | My God! | My God |
G1682-01 |
Matthew 27:46 | Ἐλωῒ | eloi-2 | TF |
Eli | My God! | My God |
G1682-01 |
Mark 15:34 | Ἐλωῒ | eloi | TF |
Eloi | My God! | Eloi |
G1682-01 |
Mark 15:34 | Ἐλωῒ | eloi-2 | TF |
Eloi | My God! | Eloi |