יוֹעֵאלָה

𐤉𐤅𐤏𐤀𐤋𐤄

Yoelah

H3132 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יעל to ascend, to profit, to be of benefit

Definition

Proper name designating an individual among the Israelites; specifically, Joelah, a person mentioned in the genealogical records. The word likely means 'Yah(weh) is God (El),' reflecting a theophoric personal name structure common in ancient Israel, although the precise morphological form is unusual.

Semantic Range

personal name; possibly 'Yahweh is God'; no attested common noun or verb use; designates an Israelite individual in genealogical lists

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root יעל (to ascend, profit, benefit), but morphological analysis indicates a closer connection with the theophoric elements יוֹ and אֵל, likely representing abbreviated forms of the divine names (Yah[weh] and El), joined with an ending -ה. The exact etymology is uncertain due to the rarity of the form.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Joelah appears as a proper name in 1 Chronicles 12:7, designating a Gadite warrior who joined David at Ziklag. The name incorporates patterns typical of ancient Israelite theophoric names, invoking both Yahweh and El. The form יוֹעֵאלָה is rare and somewhat anomalous, with the final -ה possibly indicating a dialectical or familial variant rather than a standard feminine ending, since no feminine individual is indicated by the context. Some have connected it to participial or gentilic formations, but the weight of the evidence favors its understanding as a masculine personal name. English translations usually transliterate the name directly as Joelah, which does not convey its underlying theophoric significance. The use is restricted to genealogical and narrative records of the monarchic period, with no evidence of broader development beyond the context of personal naming.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps feminine active participle of יַעַל; furthermore; Joelah, an Israelite; Joelah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יעל (y-ʿ-l) — ascend, profit, be of benefit

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3276 יַעַל he brought benefit
H3277 יָעֵל the mountain ibexes
H3278 יָעֵל Ibex
H3279 יַעֲלָא Wild-Goat
H3280 יַעֲלָה and female ibex of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3132-01 וְ/יוֹעֵאלָ֧ה veyoelah HC/Np and Joelah and Joelah 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3132-01 1 Chronicles 12:8 וְ/יוֹעֵאלָ֧ה veyoelah HC/Np and Joelah and Joelah