לְמוּאֵל
𐤋𐤌𐤅𐤀𐤋
Lemuel
H3927 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Lemuel — a proper name of an individual, most notably the person to whom the sayings in Proverbs 31 are attributed. The name likely means 'for God,' 'devoted to God,' or 'belonging to God,' indicating dedication or relation to the deity El. In biblical usage, the term is exclusively a proper name and does not function as a common noun or title.
Semantic Range
proper personal name, one dedicated to God; Lemuel — recipient of didactic instruction; subject of proverbial or wisdom material
Root / Etymology
לְמוּאֵל is generally understood as a compound of the preposition לְ ('to, for, belonging to') and אֵל ('God' or the god El). Thus, the name is interpreted as 'to/for God,' possibly denoting 'belonging to God' or 'dedicated to God.' The formation is straightforward grammatically, though the precise original intent or referent is unknown. There is no evidence that לְמוּאֵל derives from another root; it is a theophoric personal name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, Lemuel appears only in Proverbs 31:1, 4 as the recipient of instructions from his mother, often referred to as the 'sayings of Lemuel' or 'words of Lemuel.' Traditional identification with Solomon is based on later interpretive tradition, not explicit biblical evidence. The name is not attested as a common personal or ethnic name elsewhere in Hebrew inscriptions or literature. The use of the preposition לְ in theophoric names is relatively rare, with comparable constructions in other Semitic languages. English translations render the name as 'Lemuel,' following the vocalization in Masoretic tradition, and occasionally as 'Lemoel.' In post-biblical Jewish tradition and Christian exegesis, Lemuel has sometimes been read symbolically or allegorically, but in the biblical context the name functions simply as an individual proper noun. The association of Lemuel with 'king' and with the idealized wisdom of his mother reflects a literary setting, not a historical or dynastic figure. The later English word 'Jew' does not pertain to the usage of this name; Lemuel is not a Judean or ethnic designator, but a literary or didactic interlocutor in Proverbs.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or לְמוֹאֵל; from לְמוֹ and אֵל; (belonging) to God; Lemuel or Lemoel, a symbolic name of Solomon; Lemuel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לאל (l-ʾ-l) — to, for, belonging to God (El)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3927-02 |
לְמוּאֵ֣ל | lemuel | HNp |
Lemuel | Lemuel | 1 |
H3927-01 |
לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל | lemoel | HNp |
O Lemuel | Lemuel | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3927-02 |
Proverbs 31:1 | לְמוּאֵ֣ל | lemuel | HNp |
Lemuel | Lemuel |
H3927-01 |
Proverbs 31:4 | לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל | lemoel | HNp |
O Lemuel | Lemuel |