אֶלְדָּעָה
𐤀𐤋𐤃𐤏𐤄
Eledaah
H420 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating an individual, specifically Eldaah, listed as one of the sons of Midian in the Table of Nations. The name is construed as 'God has known' or 'God is knowledge,' reflecting a theophoric element (El, 'God') combined with a verbal root associated with knowing or making known. In scriptural context, it serves exclusively as a personal name, not a title or common noun.
Semantic Range
personal name of a Midianite ancestor, theophoric name constructed on 'El' and 'to know', expressing divine knowledge or recognition
Root / Etymology
אֶלְדָּעָה is a compound formed from אֵל ('El', a general Northwest Semitic term for 'God') and the root יָדַע ('to know'), with a prefixed definite article and a final masculine singular ending. Thus, the name can be transliterated as 'El-has-known' or 'God-knows.' The formation is common among Semitic theophoric names but the precise morphological development (including the doubled ד and the terminal ה) may be influenced by phonetic assimilation or other naming conventions. The name does not derive from a common noun or verb usage but is constructed as a statement reflecting divine knowledge or recognition.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Eldaah appears only in genealogical contexts (Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33), designating a son of Midian, son of Abraham and Keturah, and thus a Midianite ancestor. The usage is strictly as a personal proper name, not as a common noun or descriptive epithet. There are no attested developments or shifts in meaning across biblical periods due to its limited appearance. The name reflects a broader pattern of theophoric names in the Hebrew Bible, expressing the recognition or affirmation of divine qualities or actions. English translations transliterate the name as 'Eldaah;' rendering it as 'God of knowledge' or similar is interpretive rather than lexical. The name's elements mirror other theophoric names with El (e.g., Daniel, Ishmael) and those built on verbal roots of knowing or being known. No distinct Israelite-Judahite or later Judean connotation is attached to the name, as it predates such historical distinctions, being ascribed to the Midianite lineage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אֵל and יָדַע; God of knowledge; Eldaah, a son of Midian; Eldaah.
Bantu Hebrew
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אל־ידע (ʾ-l y-d-ʿ) — God, to know, to make known
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H420-01 |
וְ/אֶלְדָּעָ֑ה | veeledaah | HC/Np |
and Eldaah | and God-has-known | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H420-01 |
Genesis 25:4 | וְ/אֶלְדָּעָ֑ה | veeledaah | HC/Np |
and Eldaah | and God-has-known |
H420-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:33 | וְ/אֶלְדָּעָ֑ה | veeledaah | HC/Np |
and Eldaah | and God-has-known |