אֱלוּל
𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤋
Elul
H434 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A worthless object, something regarded as of no value or significance; an entity considered 'good for nothing,' most often used in disparaging, polemical contexts (e.g., for idolatrous objects or empty things). The term denotes something futile, lacking substance, or deserving contempt.
Semantic Range
worthless object, thing of nought, futile thing, object of contempt, idol (in a pejorative sense)
Root / Etymology
From the root אֵל ('el'), meaning 'god' or 'mighty one,' likely formed with an augmentative or diminutive ending to convey the idea of 'no-god' or 'nothing-divine.' The term אֱלוּל is related to, and sometimes viewed as a variant of, אֱלִיל (elil), which explicitly means 'worthless thing' or 'idol.' Thus, the lexical meaning derives from the idea of negating divinity or value.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֱלוּל is a rare term in the Hebrew Bible, and is typically polemical, used to condemn idols or objects that are purported to have significance but, in Israelite polemic, are declared empty or ineffective. Its usage aligns with the literary strategies of ridicule or dismissal common in prophetic texts criticizing foreign deities or idolatrous practices. The English equivalent 'thing of nought' reflects the scorn implied. While the later English 'idol' often implies a physical object of worship, אֱלוּל focuses on the utter futility or lack of worth of such objects. The related term אֱלִיל is more commonly used and carries much the same semantic field.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for אֱלִיל; good for nothing; thing of nought.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אלל (ʾ-l-l) — nothingness, vanity, worthlessness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H457 | אֱלִיל | worthless idols |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H434-01 |
ו/אלול | vlvl | HC/Np |
and worthlessness | and worthless thing | and Elul | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H434-01 |
Jeremiah 14:14 | ו/אלול | vlvl | HC/Np |
and worthlessness | and worthless thing | and Elul |