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אֱלִיאָב

𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤀𐤁

Eliav

H446 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אל, אב to be strong, might (for אל); father, ancestor (for אב)

Definition

A personal name meaning 'My God is father' or 'God is father.' The name is formed theophorically, incorporating the divine name ('El') and 'father' ('av'), expressing the recognition of God as a paternal figure. In the Hebrew Bible, 'Eliab' refers to multiple Israelite men, each from distinct tribal lineages or historical occasions.

Semantic Range

personal name, my God is father, God is father, used as the name for several Israelite men in genealogical and narrative contexts

Root / Etymology

The name derives from the combination of אֵל ('El,' God) and אָב ('av,' father), using a first-person singular pronominal suffix implied in the linking vowel (i) producing 'my God is father.' The form is typical of Hebrew theophoric names where a divine element is compounded with a kinship term.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name 'Eliab' appears for several different individuals in the Hebrew Bible, commonly designating figures from the tribes of Judah, Zebulun, and Reuben. Its use reflects both venerational practices regarding divine relationship and the centrality of familial terms in personal names. The rendering 'Eliab' in English translations continues the transliteration. Across periods of Israelite history, theophoric names like 'Eliab' signal elite or priestly nomenclature as well as general piety. English translations do not always explicitly convey the underlying meaning, typically treating it only as a proper name. The name's meaning may relate to asserting divine patronage or familial authority from the cosmic 'father.' 'Av' here is not simply 'ancestor' but invokes a direct relationship to the deity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אֵל and אָב; God of (his) father; Eliab, the name of six Israelites; Eliab.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אל, אב (ʾ-l; ʾ-b) — might, strength; father, ancestor

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H446-01 אֱלִיאָ֖ב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father 19
H446-02 וֶֽ/אֱלִיאָ֔ב veeliav HC/Np and Eliab And My-God-is-Father 2

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H446-01 Numbers 1:9 אֱלִיאָ֖ב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
H446-01 Numbers 2:7 אֱלִיאָ֖ב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
H446-01 Numbers 7:24 אֱלִיאָ֖ב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
H446-01 Numbers 7:29 אֱלִיאָ֖ב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
H446-01 Numbers 10:16 אֱלִיאָ֖ב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
H446-01 Numbers 16:1 אֱלִיאָ֛ב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
H446-01 Numbers 16:12 אֱלִיאָ֑ב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
H446-01 Numbers 26:8 אֱלִיאָֽב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
H446-01 Numbers 26:9 אֱלִיאָ֔ב eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
H446-01 Deuteronomy 11:6 אֱלִיאָב֮ eliav HNp Eliab My God is Father
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