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אֱלִיל

𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤋

ʼĕlîyl

H457 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A worthless or powerless thing, frequently denoting a cultic image or idol lacking substance or efficacy; used pejoratively of objects of worship considered empty, ineffectual, or lacking true divinity. In most biblical contexts, אֱלִיל refers to foreign deities or the images representing them, emphasizing their lack of power or reality compared to the God of Israel. The term can be extended metaphorically to denote that which is unsubstantial or vain.

Semantic Range

worthless thing, thing of nought, ineffective object, vanity, idol, powerless representation, object devoid of true being

Root / Etymology

Probably derives from the Hebrew root אלל (to be weak, feeble), though the ancient connection to אַל ('not'; 'no') is viewed as folk etymology or wordplay by later exegetes. The noun formation produces a term connoting worthlessness or powerlessness, distinguishable from the neutral or positive sense of 'el' (God, mighty one).

Historical & Contextual Notes

Emerging in prophetic and poetical texts, especially during the monarchic and exilic periods, אֱלִיל was used polemically in Israelite religious rhetoric. It functions as a deliberate contrast to אֵל and אֱלֹהִים (categories of deity or divinity), highlighting the asserted impotence of non-Israelite deities and their images. In Isaiah, Psalms, and similar books, this term is a mockingly diminutive label for foreign gods or their representations. Over time, it became a standard derogatory term for the gods of surrounding nations. Standard English translations often render the word as ‘idol’ or ‘vanity,’ but these terms may understate the polemical emphasis on powerlessness present in the Hebrew usage. Later Jewish and Christian traditions sometimes equated אֱלִיל directly with false gods or objects of superstition, but in the biblical period the primary emphasis is on impotence and nullity, not only falsity. Not to be confused with פֶּסֶל (pesel), which primarily denotes a carved statue or image without the inherent sense of worthlessness.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently from אַל; good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity; specifically an idol; idol, no value, thing of nought.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אלל (ʾ-l-l) — weakness, feebleness, lack of substance

Root אלל to be weak, to be feeble, to lack substance
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H434 אֱלוּל and worthless thing

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H457-04 אֱלִילִ֗ם elilim HNcmpa idols powerless idols powerless idols 6
H457-03 אֱלִילֵ֣י eliley HNcmpc idols powerless idols of powerless idols of 4
H457-05 הָ/אֱלִ֑יל haelil HTd/Ncmsa the-idols the worthless idol the worthless idol 2
H457-06 הָ֣/אֱלִילִ֔ים haelilim HTd/Ncmpa idols the powerless idols the powerless idols 2
H457-07 וֶֽ/אֱלִיל֙ veelil HC/Ncmsa and idols worthless idol and worthless idol 1
H457-02 אֱלִ֣ל elil HNcmsa worthless powerless idol-thing powerless idol-thing 1
H457-01 בָּ/אֱלִילִ֑ים baelilim HRd/Ncmpa in idols worthless idols in worthless idols 1
H457-08 וֶ/אֱלִילֵ֖י veeliley HC/Ncmpc and-idols-of worthless idols of and powerless idols of 1
H457-09 וְ/הָ/אֱלִילִ֖ים vehaelilim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the idols and the powerless idols and the powerless idols 1
H457-10 וְ/לֶ/אֱלִילֶ֑י/הָ veleelileyha HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and to her idols and to her powerless-things and to her powerless-things 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H457-06 Leviticus 19:4 הָ֣/אֱלִילִ֔ים haelilim HTd/Ncmpa idols the powerless idols the powerless idols
H457-04 Leviticus 26:1 אֱלִילִ֗ם elilim HNcmpa idols powerless idols powerless idols
H457-04 Isaiah 2:8 אֱלִילִ֑ים elilim HNcmpa idols powerless idols powerless idols
H457-09 Isaiah 2:18 וְ/הָ/אֱלִילִ֖ים vehaelilim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the idols and the powerless idols and the powerless idols
H457-03 Isaiah 2:20 אֱלִילֵ֣י eliley HNcmpc idols powerless idols of powerless idols of
H457-03 Isaiah 2:20 אֱלִילֵ֣י eliley-2 HNcmpc idols powerless idols of powerless idols of
H457-05 Isaiah 10:10 הָ/אֱלִ֑יל haelil HTd/Ncmsa the-idols the worthless idol the worthless idol
H457-10 Isaiah 10:11 וְ/לֶ/אֱלִילֶ֑י/הָ veleelileyha HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and to her idols and to her powerless-things and to her powerless-things
H457-03 Isaiah 19:1 אֱלִילֵ֤י eliley HNcmpc idols powerless idols of powerless idols of
H457-06 Isaiah 19:3 הָֽ/אֱלִילִים֙ haelilim HTd/Ncmpa the-idols the powerless idols the powerless idols
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