אֱלִיפְלֵהוּ

𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤐𐤋𐤄𐤅

Elifelehu

H466 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Proper name: Eliphelehu. An Israelite man's name found in the genealogies of post-exilic Levitical families (1 Chronicles 15:18, 21). The name is theophoric, meaning 'God is his deliverance' or potentially 'God of his distinction,' but more accurately reflects a relationship to divine deliverance or intervention.

Semantic Range

proper name, God distinguishes him, God is his deliverer, God sets him apart; used only as a personal name in genealogical contexts

Root / Etymology

Compound of אֵל (El, God) and פָּלָה (to distinguish, to deliver, to set apart) with a possessive pronominal suffix (third person masculine singular, 'his'). Thus, 'El is his deliverer' or 'God distinguishes him.' The root פלה (p-l-h) refers to acts of separation, distinction, or divine deliverance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Eliphelehu appears in lists accompanying the account of the transportation of the ark (1 Chronicles 15). As with many Israelite theophoric names, the use of אֵל signifies the attribution of divine action or favor, here with an emphasis on being set apart, rescued, or distinguished by God. Distinct from more common roots for salvation such as יָשַע (to save), פָּלָה includes the nuance of special or extraordinary rescue. The Greek Septuagint transliterates the name variably, and standard English translations often preserve the Hebrew form. The usage aligns with other post-exilic Levitical names reflecting hope in or gratitude for divine intervention and restoration. The rendering as 'Elipheleh' in some English versions omits the final pronoun, but the Hebrew form includes the pronominal element indicating personal relationship to the deity's action.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אֵל and פָּלָה; God of his distinction; Eliphelehu, an Israelite; Elipheleh.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אל-פלה (Elifelehu) — to be mighty (El), to distinguish, to separate, to deliver

Root אל-פלה to be mighty (El), to distinguish, to separate, to deliver

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H466-01 וֶ/אֱלִ֨יפְלֵ֜הוּ veelifelehu HC/Np and Eliphelehu El is his deliverer and Elifelehu 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H466-01 1 Chronicles 15:18 וֶ/אֱלִ֨יפְלֵ֜הוּ veelifelehu HC/Np and Eliphelehu El is his deliverer and Elifelehu
H466-01 1 Chronicles 15:21 וֶ/אֱלִֽיפְלֵ֗הוּ veelifelehu HC/Np and Eliphelehu El is his deliverer and Elifelehu