אֱלִיצוּר
𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤑𐤅𐤓
Elitsur
H468 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Elitsur (ʼĔlîytsûwr) is a proper name referring to an Israelite male individual, specifically the leader of the tribe of Reuben during the wilderness period (Num 1:5; 2:10; 7:30, 35; 10:18). The etymological components suggest 'God is (my) rock' or 'El is (a) rock,' yet the primary lexical meaning in the biblical text is as a personal name identifying a specific patriarchal figure. The semantic range is limited to its use as a theophoric personal name within genealogical and leadership contexts in the Pentateuch.
Semantic Range
proper name of an Israelite individual; composite theophoric name signifying 'God is (my) rock'; leader of Reubenite clan
Root / Etymology
From אֵל ('El,' God or deity) and צוּר (tsur, 'rock' or 'crag'); the combination forms a theophoric name meaning 'El is rock' or 'God is (my) rock.' The root idea is of stability, strength, or protection associated with a rock, attached to the divine.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ʼĔlîytsûwr appears solely as a personal name in the Torah, most notably as the chief of the tribe of Reuben during the preparations for the wilderness journey. The construction of the name reflects a common Israelite practice of forming theophoric names that express aspects of the deity’s character or relation to the individual. While later translations such as the KJV frequently render the name as 'Elizur,' this transliteration does not reflect the Hebrew’s full sound values. Unlike some biblical names which also function as common nouns or titles, אֱלִיצוּר is only attested as a proper name, with no evidence of broader lexical or conceptual usage. The 'rock' element (צוּר) is elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible metaphorically associated with strength and protection, especially in poetry (e.g., Deut 32; 2 Sam 22:32), but here it is part of a personal name. The scope of the term does not extend to later developments in the meaning of 'rock' as a messianic or ecclesiastical symbol.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
xlit ʼĔlêytsûwr corrected to ʼĔlîytsûwr; from אֵל and צוּר; God of (the) rock; Elitsur, an Israelite; Elizur.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אל, צור (ʾ-l; ṣ-w-r) — God, mighty one; rock, crag, firmness
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H468-01 |
אֱלִיצ֖וּר | elitsur | HNp |
Elizur | El-is-Rock | Elitsur | 5 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H468-01 |
Numbers 1:5 | אֱלִיצ֖וּר | elitsur | HNp |
Elizur | El-is-Rock | Elitsur |
H468-01 |
Numbers 2:10 | אֱלִיצ֖וּר | elitsur | HNp |
Elizur | El-is-Rock | Elitsur |
H468-01 |
Numbers 7:30 | אֱלִיצ֖וּר | elitsur | HNp |
Elizur | El-is-Rock | Elitsur |
H468-01 |
Numbers 7:35 | אֱלִיצ֖וּר | elitsur | HNp |
of Elizur | El-is-Rock | Elitsur |
H468-01 |
Numbers 10:18 | אֱלִיצ֖וּר | elitsur | HNp |
Elizur | El-is-Rock | Elitsur |