אֶלְעָד
𐤀𐤋𐤏𐤃
Elead
H496 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An Israelite personal name meaning 'God has testified' or 'El has witnessed.' Used as a proper noun for an individual, specifically a member of the tribe of Ephraim in genealogical narratives. The semantic range is limited to the function as a personal name in the biblical text, derived from the underlying idea of divine witness or testimony.
Semantic Range
personal name meaning 'God has testified,' God as witness, proper noun referring to an Israelite individual
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew noun אֵל (El, 'God' or 'deity') and the verb עוּד (to testify, witness, repeat, return). The compound forms a theophoric name expressing the idea 'God has testified' or 'God is witness.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name אֶלְעָד appears in genealogical listings, specifically as a son of Beriah of the tribe of Ephraim (1 Chronicles 7:21). The construction reflects a common Israelite naming convention where a theophoric element (El, referring to God) is paired with a verb indicating divine action. There is some variation in later versions (e.g., Elead in KJV), but the root meaning relates specifically to divine testimony or witness. The name does not directly indicate religious office or prophetic role, but rather marks the bearer as one whose existence is connected to an act of divine witnessing. English translations typically transliterate the name, but sometimes substitute or alter the spelling (e.g., Elead), which may obscure associations with the Hebrew root. The use and structure of such theophoric names are primarily found in monarchic and earlier periods and shed light on patterns of personal identity formation in early Israelite society.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אֵל and עוּד; God has testified; Elad, an Israelite; Elead.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אלד (ʾ-l-ʿ-d) — to be God, to witness, to testify
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H513 | אֶלְתּוֹלַד | and God-brings-forth |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H496-01 |
וְ/אֶלְעָ֑ד | veelead | HC/Np |
and Elead | and God-has-testified | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H496-01 |
1 Chronicles 7:21 | וְ/אֶלְעָ֑ד | veelead | HC/Np |
and Elead | and God-has-testified |