אֶלְקֹשִׁי
𐤀𐤋𐤒𐤔𐤉
Eleqoshi
H512 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Demonym indicating a person originating from Elkosh; used specifically to denote a native or inhabitant of Elkosh, a place otherwise unattested elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. The term functions as a marker of geographic or regional origin attached to personal names.
Semantic Range
person from Elkosh, inhabitant or native of Elkosh, associated with Elkosh (of uncertain location)
Root / Etymology
From the place name אֶלְקוֹשׁ (Elqosh), with the gentilic suffix -ִי (-i) signifying 'of' or 'from.' The root or exact derivation of the place name Elqosh is uncertain, and the word as a whole means 'person associated with Elkosh.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term אֶלְקֹשִׁי appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Nahum 1:1, where it describes the prophet Nahum as an 'Elkoshite.' This functions solely as a geographic identifier, marking Nahum's place of origin. The location of Elkosh is not confidently identified; ancient and modern proposals have variously placed it in northern Israel, Judah, or even Assyria, but none are certain. In translating this term, phraseologies like 'from Elkosh' or 'the Elkoshite' are used, but since the place itself is obscure, the term does not carry broader ethnic, tribal, or religious implications. Unlike gentilic terms identifying Israelites (e.g., הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִי), 'Elkoshite' simply ties an individual to a locale whose cultural or political significance remains unknown. Later translation traditions, including some English Bibles, render the term 'Elkoshite' or paraphrase it by referencing an unidentified hometown.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patrial from a name of uncertain derivation; an Elkoshite or native of Elkosh; Elkoshite.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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אלקוש (ʾ-l-q-w-š) — association with a place, origin from a locality
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H512-01 |
הָ/אֶלְקֹשִֽׁי | haeleqoshi | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Elkoshite | the man from Elkosh | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H512-01 |
Nahum 1:1 | הָ/אֶלְקֹשִֽׁי | haeleqoshi | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Elkoshite | the man from Elkosh |