אֶלְתּוֹלַד
𐤀𐤋𐤕𐤅𐤋𐤃
Eletolad
H513 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Eltolad; a place name of uncertain etymology located within the territory allotted to the tribe of Simeon in the southern hill country. The name is commonly analyzed as a theophoric compound, potentially meaning 'God is generator' or 'God begets, brings forth,' though the precise meaning is debated. The word itself functions as a proper noun, designating a specific locality.
Semantic Range
place name; Eltolad; potential meaning: God has generated, God begets, God brings forth
Root / Etymology
Probably a theophoric name formed from אֵל (ʾēl, ‘God’) and a derivative of תּוֹלֵדָה (tôlēdāh, ‘birth, begetting, offspring’), thus perhaps ‘God (is) generator’ or ‘God brings forth.’ However, the exact construction is uncertain, and such formation is attested elsewhere (e.g., in proper names like Elishama, meaning ‘God has heard’). The ending may reflect a masculine noun formation. See also תּוֹלֵדוֹת (generations) for semantic background.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Eltolad appears only in Joshua 15:30 and Joshua 19:4 as a location within the tribal inheritance of Simeon, and in 1 Chronicles 4:29 in a genealogical list of Simeonites. The name's interpretation as 'God brings forth' or 'God is generator' is based on the possible derivation, but the specific reason for this designation—whether referring to fertility, origin legends, or other associations—remains uncertain. The site corresponding to Eltolad has not been securely identified archaeologically. Theophoric toponyms invoking ‘El’ are frequent in the southern territories. Standard English Bibles transliterate the name and do not convey any meaning in translation, reflecting the word's status as a proper noun. There is no evidence the name was used outside of toponymy in the biblical period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from אֵל and a masculine form of תּוֹלְדָה (compare תּוֹלָד); God (is) generator; Eltolad, a place in Palestine; Eltolad.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אלד (ʾ-l-d) — to bear, bring forth, beget
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H496 | אֶלְעָד | and God-has-testified |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H513-01 |
וְ/אֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד | veeletolad | HC/Np |
and Eltolad | and God-brings-forth | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H513-01 |
Joshua 15:30 | וְ/אֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד | veeletolad | HC/Np |
Eltolad | and God-brings-forth |
H513-01 |
Joshua 19:4 | וְ/אֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד | veeletolad | HC/Np |
and Eltolad | and God-brings-forth |