עִילַי
𐤏𐤉𐤋𐤉
Ilay
H5866 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name meaning 'exalted' or 'elevated'. Refers to an individual named Ilai, identified as an Israelite warrior in Biblical texts.
Semantic Range
personal name, 'elevated,' 'exalted,' proper noun; refers specifically to an individual Israelite in the Hebrew Bible
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עָלָה (ʿ-l-h), meaning 'to go up, ascend, rise'. 'עִילַי' is likely a shortened or independent personal form carrying the sense 'one who is elevated' or 'uplifted.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name עִילַי appears in 1 Chronicles 11:29 and parallel lists (as in 2 Samuel 23:20, though there the comparable name is עֲלַי, ʿAlai). It designates an Israelite warrior listed among King David's 'mighty men.' In context, it is a proper name, not an appellative or descriptive term. Later Jewish tradition rendered such Israelite personal names in various ways in Greek and English (e.g. Ilai, Ilay, etc.), but the original sense and use in the Hebrew Bible is strictly as a personal name. The theophoric element is absent; this distinguishes עִילַי from other names that contain divine references. Modern translations simply transliterate the name; the meaning is rarely conveyed in translation since it does not function as a common noun or adjective. No evidence exists for later or expanded semantic ranges beyond personal designation. The spelling is consistent with other short proper names derived from roots associated with height or elevation (cf. עֵלִי, Eli, though the precise vocalization and meaning may differ).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָלָה; elevated; Ilai, an Israelite; Ilai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עלה (ʿ-l-h) — to go up, to ascend, to rise
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H421 | אָלָה | Lofty One |
| H422 | אָלָה | he ascended |
| H4605 | מַעַל | upward |
| H4607 | מֹעַל | in hand-raising |
| H4608 | מַעֲלֶה | at the ascent |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5866-01 |
עִילַ֖י | ilay | HNp |
Ilai | Elevated-one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5866-01 |
1 Chronicles 11:29 | עִילַ֖י | ilay | HNp |
Ilai | Elevated-one |