רְעֵלָיָה
𐤓𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄
Reelayah
H7480 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Reelayah — a personal name meaning 'Yahweh has shaken' or 'Yahweh causes trembling.' The name indicates a theological attribution, recognizing Yahweh's power to bring fear or awe, and thus designates its bearer as associated with or named in recognition of this divine activity. The term is only attested as a proper name; it does not carry lexical meaning beyond its personal name function in biblical literature.
Semantic Range
personal name; 'Yahweh has caused to tremble,' 'Yahweh causes trembling,' 'Reelaiah' as name of a returnee from Babylonian exile
Root / Etymology
Compound word derived from the root רָעַל (to shake, reel, tremble) and the theophoric suffix יָהּ (Yah, a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh). The formation combines 'to shake/tremble' with 'Yah(weh),' together meaning 'Yahweh has shaken' or 'Yahweh brings fear.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
רְעֵלָיָה occurs only in post-exilic biblical texts (Ezra 2:2; Nehemiah 7:7) as the name of an Israelite who returned from Babylonian exile. The use of theophoric names (names containing a divine element like Yah/Yahu) was common in post-exilic Judah, signifying devotion or attributing actions/events to Yahweh. The idea that Yahweh 'makes tremble' may refer to protection from enemies, awe-inspiring acts, or deliverance from tumult. English translations typically represent this as 'Reeliah' or 'Reelaiah,' omitting the theophoric sense. The meaning is closely related to other names formed from participles and divine elements. The use of -יה at the end places this name among those especially prominent in the post-exilic period, reflecting the prominence of Yahweh devotion in this era's onomastics. The underlying verb (רָעַל) is rare and poetic, further emphasizing the unique context in which this name was formed and used.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָעַל and יָהּ; made to tremble (i.e. fearful) of Jah; Reelajah, an Israelite; Reeliah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רעל (r-ʿ-l) — to shake, to tremble, to stagger, to reel
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4831 | מַרְעֲלָה | and Maralah |
| H7477 | רָעַל | they were caused to stagger |
| H7478 | רַעַל | reeling state |
| H7479 | רַעֲלָה | and the fluttering veils |
| H8634 | תַּרְאֲלָה | and Taralah |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7480-01 |
רְֽעֵלָיָ֜ה | reelayah | HNp |
Reelaiah | Yahweh Has Shaken | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7480-01 |
Ezra 2:2 | רְֽעֵלָיָ֜ה | reelayah | HNp |
Reelaiah | Yahweh Has Shaken |