Ἐλισσαῖος
Elissaîos
G1666 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name referring to the Israelite prophet Elisha; carries no inherent dictionary meaning beyond being a transliteration of the Hebrew name. In Greek usage, it specifically denotes the individual known for succeeding Elijah as a prophet in the Israelite tradition, recognized for his prophetic ministry and miracles. The name itself does not convey an attribute or semantic content in Greek beyond identifying this specific person.
Semantic Range
Elisha (the Israelite prophet), personal name; no other lexical senses
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew אֱלִישָׁע (Elisha‘), meaning 'My God is salvation' or 'God is salvation'. The Greek form Ἐλισσαῖος is a transliteration adapted via the Septuagint pattern for rendering Hebrew names into Greek script and pronunciation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name Ἐλισσαῖος appears in the Septuagint as the standard Greek rendering of the Hebrew prophet Elisha, as well as in the New Testament (Luke 4:27). The adoption of Ἐλισσαῖος follows Greek transliteration conventions for Semitic names, emphasizing phonetic approximation rather than translation of the underlying meaning. In Hellenistic Jewish and early Christian texts, Ἐλισσαῖος is recognized as a key prophetic figure, but the Greek term itself does not imply the Hebrew meaning to most Greek readers of the time. English tradition, influenced by the Latin 'Eliseus', uses 'Elisha' or 'Eliseus', which can obscure the direct link to the Hebrew meaning. The use of Ἐλισσαῖος is generally limited to references to the biblical prophet and does not function as a common noun or hold broader semantic value in Greek literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (אֱלִישָׁע); Elissæus, an Israelite:--Elissæus.
Root Family
Ἐλισσαῖος (Elissaios) — personal name, proper noun, referent to Elisha
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1666-01 |
Ἐλισαίου | elisaiou | N GEN M SG |
Elisha | of Elisha | Elissaios | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1666-01 |
Luke 4:27 | Ἐλισαίου | elisaiou | N GEN M SG |
Elisha | of Elisha | Elissaios |