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אוּאֵל

𐤀𐤅𐤀𐤋

Uel

H177 noun

SILEX Entry

Root או"ל to will, desire, wish, God

Definition

Uel, a proper personal name, meaning 'God is willing' or 'desire/will of God.' Used specifically as an Israelite name recorded in post-exilic literature (Nehemiah 11:34).

Semantic Range

personal name, 'God is willing,' 'will of God,' used for an individual Israelite in a genealogical record

Root / Etymology

The name אוּאֵל is a theophoric compound derived from the particle אוּ/אוֹ (meaning 'desire,' 'will,' or possibly 'wish') and אֵל ('God'). Thus, 'desire/will of God' or 'God is willing.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Occurrences of אוּאֵל are limited to a genealogical list in Nehemiah 11:34, referring to an Israelite in the post-exilic restoration period. The name is an example of a theophoric personal name, likely expressing a theological idea or a family’s hope related to the divine will or favor. English translations generally render the name as 'Uel,' following the transliteration, but the meaning ('God is willing' or 'wish of God') is only apparent in Hebrew. The name reflects the broader tendency to form Israelite personal names by combining elements expressing human or divine qualities with 'El' (God). The element אוּ/אוֹ is uncommon and its nuance debated, but in context refers to will or desire. Unlike more common theophoric names (e.g., Daniel, Ezekiel), אוּאֵל is unique to the post-exilic context and does not appear to have significant developments or shifts in meaning. No evidence supports use of the later English term 'Jew' for the person bearing this name in Nehemiah, and the use should be restricted to Israelite/Judahite/Judean as appropriate for the period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אוֹ and אֵל; wish of God; Uel, and Israelite; Uel.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אול (ʾ-w-l) — will, desire, wish, God

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H191 אֱוִיל senseless man
H193 אוּל robust-bodied ones of
H196 אֱוִלִי foolish one
H197 אוּלָם yet indeed
H199 אוּלָם and indeed

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H177-01 וְ/אוּאֵֽל veuel HC/Np and Uel and Will-of-God 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H177-01 Ezra 10:34 וְ/אוּאֵֽל veuel HC/Np and Uel and Will-of-God
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