← H3099 H3101 →

יוֹאֵל

𐤉𐤅𐤀𐤋

Yoel

H3100 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יהו/אל YHWH (the name of Israelite God), god/can refer to deity, combine to form 'YHWH is God'

Definition

Proper name of an Israelite male: Yoel, meaning 'YHWH is God.' Composed of the theophoric elements 'YHWH' and 'El,' this name is used for multiple individuals in the Hebrew Bible, most prominently a prophet. The name signifies an affirmation of YHWH's divinity, and its structure reflects common Israelite naming practices of combining divine names. The semantic range is restricted to use as a personal name, especially among Israelites associated with various tribes and periods.

Semantic Range

proper name of Israelite men, epithet for the prophet Joel, bearer of theophoric statement affirming YHWH as God

Root / Etymology

From the roots יהוה (YHWH, personal name of the Israelite God) and אל (El, generic Semitic term for 'god' or synonym for YHWH in Israelite use). The name is formed by combining these elements: יְהוָֹה + אֵל > יוֹאֵל. The roots themselves mean, respectively, 'he is' or 'he causes to be' (YHWH) and 'god/powerful one' (El), but the lexical meaning in יוֹאֵל arises from their combined use as a theophoric personal name.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יוֹאֵל appears in genealogical lists and narratives throughout the Hebrew Bible, identifying multiple individuals, but most notably the prophet author of the book bearing his name. The structure is a classic example of theophoric naming in ancient Israel, where names express devotion or observation about Israelite deity, paralleling names like מִיכָאֵל (Who is like God?) and יְהוֹנָתָן (YHWH has given). Although often rendered 'Joel' in English, this transliteration does not reflect the theophoric construction apparent in Hebrew. In later Jewish, Christian, and secular usage, 'Joel' became a common given name, but in the biblical text it is specifically Israelite and often associated with particular tribal lineages. The name does not appear as a title or common noun, but exclusively identifies persons.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יְהֹוָה and אֵל; Jehovah (is his) God; Joel, the name of twelve Israelites; Joel.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

יהו/אל (y-h-w / ʾ-l) — YHWH (personal name of Israel’s God), god, deity; combined: YHWH is God

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3100-02 יוֹאֵ֔ל yoel HNp Joel Yoel (YHWH is God) 11
H3100-01 וְ/יוֹאֵ֖ל veyoel HC/Np and Joel and Yoel 8

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3100-02 1 Samuel 8:2 יוֹאֵ֔ל yoel HNp Joel Yoel (YHWH is God)
H3100-02 Joel 1:1 יוֹאֵ֖ל yoel HNp Joel Yoel (YHWH is God)
H3100-01 Ezra 10:43 וְ/יוֹאֵ֖ל veyoel HC/Np and Joel and Yoel
H3100-01 Nehemiah 11:9 וְ/יוֹאֵ֥ל veyoel HC/Np And Joel and Yoel
H3100-01 1 Chronicles 4:35 וְ/יוֹאֵ֑ל veyoel HC/Np and Joel and Yoel
H3100-02 1 Chronicles 5:4 יוֹאֵ֑ל yoel HNp Joel Yoel (YHWH is God)
H3100-02 1 Chronicles 5:8 יוֹאֵ֑ל yoel HNp Joel Yoel (YHWH is God)
H3100-02 1 Chronicles 5:12 יוֹאֵ֣ל yoel HNp Joel Yoel (YHWH is God)
H3100-02 1 Chronicles 6:18 יוֹאֵ֖ל yoel HNp Joel Yoel (YHWH is God)
H3100-02 1 Chronicles 6:21 יוֹאֵ֔ל yoel HNp Joel Yoel (YHWH is God)
← H3099 Hebrew Lexicon H3101 →