אֵילִם
𐤀𐤉𐤋𐤌
Eylim
H362 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Elim: a place name in the wilderness narratives of the Pentateuch, referring to an oasis characterized by an abundance of date palms and water springs. The name as a plural form suggests 'palms,' indicating a site notable for its palm trees.
Semantic Range
Elim (the oasis with palms), groups of palm trees, figurative reference to strength or prominence (rare), toponym denoting a well-watered area with palm groves
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root אַיִל (ʼayil), meaning 'ram,' but often extended semantically to denote 'tree'—especially 'terebinth' or more generally strong, tall trees. The plural form אֵילִם (ʼÊylim) in this geographical context strongly points to 'palms' as its referent, with the shift in usage from 'ram' (the animal) to a type of tree being a pattern seen elsewhere in Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Torah (Exodus 15:27; Numbers 33:9), אֵילִם is a location encountered by the Israelites after the Exodus, situated in the wilderness between the Sea of Reeds and Sinai, described as having 'twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees.' The use of the plural form points to the site's defining characteristic—palms—rather than a personal or tribal designation. Elim is distinct from the root meanings of 'strength' or 'ram,' showing a toponymic development where plant life marks a geographical label. In later Jewish tradition and translations, the connection to date palms is preserved, but the English 'Elim' as a transcription can obscure its botanical significance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
plural of אַיִל; palm-trees; Elim, a place in the Desert; Elim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
איל (Eylon) — to be strong, to lead, to be robust
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H353 | אֱיָל | strength |
| H354 | אַיָּל | stag |
| H355 | אַיָּלָה | doe |
| H356 | אֵילוֹן | oak of |
| H357 | אַיָּלוֹן | Deer-Place (Ayalon) |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H362-02 |
אֵילִ֔מָ/ה | eylimah | HNp/Sd |
to Elim | toward Palm-Groves | Eylim | 2 |
H362-03 |
מֵֽ/אֵילִ֔ם | meeylim | HR/Np |
from Elim | from Palms-oasis | from Eylim | 2 |
H362-01 |
אֵילִ֖ם | eylim | HNp |
Elim | Palm-Groves | Eylim | 1 |
H362-04 |
וּ֠/בְ/אֵילִם | uveeylim | HC/R/Np |
and in Elim | and in Palm-Groves | and in Eylim | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H362-02 |
Exodus 15:27 | אֵילִ֔מָ/ה | eylimah | HNp/Sd |
to Elim | toward Palm-Groves | Eylim |
H362-03 |
Exodus 16:1 | מֵֽ/אֵילִ֔ם | meeylim | HR/Np |
from Elim | from Palms-oasis | from Eylim |
H362-01 |
Exodus 16:1 | אֵילִ֖ם | eylim | HNp |
Elim | Palm-Groves | Eylim |
H362-02 |
Numbers 33:9 | אֵילִ֑מָ/ה | eylimah | HNp/Sd |
to Elim | toward Palm-Groves | Eylim |
H362-04 |
Numbers 33:9 | וּ֠/בְ/אֵילִם | uveeylim | HC/R/Np |
and in Elim | and in Palm-Groves | and in Eylim |
H362-03 |
Numbers 33:10 | מֵ/אֵילִ֑ם | meeylim | HR/Np |
from Elim | from Palms-oasis | from Eylim |