אִיתִיאֵל
𐤀𐤉𐤕𐤉𐤀𐤋
Itiel
H384 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'God is with me' or 'God has come.' Used as the name of an individual in Proverbs 30:1, where it refers either to a historical Israelite or a symbolic person addressed in a wisdom composition. The derivation is somewhat uncertain and may reflect either a prayerful or declarative sense, expressing the presence or arrival of God to, or with, the individual.
Semantic Range
personal name; 'God is with me,' 'God has come,' addressee in wisdom literature, theophoric name
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain—possibly from a conjunction of the particle אִתִּי (with me) and אֵל (God), hence 'God is with me.' Less likely, as suggested by some older lexica, from a form of אֹשֶׁר (to come, to be), though this root is rarely employed in names. The ending -יֵל is a common theophoric element referencing 'God.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Proverbs 30:1, אִיתִיאֵל (Ithiel) is named as one of the recipients of Agur's sayings; the identity of the figure is debated, with possibilities including a real Israelite individual or a literary addressee serving a symbolic role in wisdom discourse. The form and construction reflect theophoric Israelite naming conventions. Later tradition interpreted the name as a symbol or figure of theological significance, but in biblical context it functions simply as a personal name. English translations often retain 'Ithiel' as a transliterated name without attempting to convey the potential meaning or nuance behind its etymology.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps from אֹשֶׁר and אֵל; God has arrived; Ithiel, the name of an Israelite, also of a symbolical person; Ithiel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
את, אל (ʾ-t, ʾ-l) — with, accompaniment; God
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H384-02 |
לְ/אִֽיתִיאֵ֑ל | leitiel | HR/Np |
to Ithiel | to God-is-with-me | 2 |
H384-01 |
אִֽיתִיאֵ֖ל | itiel | HNp |
Ithiel | God is with me | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H384-02 |
Proverbs 30:1 | לְ/אִֽיתִיאֵ֑ל | leitiel | HR/Np |
to Ithiel | to God-is-with-me |
H384-02 |
Proverbs 30:1 | לְ/אִ֖יתִיאֵ֣ל | leitiel-2 | HR/Np |
to Ithiel | to God-is-with-me |
H384-01 |
Nehemiah 11:7 | אִֽיתִיאֵ֖ל | itiel | HNp |
Ithiel | God is with me |