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אֵל

𐤀𐤋

El

H410 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A generic term for a powerful being, primarily signifying 'god' or 'deity'; also used for mighty beings, heroes, or persons of extraordinary strength. In various contexts, denotes both specific deities (including the chief deity in Canaanite religion and the God of Israel) and figures of exceptional might. The semantic range extends from divine beings to human rulers or judges noted for strength or power.

Semantic Range

god, deity, divine being, mighty one, power, hero, strong (as adjective), judge (rarely), head of pantheon (in Canaanite religion); component in theophoric names

Root / Etymology

Root: אל, probably from the basic meaning 'to be strong' or 'to wield power.' The word אֵל is connected to the idea of strength or might from this root, and is used substantively for 'god,' 'deity,' or 'mighty one.' The termination '-el' is frequently found in personal and place names, stressing divine or mighty associations.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Northwest Semitic languages, including Hebrew, Ugaritic, and Phoenician, אֵל is both a generic term for 'god' and the name of a specific West Semitic/Canaanite deity, often depicted as a supreme creator figure. In the Hebrew Bible, אֵל is used both as a generic title for any god (whether the Israelite deity or foreign gods), and in poetic or archaic contexts for the God of Israel. Its use overlaps partially with אֱלֹהִים (Elohim), though אֵל often appears in archaic poetry, early prose, and compound divine epithets (e.g., אֵל שַׁדַּי 'El Shaddai', אֵל עֶלְיוֹן 'El Elyon'). In later periods, especially post-exilic writings, אֵל appears less frequently as a standalone designation. English translations sometimes obscure this nuance, rendering both generic and personal uses simply as 'God.' The root of אֵל should not be confused with אַיִל (H352), which refers to a 'ram' or by extension a 'leader' or 'tree,' even though the two share connotations of strength. The compound '-el' ending in names (e.g., מִיכָאֵל 'Mikha'el', 'Who is like God?') indicates either divine affiliation or the attribute of might. In Hellenistic, Roman, and subsequent periods, the term's use narrows further as Greek 'theos' and later religious categories standardize the understanding of deity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

shortened from אַיִל; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity); God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.'

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

אל (Lael) — to, for, belonging to (prepositional prefix); god, mighty one (El)

Root אל to be strong, be powerful, be mighty
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3815 לָאֵל Belonging to El
H413 אֵל upon / over
H428 אֵלֶּה in these
H431 אֲלוּ and look!

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H410-03 אֵ֤ל el HNcmsc God toward God 163
H410-07 הָ/אֵ֖ל hael HTd/Ncmsa the God the Mighty One the Mighty One 20
H410-11 לְ/אֵ֖ל leel HR/Ncmsc to God to a mighty one to a mighty one 15
H410-05 אֵלִ/י֙ eli HNcmsc/Sp1cs my God my Mighty One my Mighty One 12
H410-10 לָ/אֵל֙ lael HRd/Ncmsa to God to a mighty one to God 10
H410-14 וְ/אֵ֤ל veel HC/Np and God and toward and El 6
H410-06 אֵלִ֔ים elim HNcmpa as strong ones mighty ones mighty ones 4
H410-12 מֵ/אֵ֨ל meel HR/Ncmsc from God from a mighty one from God 4
H410-08 הַ֭/לְ/אֵל haleel HTi/R/Ncmsa to God to the Mighty One to the Mighty One 3
H410-01 בָּֽ/אֵלִם֙ baelim HRd/Ncmpa among the gods among mighty ones among the mighty ones 2

Occurrences in Scripture

245 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H410-11 Genesis 14:18 לְ/אֵ֥ל leel HR/Ncmsa of God to a mighty one to God
H410-11 Genesis 14:19 לְ/אֵ֣ל leel HR/Ncmsa of God to a mighty one to God
H410-03 Genesis 14:20 אֵ֣ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Genesis 14:22 אֵ֣ל el-3 HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Genesis 16:13 אֵ֣ל el HNcmsc God toward God
H410-03 Genesis 17:1 אֵ֣ל el-2 HNp God toward El
H410-03 Genesis 21:33 אֵ֥ל el HNcmsc God toward God
H410-14 Genesis 28:3 וְ/אֵ֤ל veel HC/Np and God and toward and El
H410-07 Genesis 31:13 הָ/אֵל֙ hael HTd/Ncmsa the God the Mighty One the Mighty One
H410-11 Genesis 31:29 לְ/אֵ֣ל leel HR/Ncmsc power to a mighty one to a mighty one
H410-03 Genesis 33:20 אֵ֖ל el HNcmsa El toward El
H410-10 Genesis 35:1 לָ/אֵל֙ lael HRd/Ncmsa to God to a mighty one to God
H410-10 Genesis 35:3 לָ/אֵ֞ל lael HRd/Ncmsa to God to a mighty one to God
H410-03 Genesis 35:7 אֵ֖ל el HNcmsc El toward El
H410-03 Genesis 35:11 אֵ֤ל el HNcmsc God toward mighty one
H410-14 Genesis 43:14 וְ/אֵ֣ל veel HC/Np and God and toward and El
H410-07 Genesis 46:3 הָ/אֵ֖ל hael HTd/Ncmsa God the Mighty One the Mighty One
H410-03 Genesis 48:3 אֵ֥ל el-2 HNcmsc God toward God
H410-12 Genesis 49:25 מֵ/אֵ֨ל meel HR/Ncmsc from God from a mighty one from God
H410-02 Exodus 6:3 בְּ/אֵ֣ל beel HR/Ncmsa as God mighty one as mighty one
H410-05 Exodus 15:2 אֵלִ/י֙ eli HNcmsc/Sp1cs my God my Mighty One my Mighty One
H410-01 Exodus 15:11 בָּֽ/אֵלִם֙ baelim HRd/Ncmpa among the gods among mighty ones among the mighty ones
H410-03 Exodus 20:5 אֵ֣ל el HNcmsa God toward a zealously protective Mighty One
H410-03 Exodus 34:6 אֵ֥ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-11 Exodus 34:14 לְ/אֵ֣ל leel HR/Ncmsa to god to a mighty one to a mighty one
H410-03 Exodus 34:14 אֵ֥ל el HNcmsa God toward a mighty one
H410-03 Numbers 12:13 אֵ֕ל el-2 HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Numbers 16:22 אֵ֕ל el HNcmsa O God toward O God
H410-03 Numbers 23:8 אֵ֑ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Numbers 23:19 אֵל֙ el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Numbers 23:22 אֵ֖ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Numbers 23:23 אֵֽל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Numbers 24:4 אֵ֑ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Numbers 24:8 אֵ֚ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Numbers 24:16 אֵ֔ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Numbers 24:23 אֵֽל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Deuteronomy 3:24 אֵל֙ el HNcmsa god toward god
H410-03 Deuteronomy 4:24 אֵ֖ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Deuteronomy 4:31 אֵ֤ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Deuteronomy 5:9 אֵ֣ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Deuteronomy 6:15 אֵ֥ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-07 Deuteronomy 7:9 הָ/אֵל֙ hael HTd/Ncmsa the-God the Mighty One the Mighty One
H410-03 Deuteronomy 7:21 אֵ֥ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-07 Deuteronomy 10:17 הָ/אֵ֨ל hael HTd/Ncmsa the God the Mighty One the mighty one
H410-11 Deuteronomy 28:32 לְ/אֵ֖ל leel HR/Ncmsc power to a mighty one to a mighty one
H410-03 Deuteronomy 32:4 אֵ֤ל el HNcmsc God toward God
H410-03 Deuteronomy 32:12 אֵ֥ל el HNcmsc god toward god
H410-03 Deuteronomy 32:18 אֵ֥ל el HNcmsa God toward God
H410-03 Deuteronomy 32:21 אֵ֔ל el HNcmsa god toward god
H410-09 Deuteronomy 33:26 כָּ/אֵ֖ל kael HRd/Ncmsa like God like a mighty one like God
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