אֵל
𐤀𐤋
ʼêl
H412 pronoun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Demonstrative pronoun or adjective in Aramaic meaning 'these' or 'those,' used to indicate specific persons or objects present or previously referred to in context. Commonly employed to refer collectively to groups nearby or just mentioned.
Semantic Range
these, those; plural demonstrative pronoun or adjective referring to people, objects, or events that are present, near, or recently mentioned
Root / Etymology
Aramaic form probably related to the demonstrative root אלה ('to these/to those'). Cognate with Hebrew אֵלֶּה ('these'). Derived directly from the Aramaic demonstrative pronoun system.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical Aramaic, אֵל (ʼêl) appears as the plural demonstrative pronoun 'these/those,' particularly in sections of Daniel and Ezra. It appears as a grammatical marker for pointing out particular people, objects, or items under discussion or recently mentioned. This Aramaic form should not be confused with the Hebrew אֵל (also pronounced 'el'), which designates 'god' or 'deity' and has a fundamentally different etymology and semantic range; context and language of the passage clarify the distinction. In English translations, the demonstrative function is typically rendered as 'these' or 'those,' but may not capture contextual nuances—such as whether a nearby or remote group is indicated. Unlike the Hebrew demonstrative אֵלֶּה, which is plural masculine, the Aramaic אֵל serves as the standard plural demonstrative for both genders. No significant historical shift in meaning is evidenced within the Biblical Aramaic corpus.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to אֵל; {these or those}; these.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אל (ʾ-l) — to go toward, to approach, to direct oneself toward, to be near, to be with
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1008 | בֵּית־אֵל | toward |
| H3317 | יִפְתַּח־אֵל | toward |
| H352 | אַיִל | toward |
| H3815 | לָאֵל | Belonging to El |
| H4027 | מִגְדַּל־אֵל | toward |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H412-02 |
אלה | lh | APdxcp |
these | these | 1 |
H412-01 |
אֵ֚ל | el | ANcmsa |
these | toward | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences