אֶלְדָּד
𐤀𐤋𐤃𐤃
Eledad
H419 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Eldad is a personal name meaning 'El (God) has loved' or 'God is beloved.' In the narrative context of the Hebrew Bible, Eldad refers to an individual presented as an Israelite elder chosen among the seventy elders in the wilderness (Numbers 11:26–27). The name carries the semantic implication of divine affection, favor, or special relationship, typical of theophoric Hebrew names. While not a common word outside personal naming contexts, it is significant as bearers of the name are associated with prophetic experiences or divine communication.
Semantic Range
personal name referring to an individual; conveying the idea of divine love or favor; used to designate an Israelite elder in the wilderness narrative
Root / Etymology
Composed of two elements: אֵל (El, meaning 'God') and דָּד (dad, generally 'beloved,' related to דּוֹד meaning 'beloved' or 'uncle'). The root דּוּד (dwd) conveys affection or love, so the name structurally means 'God has loved' or 'God is beloved.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Eldad appears only in the episode of Numbers 11, where he and Medad are filled with the spirit and prophesy within the Israelite camp. The use of theophoric names (names incorporating the divine element 'El') was widespread among Israelites and neighboring cultures during the monarchic and earlier periods. The construction using 'El' and 'dad' is typical for expressing a relationship with the divine, paralleling other biblical names like Eliezer ('My God is help') or Elhanan ('God has been gracious'). There is no evidence that the bearer of the name Eldad is associated with later Judean, Samaritan, or religious identities beyond the narrative of Numbers. In English translations, 'Eldad' is generally transliterated directly and not rendered with a meaning. The 'God has loved' sense is etymological rather than commonly understood in translation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אֵל and דּוֹד; God has loved; Eldad, an Israelite; Eldad.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אלדד (ʾ-l-d-d) — God, beloved, love, affection
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H419-01 |
אֶלְדָּ֡ד | eledad | HNp |
Eldad | God-has-loved | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H419-01 |
Numbers 11:26 | אֶלְדָּ֡ד | eledad | HNp |
Eldad | God-has-loved |
H419-01 |
Numbers 11:27 | אֶלְדָּ֣ד | eledad | HNp |
Eldad | God-has-loved |