בְּאֵר אֵלִים
𐤁𐤀𐤓 𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤌
Beer Elim
H879 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A place-name meaning 'Well of Elim' or 'Well of the Mighty/Majestic Ones'; refers to a specific location mentioned in Isaiah 15:8. The term combines the elements for 'well' (בְּאֵר) and 'Elim' (אֵלִים), which can signify 'mighty ones,' 'gods,' or potentially the clan or group known as Elim. As a place-name, it designates a site likely associated with a notable well and with the group, beings, or concept referred to as Elim.
Semantic Range
well of Elim, well of mighty ones, Beer-elim (place name in Moab), site associated with a significant water source and a group or quality called 'Elim'
Root / Etymology
Formed from the noun בְּאֵר (well, spring) and the plural of אֵל (god, mighty one, chief, or possibly a proper name, Elim). Thus, 'well of the mighty ones' or 'well of Elim.' The root of בְּאֵר is באר (to dig out, excavate, particularly for water), and the root of אֵל is אל (to be strong, mighty).
Historical & Contextual Notes
בְּאֵר אֵלִים appears only in Isaiah 15:8 within the context of an oracle against Moab, describing the extent of Moabite distress. Its precise geographic location is uncertain, but it is linked in the verse with the region of Moab, possibly near other sites such as Dibon. The structure of the name connects it to other 'beer' (well) place-names in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Beer-lahai-roi, Beer-sheba), and it reflects the pattern of naming sites after notable features or resident groups. The reference to 'elim' (mighty ones or Elim) can be understood either as referring to a group or denoting the might or renown of the location's well; the term is not to be confused with the 'Elim' of Exodus 15:27 and Numbers 33:9, an oasis with twelve springs. English translations often render the place as Beer-elim, occasionally with interpretive glosses such as 'well of heroes.' The association of 'elim' with 'gods' in some older translations reflects the broader semantic range of אֵל but is contextually less probable here.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בְּאֵר and the plural of אֵל; well of heroes; Beer-Elim, a place in the Desert; Beer-elim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אול (ʾ-w-l) — strength, might, support
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H177 | אוּאֵל | and Will-of-God |
| H191 | אֱוִיל | senseless man |
| H193 | אוּל | robust-bodied ones of |
| H196 | אֱוִלִי | foolish one |
| H197 | אוּלָם | yet indeed |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H879-02 |
וּ/בְאֵ֥ר | uveer | HC/Np |
and to Beer | Well of the Mighty Ones | 1 |
H879-01 |
אֵילִ֖ים | eylim | HNp |
-elim | rams | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H879-02 |
Isaiah 15:8 | וּ/בְאֵ֥ר | uveer | HC/Np |
and to Beer | Well of the Mighty Ones |
H879-01 |
Isaiah 15:8 | אֵילִ֖ים | eylim | HNp |
-elim | rams |