Strong's Lexicon
elil: Idol, worthless thing
Original Word:אֱלִיל
Part of Speech:Adjective Masculine
Transliteration:eliyl
Pronunciation:eh-leel
Phonetic Spelling:(el-eel')
Definition:Idol, worthless thing
Meaning:good for, nothing, by anal, vain, vanity, an idol
Word Origin:Derived from a root word meaning "worthless" or "vain."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries:The Greek equivalent often used in the Septuagint for "elil" is εἴδωλον (eidolon), Strong's Greek #1497, which also means "idol."
Usage:The Hebrew word "elil" is used to describe idols or false gods, emphasizing their lack of power, worth, and reality. It is often used in a derogatory sense to highlight the futility and emptiness of worshiping anything other than the one true God, Yahweh. The term underscores the contrast between the living God and the lifeless idols made by human hands.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the ancient Near East, idol worship was prevalent among various cultures, including the Canaanites, Egyptians, and Babylonians. These societies crafted idols from wood, stone, or metal, believing they represented deities who could influence their lives. The Israelites, however, were commanded by God to worship Him alone and to reject idolatry. The use of "elil" in the Hebrew Bible serves as a polemic against the surrounding nations' practices, reinforcing the monotheistic faith of Israel.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originof uncertain derivation
Definitioninsufficiency, worthlessness
NASB Translationfutility (1), idols (16), images (1), worthless (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(etymology uncertain: most probably akin to Syriac
weak, feeble, poor; perhaps also in usage [compare ]
not; compare Che on
Isaiah 2:8)
insufficiency, worthlessness.
Zechariah 11:17 the shepherd ofworthlessness = the worthless shepherd,Job 13:4worthless physicians ("" ),Jeremiah 14:14 Qr concretea thing nought (uttered by prophets), but herea worthless divin. ("" , ) should perhaps be read (compare Gf).
especially plural concreteworthless gods, idols (compare ) (possibly originally an independent word =gods, compare Sabean , & see NöSBAk 1882, p. 1191, but even if so, associated by the prophets with idea of worthlessness, & used by them in iron. contrast with , )Leviticus 19:4 (not to bemade)Leviticus 26:1 (both H),Isaiah 2:8,18,20 (twice in verse) (of silver & gold),Isaiah 10:10 (collective) kingdoms ofidolatrous worthlessness,Isaiah 10:11;Isaiah 19:1,3(of Egypt)Isaiah 31:7 (twice in verse);Ezekiel 30:13 (Egypt),Habakkuk 2:18dumb idols,Psalm 96:5 ( =1 Chronicles 16:26) all the gods of the nations arevain, worthless gods 1Chron 97:7.
II. (√ assumed for following words).
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
idol, no value, thing of nothing
Apparently from'al; good for nothing, by anal. Vain or vanity; specifically an idol -- idol, no value, thing of nought.
see HEBREW'al
Forms and Transliterations
אֱלִ֣ל אֱלִילִ֑ים אֱלִילִ֔ים אֱלִילִ֗ם אֱלִילִ֥ים אֱלִילִים֙ אֱלִילֵ֣י אֱלִילֵ֤י אלילי אלילים אלילם אלל בָּאֱלִילִ֑ים באלילים הָ֣אֱלִילִ֔ים הָֽאֱלִיל֙ הָֽאֱלִילִים֙ הָאֱלִ֑יל האליל האלילים וְהָאֱלִילִ֖ים וְלֶאֱלִילֶ֑יהָ וֶֽאֱלִיל֙ וֶאֱלִילֵ֖י ואליל ואלילי והאלילים ולאליליה ’ĕ·lî·lê ’ĕ·lî·lim ’ĕ·lî·lîm ’ĕ·lil ’ĕlil ’ĕlîlê ’ĕlîlim ’ĕlîlîm bā’ĕlîlîm bā·’ĕ·lî·lîm baeliLim eLil eliLei eliLim hā’ĕlîl hā’ĕlîlîm hā·’ĕ·lî·lîm hā·’ĕ·lîl haeLil haeliLim veeLil veeliLei vehaeliLim veleeliLeiha we’ĕlîl we’ĕlîlê we·’ĕ·lî·lê we·’ĕ·lîl wə·hā·’ĕ·lî·lîm wə·le·’ĕ·lî·le·hā wəhā’ĕlîlîm wəle’ĕlîlehā
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