Lexical Summary
illek: "thither," "there," "to that place"
Original Word:אִלֵּךְ
Part of Speech:demonstrative pronoun plural
Transliteration:illek
Pronunciation:eh'-lek
Phonetic Spelling:(il-lake')
KJV: these, those
NASB:these, those
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) prolonged fromH41 (אֲבִינָדָב - Abinadab)2]
1. these
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
these, those
(Aramaic) prolonged from'el; these -- these, those.
see HEBREW'el
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) prol. from
elDefinitionthese
NASB Translationthese (11), those (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(plural of , q. v.: Egyptian Aramaic (Cooke
207 RES
361 B S-C
Pap. E 6+): with
hâ prefixed, Old Syriac
, feminine
Nö
§ 67, M
§ 82 Burkitt
Evang. da-Mepharreshe ii.42, Christian-Palestinian Aramaic
(masculine and feminine) Schw
Idioticon 24; compare Arabic
, Ethiopic
: Di
Lex.1057: the demonstrative affix as in ,
, etc.; W
CG 110); —
these,
these men,
Daniel 3:12,13,21,22,23,27;
Daniel 6:6;
Daniel 6:12;
Daniel 6:16;
Daniel 6:25;
Ezra 4:21; Ezra 16:8b; also
Ezra 5:9;
Ezra 6:8a.
Topical Lexicon
Linguistic Range and Functionאִלֵּךְ functions as a demonstrative pronoun in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel. It consistently refers to a specific, identifiable group already in view, drawing attention to “these men” (or “those men”) who stand either for or against the purposes of God.
Occurrences and Narrative Roles
1.Ezra 4:21; 5:9; 6:8 (twice) – Persian officials label the returned exiles “these men,” treating the builders of the second temple as a suspicious minority.
2.Daniel 3:12-27 – Nebuchadnezzar’s court repeatedly speaks of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego as “these men,” underscoring their isolation yet anticipating divine vindication.
3.Daniel 6:5-24 – Persian administrators call the prayerful prophet and, later, his accusers “these men,” bracketing the episode where God delivers His servant while judging the conspirators.
Historical Setting
Ezra’s occurrences sit in the reign of Artaxerxes and Darius I, when Judah’s remnant faced imperial scrutiny. Daniel’s uses belong to the Neo-Babylonian and early Medo-Persian eras, portraying Jewish believers navigating pagan courts. In both books the term highlights covenant people situated among foreign powers, a recurring post-exilic reality.
Theological Themes
1. Divine Sovereignty over Hostile Powers
In Ezra the decrees that halt, then resume, temple construction show kings overruled by the King of kings. InDaniel 3 and 6, Gentile rulers speak of “these men,” yet God acts for them:
• “The fire had no power over the bodies of these men” (Daniel 3:27).
• “His God…shut the lions’ mouths” (Daniel 6:22, context).
The pronoun thus frames dramatic reversals where God honors faith and frustrates opposition.
2. Witness through Faithful Minority
The phrase repeatedly marks a small, uncompromising remnant distinguished from the surrounding culture. Their courage underlines the prophetic ideal of holiness amid exile.
3. Judgment and Vindication
The narrative arc often moves from accusation to deliverance, then to retribution on the accusers: “At the king’s command, those men who had falsely accused Daniel were…thrown into the den of lions” (Daniel 6:24). אִלֵּךְ can therefore signal impending divine justice.
Practical Ministry Insights
• Spiritual leaders today shepherd “resident aliens” (1 Peter 2:11) in secular settings. The term reminds believers that being called “these people” by society is not defeat but an opportunity for witness.
• Corporate identity matters: the remnant stands or falls together. Mutual intercession (Daniel 2:17-18) and solidarity in trial (Daniel 3:16-18) remain vital.
• Prayer and perseverance outlive political decrees. Temple work resumed (Ezra 6), and Daniel’s devotion endured shifting administrations, affirming that spiritual disciplines are non-negotiable.
Christological Reflection
By spotlighting a faithful few condemned by worldly authorities yet marvelously preserved, אִלֵּךְ anticipates the rejected yet vindicated Messiah. Like “these men,” Jesus is marginalized and accused but ultimately exalted (Philippians 2:9-11). The deliverance of the Hebrews from fire and Daniel from lions foreshadows resurrection triumph over death.
Summary
אִלֵּךְ, though merely a demonstrative, threads through key post-exilic texts to magnify God’s faithfulness to His people, encourage steadfastness amid cultural pressure, and prefigure the greater salvation accomplished in Christ.
Forms and Transliterations
אִלֵּ֑ךְ אִלֵּ֔ךְ אִלֵּ֖ךְ אִלֵּ֗ךְ אִלֵּ֡ךְ אִלֵּךְ֙ אלך ’il·lêḵ ’illêḵ ilLech
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