Strong's Lexicon elil: Idol, worthless thing Original Word: אֱלִיל 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 Definition insufficiency, worthlessness NASB Translation futility (1), idols (16), images (1), worthless (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֱלִיל noun masculine (etymology uncertain: most probably akin to Syriac  weak, feeble, poor; perhaps also in usage [compare b] felt to suggest אַל not; compare Che on Isaiah 2:8) insufficiency, worthlessness. a. Zechariah 11:17 רֹעִי הָאֱלִיל the shepherd of worthlessness = the worthless shepherd, Job 13:4 רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל worthless physicians ("" טֹפְלֵישֶֿׁקֶר), Jeremiah 14:14 Qr concrete a thing nought (uttered by prophets), but here קֶסֶם אֱלִיל a worthless divin. ("" חֲזוֺן שֶׁקֶר, תַּרְמִית לִבָּם) should perhaps be read (compare Gf). b. especially plural אֱלִילִים concrete worthless gods, idols (compare הֲבָלִים) (possibly originally an independent word = gods, compare Sabean אלאלת, & see NöSBAk 1882, p. 1191, but even if so, associated by the prophets with idea of worthlessness, & used by them in iron. contrast with אֵלִים, אֱלֹהִים) Leviticus 19:4 (not to be made) Leviticus 26:1 (both H), Isaiah 2:8,18,20 (twice in verse) (of silver & gold), Isaiah 10:10 מַמְלְכוֺת הָאֱלִיל (collective) kingdoms of idolatrous worthlessness, Isaiah 10:11; Isaiah 19:1,3(of Egypt) Isaiah 31:7 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 30:13 (Egypt), Habakkuk 2:18 אִלְּמִים ׳א dumb idols, Psalm 96:5 ( = 1 Chronicles 16:26) all the gods of the nations are ׳א vain, worthless gods 1Chron 97:7. II. אלל (√ 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’ĕlîlehāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 19:4 HEB: תִּפְנוּ֙ אֶל־ הָ֣אֱלִילִ֔ים וֵֽאלֹהֵי֙ מַסֵּכָ֔ה NAS: Do not turn to idols or make KJV: Turn ye not unto idols, nor make INT: turn to idols gods molten Leviticus 26:1 1 Chronicles 16:26 Job 13:4 Psalm 96:5 Psalm 97:7 Isaiah 2:8 Isaiah 2:18 Isaiah 2:20 Isaiah 2:20 Isaiah 10:10 Isaiah 10:11 Isaiah 19:1 Isaiah 19:3 Isaiah 31:7 Isaiah 31:7 Jeremiah 14:14 Ezekiel 30:13 Habakkuk 2:18 Zechariah 11:17 20 Occurrences |
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