Elul is the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar in the religious year and the twelfth month in the civil year. It typically falls in August or September in the Gregorian calendar. The name "Elul" is of Babylonian origin, like the names of the other Hebrew months, and it is not mentioned by name in the Bible. However, the month is significant in Jewish tradition and is indirectly referenced in the Scriptures.

Biblical Context

While the name "Elul" does not appear in the Bible, the month is associated with several key events and practices in Jewish history and tradition. Nehemiah 6:15 notes the completion of the wall of Jerusalem in the month of Elul: "So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days" . This event marked a significant moment in the restoration of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

Religious Significance

Elul is traditionally a month of repentance, introspection, and preparation for the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is a time when Jews engage in self-examination and spiritual renewal. The shofar, a ram's horn, is customarily blown every weekday during Elul to awaken the soul and inspire repentance.

The month is also associated with the concept of divine mercy and forgiveness. According to Jewish tradition, Moses ascended Mount Sinai during Elul to receive the second set of tablets, following the sin of the Golden Calf. This period is seen as a time when God is particularly open to repentance and prayer.

Customs and Practices

Several customs are observed during Elul to prepare for the upcoming High Holy Days:

1. Selichot Prayers: Special penitential prayers called "Selichot" are recited, beginning before Rosh Hashanah. These prayers emphasize themes of repentance and divine forgiveness.

2. Blowing of the Shofar: The shofar is sounded daily, except on the Sabbath, to serve as a spiritual wake-up call.

3. Psalm 27: It is customary to recite Psalm 27 during Elul, which includes themes of seeking God's presence and protection.

4. Charitable Acts and Good Deeds: Increased focus is placed on performing mitzvot (commandments) and acts of kindness.

Symbolism and Themes

Elul is often seen as a time of divine closeness. The Hebrew letters of "Elul" are interpreted as an acronym for "Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li" (Song of Solomon 6:3), meaning "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." This phrase symbolizes the intimate relationship between God and His people, emphasizing themes of love, repentance, and reconciliation.

In summary, while Elul is not explicitly named in the Bible, its significance is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and history. It serves as a period of spiritual preparation and reflection, leading up to the solemn and sacred days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.Elul

cry or outcry

Elul

(vine; gleaning). (Nehemiah 6:15) 1Macc 14:27. [MONTH]

Elul

A Hebrew month, the twelfth of the civil year, and sixth of the ecclesiastical, Nehemiah 6:15. It included the time from the new moon of September to that of October.

(Nehemiah 6:15), the name of the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year, and the twelfth of the civil year. It began with the new moon of our August and September, and consisted of twenty-nine days. (n.) The sixth month of the Jewish year, by the sacred reckoning, or the twelfth, by the civil reckoning, corresponding nearly to the month of September.ELUL

e'-lul, e-lool' ('elul, Nehemiah 6:15; Eloul, APC 1Macc 14:27):

The 6th month of the Hebrew year, corresponding to August-September. The derivation is uncertain.

See TIME.

435. Elul -- the sixth Jewish month
... 434, 435. Elul. 436 . the sixth Jewish month. Transliteration: Elul Phonetic
Spelling: (el-ool') Short Definition: Elul. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/435.htm - 5k

434. elul -- thing of nothing
... 433, 434. elul. 435 . thing of nothing. Transliteration: elul Phonetic Spelling:
(el-ool') Short Definition: nought. ... 433, 434. elul. 435 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/434.htm - 5k

Syriac Calendar.
... March / Adar / Adar. April / Nisan / Nisan. May / Ajar / Zif, or Iyar. June / Chaziran /
Sivan. July / Tamuz / Tammuz. August / Ab / Ab. September / Elul / Elul ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/syriac calendar.htm

Doubtful Fragments on the Pentateuch.
... And Babin delivered it to Jiphtach. And Jiphtach delivered it to Ephran. And Ephran
delivered it to Elul of the tribe Zebulon. And Elul delivered it to Abdan. ...
/.../doubtful fragments on the pentateuch.htm

How Caesar Raised Banks Round About the Upper City [Mount Zion] ...
... 4. And now were the banks finished on the seventh day of the month Gorpieus, [Elul,]
in eighteen days' time, when the Romans brought their machines against the ...
/.../chapter 8 how caesar raised.htm

Reading the Law with Tears and Joy
... Nehemiah 8:1-12. The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month
Elul, which was the sixth month. The events recorded ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/reading the law with tears.htm

That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken ...
... A Brief Account Of Its History. 1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year
of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. ...
/.../chapter 10 that whereas the.htm

On Deut. xxxiii. Ii
... month Nisan. And Joshua the son of Nun lived 110 years, and died on the
fourth day, which was the first day of the month Elul. And ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/section x on deut xxxiii.htm

Some General Matters and Some Biblical Characters. The Bible Book ...
... 4. Tammuz June and July. 5. Ab July and August. 6. Elul August and September. 7.
Tisri or Eharium September and October. 8. Marchesvan October and November. ...
/.../chapter viii some general matters.htm

The Predictions of Christ.
... 1 Josephus puts the completion of the siege on the eighth of the month Elul (September),
and in the second passage he puts it in the second year of Vespasian. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter vii the predictions of christ.htm

Sacred Times --The Lord's Day.
... was known to the Assyrians, and explained by them as 'a day of rest for the
heart.'A calendar of Saints' days for the month of the intercalary Elul makes the ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 57 sacred timesthe lords.htm

Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
... These are the twelve months of the year: Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Abh, Elul,
Tishri, Marcheshvan, Kislev, Tebheth, Shebhat, Adar (thus the number twelve is ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix v rabbinic theology and.htm

Elul (1 Occurrence)
...ELUL. e'-lul, e-lool' ('elul, Nehemiah 6:15; Eloul, APC 1Macc 14:27): The 6th month
of the Hebrew year, corresponding to August-September. ...Elul (1 Occurrence). ...
/e/elul.htm - 7k

Eluzai (1 Occurrence)

/e/eluzai.htm - 9k

Fifty-two (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB BBE DBY RSV). Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day
of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. (WEB BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/fifty-two.htm - 8k

Twenty-fifth (3 Occurrences)
... Twenty-fifth (3 Occurrences). Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was finished in the
twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. (WEB BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/twenty-fifth.htm - 7k

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)
... Ro'sh ha-shanah, i.1): "There are four periods of commencement of years: On the
1st of Nisan is a new year for kings and for festivals; the 1st of Elul is a ...
/t/trumpets.htm - 32k

Evil-merodach (2 Occurrences)
... It is an undesigned coincidence, that may be worthy of mention, that the first dated
tablet from this reign was written on the 26th of Elul, and Jeremiah 52:31 ...
/e/evil-merodach.htm - 9k

Evilmerodach (2 Occurrences)
... It is an undesigned coincidence, that may be worthy of mention, that the first dated
tablet from this reign was written on the 26th of Elul, and Jeremiah 52:31 ...
/e/evilmerodach.htm - 9k

Eluded (3 Occurrences)

/e/eluded.htm - 7k

Calendar
... 3:7; Siwan in Esther 8:9; Tammuz in Ezekiel 8:4, although the term as here used
refers to a Phoenician god after whom the month was named; 'Elul occurs in ...
/c/calendar.htm - 13k

Agriculture
... latter half. Tammuz. Ab, former half. VI. SULTRY SEASON Ab, latter half.
Elul. Tisri, former half., Ingathering of fruits. The six ...
/a/agriculture.htm - 27k

What is the structure of the Jewish calendar? | GotQuestions.org

What is Tisha B'Av? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Book of Nehemiah - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Elul: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus