Original Word: אֵלָא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ela'
Pronunciation: ay-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-law')
KJV: Elah
NASB: Ela
Word Origin: [a variation of H424 (אֵלָה - oak)]

1. oak
2. Ela, an Israelite

Elah

A variation of 'elah; oak; Ela, an Israelite -- Elah.

see HEBREW 'elah

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
an Isr.
NASB Translation
Ela (1).

אֵלָא proper name, masculine father of an officer of Solomon 1 Kings 4:18 (= II. אֵלָה terebinth?).

I. אלה (assumed as √ of אֵל, (אֱלוֺהַּ) אֱלֹהִים god, God, but question intricate, & conclusions dubious It is uncertain whether אֵל & אֱלֹהִים are from the same √. Following are the chief theories:

1. a. Thes makes אֵל & אֱלֹהִים distinct, and both really primitive, but associates אֵל in treatment with אֵל strong, Participle of √ אול; strong, according to Thes, being derived from meaning be in front of; (different order in Lex. Man., Rob-Ges);

b. אֵל & אֱלֹהִים distinct; former from אול strong; latter plural of אֱלֹהַּ from √ [אלהּ] = () go to and fro in perplexity or fear, hence אֱלֹהַּ fear & object of fear, reverence, revered one; = פחד אל trepide confugere ad Hosea 3:5; אלהים = פחד Genesis 31:42 = מוֺרָא Isaiah 8:13 De^{Gn 1887,48} (compare σέβασμα, post-Biblical Hebrewיִרְאָה NHWB; Aramaic דַּחֲלָא CWB); so De following Fl in De^{Gn ed. 4, 57}, compare MV.

2 אֵל & אֱלֹהִים possibly connected; אֵל = leader, lord, from √ אול be in front; so Nö^{MBAk 1880, 760 f; SBAk 1882, 1175 f.}

3. a. אֵל & אֱלֹהִים connected, & both from a √ אלה (= אלהּ) to which is assigned meaning strong; so Ew^{§ 146 d, 178 b (see also Jahrbücher d. bibl. Wiss. x. 11, Bibl. Theol. ii. 330)};

b. אֵל from √ אלה strong (not אלהּ), & אֱלֹהִים expanded from אֵל, compare plural אֲמָהוֺת from אמה etc.; so Di on Genesis 1:1; he supports meaning strong by reference to phrase יֵשׁ לְאֵל יָדִי Genesis 31:29 and elsewhere;

c. similarly, אֵל, being very early & common Shemitic word, formed plural אלהים, from which singular אֱלוֺהַּ was afterwards inferred, Nes^{Theol. Stud. a. Württ., 1882, 243} (criticized by Nö^{SBA 1.c}.).

4 אֵל (אֱלוֺהַּ, אֱלֹהִים disregarded) from √ אלה stretch out to, reach after (compare preposition אֵל, אֱלִי, also אָלָה swear), God as the one whom men strive to reach, 'das Ziel aller Menschensehnsucht und alles Menschenstrebens,' Lag^{Or. ii. 3; Gn 1882:173 = M 96}. — compare Spurrell^{Hebrew Text of Genesis, App. ii}, where all these views are stated somewhat more fully, & briefly criticized; on the use of אֵל & אֱלֹהַּ in Shemitic languages see, exhaustively, Nö^{MBAk, SBAk, 1.c}.).

Biblical Appearance

1 Kings 4:18 records “Shimei son of Elah, in Benjamin”. Elah himself is not the office-holder; his son is one of the twelve district officials who supplied King Solomon’s household. The text thus preserves Elah’s name within the administrative register of Solomon’s united kingdom.

Historical Context

Solomon reorganized Israel into provisioning districts rather than following strict tribal boundaries (1 Kings 4:7-19). By citing Shimei’s paternal lineage, the record affirms ancestral credibility in Benjamin while highlighting the king’s broader strategy of national integration. Elah’s family evidently possessed standing sufficient for his son to serve the crown, illustrating the social mobility that accompanied Solomon’s era of peace and prosperity (1 Kings 4:20-25).

Symbolic Resonance of the Name

Though Scripture offers no narrative about Elah himself, the name is related to the terebinth or oak—trees noted for deep roots and enduring strength. Biblical writers often situate covenantal moments or divine encounters near such trees (Genesis 35:4; Joshua 24:26). By bearing a name linked with sturdy woodland, Elah quietly evokes stability, resilience, and long-term faithfulness—qualities appropriate to a household called upon to sustain the kingdom’s daily needs.

Ministry Applications

1. Legacy over Spotlight: Elah’s mention is brief, yet his influence is felt through the service of his son. Ministry impact may reach its fullest expression when the next generation is equipped to stand in strategic places of responsibility (2 Timothy 2:2).
2. Faithfulness in Ordinary Structures: The provisions system of 1 Kings 4 underscores how routine administration supports public worship and national witness. Believers engaged in logistical or civic roles participate in the Lord’s purposes every bit as much as prophets and priests (Colossians 3:23-24).

Intertextual Echoes

Names with the same spelling occur elsewhere—such as Elah king of Israel (1 Kings 16:8) and Elah father of Hoshea (2 Kings 17:1)—yet each is distinguished by context. The sole appearance of Strong’s 414 guards readers against conflating separate individuals and encourages close attention to textual details, reinforcing confidence that Scripture faithfully records even minor actors in redemptive history.

אֵלָ֖א אלא ’ê·lā ’êlā eLaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts