אֵילִם (e.lim)
e.lim
Elim
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Elim refers to a specific location in the wilderness narrative, identified as the second encampment of the Israelites after crossing the Red Sea. The name itself translates to "palms" or potentially "terebinth trees," suggesting a place distinguished by abundant vegetation and shade.
This site is recorded in four biblical verses, primarily within the books of Exodus and Numbers. It serves as a significant marker in the journey, offering a brief respite with its twelve springs and seventy palm trees before the people continue toward Mount Sinai.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Elim appears in Scripture as a place of rest after the bitter waters of Marah. The name suggests abundance, describing a site with twelve springs and seventy palm trees. This detail offers a tangible picture of God’s provision in the wilderness, showing that He cares for physical needs alongside spiritual growth.
The narrative moves quickly from this pause to the next challenge, reminding us that rest is not the final destination but part of the journey. These brief moments of refreshment sustain the people as they travel toward Mount Sinai. We can find comfort in knowing that God provides specific places and times for renewal along our own paths.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ Elim2×
- Elim/ towards2×
- and/ [were] at/ Elim1×
- Elim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֵֽ/אֵילִ֔ם1×
- מֵ/אֵילִ֑ם1×
- וּ֠/בְ/אֵילִם1×
- אֵילִ֖ם1×
- אֵילִ֔מָ/ה1×
- אֵילִ֑מָ/ה1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 15:27
They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They encamped there by the waters.
This verse establishes Elim as a place of abundance with twelve springs and seventy palm trees, marking the first time the location is described in detail.
-
Exodus 16:1
They took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
The departure from Elim leads directly to the wilderness of Sin, highlighting how quickly the Israelites moved from provision to testing.
-
Numbers 33:9
They traveled from Marah, and came to Elim. In Elim, there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there.
This account reiterates the physical details of the camp, reinforcing Elim's role as a significant stopover in the journey from Egypt.