אֵלָא (e.la)
e.la
Ela
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Ela appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in 1 Kings 4:18 as the father of Shimei, one of King Solomon’s district governors. Its meaning is straightforward: "oak." This simple botanical reference grounds the individual in the natural landscape of ancient Israel, where trees often served as enduring symbols of strength and stability.
Because Ela is mentioned solely to identify his son’s lineage, he functions primarily as a genealogical marker rather than a character with a narrative role. The brevity of his mention highlights how ordinary families contributed to the administrative structure of Solomon’s kingdom, ensuring that local governance was rooted in established regional ties.
Translators typically render Ela as "Ela" without adding explanatory notes, since the name itself carries no complex theological weight in this context. Its presence serves as a quiet reminder of the many individuals whose names are preserved in Scripture not for their deeds, but for their place in the broader history of God’s people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ela appears just once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded as the father of Shimei, a district governor under King Solomon. The meaning is straightforward: "oak." This simple botanical reference grounds the individual in the natural landscape of ancient Israel, where trees often served as enduring symbols of strength and stability.
Because Ela is mentioned solely to identify his son’s lineage, he functions primarily as a genealogical marker rather than a character with a narrative role. The brevity of his mention highlights how ordinary families contributed to the administrative structure of Solomon’s kingdom, ensuring that local governance was rooted in established regional ties.
Its presence serves as a quiet reminder of the many individuals whose names are preserved in Scripture not for their deeds, but for their place in the broader history of God’s people. You can find comfort in knowing that your own story is part of this larger tapestry of faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ela1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֵלָ֖א1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 4:18
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
This verse identifies Ela as the father of Shimei, establishing a genealogical link within Solomon's administrative structure.