אֶלְדָּעָה (el.da.ah)
el.da.ah
Eldaah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Eldaah is a proper name found in only two verses, Genesis 25:4 and 1 Chronicles 1:33. The sources identify him as a son of Midian, making him a brother to Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, and Abida. This places him within the genealogical records of the Midianites during the patriarchal era.
The name itself carries theological weight, with lexicons translating it as "God has known" or possibly "God has called." In a biblical context, being "known" by God often implies a personal relationship or election. The presence of such a theophoric name among Midianite descendants suggests that the knowledge of Yahweh was recognized beyond the immediate line of Israel.
Although Eldaah appears briefly in these lists, his inclusion highlights the interconnectedness of ancient Near Eastern families during this period. The repetition of his name in Chronicles serves to confirm the ancestral lineage recorded earlier in Genesis, preserving the historical memory of Midian’s offspring for later generations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Eldaah means "God has known." It appears in the genealogies of Genesis and Chronicles as one of the sons of Midian, born to Abraham through his wife Keturah. While these lists can feel distant, they remind us that God’s knowledge extends across families and nations, not just within a single line.
Seeing this name helps us understand that the biblical story is woven from many threads. Even in records of ancient relatives, we see names that point to a personal relationship with Yahweh. It invites reflection on how God knows people in every generation and context.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Eldaah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אֶלְדָּעָ֑ה2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 25:4
The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
This verse introduces Eldaah as part of Abraham’s extended family, showing that the knowledge of God was present among his descendants through Keturah.