אֵלֶּה (el.leh)
el.leh
these
A:DemPQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:DemP
Word Overview
The word elleh is a demonstrative pronoun meaning "these." It appears in only one verse, Jeremiah 51:63, where it serves as the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew elleh (H0428). In this specific context, it points to the written scroll containing the prophecies against Babylon that Baruch is instructed to read.
Its presence in Jeremiah highlights the bilingual nature of the book’s final chapters. While most of Jeremiah is written in Hebrew, these verses use Aramaic, the lingua franca of the ancient Near East. The word itself carries no additional theological weight beyond its function as a pointer, directing the reader’s attention to the specific text being handled.
Translators typically render elleh simply as "these," maintaining the straightforward demonstrative force found in the original. Its rarity in Scripture makes it a notable linguistic curiosity, illustrating how biblical authors adapted their language to reach broader audiences or to mark distinct sections of their work.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word elleh simply means “these.” In Jeremiah 51:63, it points to a specific scroll containing prophecies against Babylon. This small demonstrative pronoun highlights the tangible nature of God’s word in Scripture. It is not abstract theory but a written message that was read, handled, and remembered.
While most of Jeremiah is written in Hebrew, these final chapters use Aramaic, the common language of the ancient Near East. This shift shows how biblical authors adapted their language to reach broader audiences. The word itself carries no extra theological weight beyond its function as a pointer, directing attention to the text being handled.
For your faith, this reminds us that God’s messages are concrete and accessible. Whether in Hebrew or Aramaic, the Scriptures are meant to be read and understood. The care taken to preserve these words shows their enduring value for every generation of believers.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- these1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֵֽלֶּה\׃\ \ס1×