אֶלְיָשִׁיב (el.ya.shiv)
el.ya.shiv
Eliashib
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Eliashib means "God restores." It appears fifteen times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The sources identify several distinct individuals with this name, spanning from the time of King David through the post-exilic period. This repetition suggests a cherished tradition within Judah, where families carried forward a name that affirmed divine faithfulness.
The most prominent figure is the high priest who oversaw the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls under Nehemiah’s leadership (Nehemiah 3:1). His role in restoring the city’s physical defenses mirrors the name’s meaning. Other bearers include a priest in David’s lineage (1 Chronicles 24:12) and men listed among those who had married foreign wives during the return from exile (Ezra 10:6, 24).
The consistent use of this name across generations highlights a theological theme. While the people faced destruction and dispersion, they retained a linguistic reminder that restoration comes from God. The sources note these individuals were part of priestly or Levitical lines, linking their personal identities to the communal hope of renewal.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Eliashib carries a quiet but powerful promise: God restores. In a time when Jerusalem lay in ruins and hope felt distant, this name served as a daily reminder that restoration is not merely human effort, but divine action. It appears across generations of priestly lines, linking the community’s history to a steadfast belief that God renews what has been broken.
For believers today, this word offers comfort in seasons of loss or transition. Whether facing personal grief, communal strife, or spiritual weariness, the meaning behind Eliashib points to a God who does not leave us in ruin. It invites trust that renewal is possible, even when circumstances seem final. The name stands as a witness that faithfulness endures through time.
Consider how this theme plays out in the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. When Eliashib the high priest helped restore the city’s defenses, he acted on behalf of a people seeking wholeness. His work was physical, yet it reflected a deeper spiritual reality: God restores communities when they turn back to Him. This connection between name and action encourages readers to see their own lives as part of a larger story of renewal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Eliashib14×
- and/ Eliashib2×
- to/ Eliashib1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙4×
- אֶלְיָשִׁ֔יב3×
- אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב\׃2×
- אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב2×
- לְ/אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙1×
- וְ/אֶלְיָשִׁ֡יב1×
- וְ/אֶלְיָשִׁ֖יב1×
- אֶלְיָשִׁיב֩1×
- אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב\׃\ \ס1×
- אֶלְיָשִׁ֜יב1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 3:1
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel.
This verse highlights Eliashib’s leadership in rebuilding the sheep gate, showing how the name’s meaning of restoration was actively embodied in the community’s physical recovery.
-
Ezra 10:6
Then Ezra rose up from before God’s house, and went into the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. When he came there, he didn’t eat bread or drink water, for he mourned because of the trespass of the exiles.
Here, the son of Eliashib is associated with mourning over sin, illustrating how the name appears in contexts of repentance and spiritual realignment rather than just celebration.
-
Nehemiah 13:4
Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,
This occurrence reveals a complex side of the high priest’s legacy, as his actions regarding Tobiah required correction, reminding readers that even those in leadership need accountability.
-
Nehemiah 12:10
Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada,
The genealogical record here places Eliashib in the line of high priests, emphasizing continuity and the preservation of sacred office across generations despite historical upheavals.