אֶלְתּוֹלַד (el.to.lad)
el.to.lad
Eltolad
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Eltolad is a proper noun referring to a specific city located in the territory of southern Judah. The name itself carries a meaningful translation, generally understood as "God's generations" or "generations of God." This etymology suggests a place with deep historical roots or a community that viewed its lineage and continuity as directly sustained by divine providence.
Despite the weight of its name, Eltolad appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Joshua. It is listed among the fortified cities assigned to the tribe of Judah during the initial distribution of the land (Joshua 15:41) and again in a parallel list in Joshua 15:36. These brief mentions serve primarily as geographical markers, anchoring the narrative of Israel’s settlement in specific, tangible locations.
The scarcity of references highlights that Eltolad was not a major political or religious center like Jerusalem or Hebron, but rather one of many towns integral to the tribal inheritance. Its inclusion in the land allotment lists underscores the biblical theme that every portion of the promised land, no matter how small, was part of God’s deliberate plan for His people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When reading through the lists of cities in Joshua, it is easy to feel that places like Eltolad are mere footnotes. Yet this name, meaning "God's generations," reminds us that God’s care extends to every corner of the promised land. It was not just a strategic outpost for Judah but a place where families lived and thrived under divine provision.
These small towns anchor our faith in reality. They show that God’s promises were not abstract ideas but tangible gifts given to specific communities. Even when history moves on and these names fade from common memory, the fact remains that every inch of land was part of a deliberate plan.
We can find comfort in this today. Just as Eltolad was sustained by God’s hand, our own lives and communities are held within His purposeful design. We do not need to be major cities to matter; we only need to be part of the story He is writing through generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Eltolad2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד2×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:30
Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,
This verse places Eltolad within the southern coastal plain, showing its role in the tribal inheritance of Judah.
-
Joshua 19:4
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
The repetition here confirms the city’s significance in the allotment to Simeon, highlighting shared territorial boundaries.