יַחְלְאֵלִי (yach.le.e.li)
yach.le.e.li
Jahleelite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The term yachleeli refers to a member of the Jahleelites, a family group within the tribe of Zebulun. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Numbers 26:26, as part of the census listing the descendants of Israel’s sons during their wilderness journey. The word functions as a gentilic adjective, identifying people by their lineage from Jahleel, one of Zebulun’s sons mentioned earlier in Genesis 46:14.
Its meaning is straightforwardly genealogical: "belonging to the house of Jahleel." The root name Jahleel carries the sense of "hope of God," combining yachol ("hope" or "power") and El ("God"). This etymology suggests that the family’s identity was tied to a theological concept, even though the text itself does not elaborate on their specific role or character. Unlike words describing actions or moral qualities, this term marks social and tribal affiliation in a patriarchal society.
Because it occurs so rarely, the Jahleelites leave no distinct narrative trace in Scripture. Their mention serves primarily to preserve the structure of Israel’s tribal organization before entering the Promised Land. The word reminds readers that each tribe was composed of many families, each with its own name and heritage, all counted and known by God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This rare Hebrew word identifies a specific family within the tribe of Zebulun. It appears only once in Scripture, marking the descendants of Jahleel during the census in the wilderness. The name itself carries a beautiful meaning: "hope of God." This reminds us that even in lists of names and numbers, every individual and family is known by their heritage and their connection to the Divine.
For your faith life, this word offers comfort in the details. God keeps track of every lineage and every person. You are not lost in a crowd; you are part of a story that He has recorded. Just as the Jahleelites were counted and remembered, so too is your place in God's family secure and valued.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Jahleelite[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/יַּחְלְאֵלִֽי\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 26:26
The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
This verse lists the Jahleelites as one of the distinct family groups within Zebulun, preserving their identity in Israel's tribal structure.