עֵלְמָיֵא (al.mi)
al.mi
Elamite
N:N--LGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--LG
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun ‘elemayye identifies the people of Elam, an ancient region located in what is now southwestern Iran. As a gentilic term, it functions as a plural noun meaning "Elamites," referring specifically to the native inhabitants or soldiers from that kingdom.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, within Ezra 4:9. In this historical account of administrative correspondence, it lists Elamites among the diverse groups settled by foreign kings to help govern the province beyond the River. The presence of this term highlights the multicultural reality of the Persian Empire’s provincial structure during the post-exilic period.
Etymologically, the word derives from the root for Elam itself. While some older linguistic traditions have speculated about meanings like "their heaps," modern scholarship treats it primarily as a straightforward ethnic designation. Its single occurrence serves as a historical marker, anchoring the narrative in the specific geopolitical context of the Persian era.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ‘elemayye simply refers to the Elamites, the people from an ancient region in what is now southwestern Iran. It appears just once in the Bible, in Ezra 4:9, where it lists various groups settled by foreign kings to help govern the province. This single mention reminds us that God’s people have always lived among diverse cultures and peoples.
Seeing this term helps us understand the complex social landscape of the post-exilic period. The Persian Empire was vast and multicultural, bringing together many different ethnicities under one administration. For believers today, this highlights that faithfulness to God often happens within a rich tapestry of human diversity, not in isolation.
When we read about these ancient neighbors, we are invited to see God’s sovereign hand over all nations. The same God who guided Israel also oversees the movements and settlements of every people group. This perspective encourages us to approach our own multicultural contexts with grace, recognizing that every person has a place in God’s broader story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Elamites/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֵלְמָיֵֽ/א\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:9
Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
This verse lists the Elamites among other ethnic groups settled by foreign kings, illustrating the multicultural administrative structure of the Persian Empire.