Lexical Summary elah: God, god Original Word: אַלָהּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance God, god (Aramaic) corresponding to 'elowahh; God -- God, god. see HEBREW 'elowahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to eloah Definition God, god NASB Translation God (74), god (6), gods (15). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֱלָהּ94 noun masculine god, God (= Biblical Hebrew אֱלֹהַּ (p. 43), see also √ I. אלה); — ׳א absolute Daniel 2:28 +, construct Daniel 2:18 +; emphatic אֱלָהָא Daniel 2:20 +; suffix אֱלָהִי Daniel 6:23, הָךְ- Ezra 9:14 +, הֵהּ- Daniel 6:6 +, הֲהֹם- Ezra 5:5; Ezra 7:16, הֲהוֺן- Daniel 3:28 (twice in verse); Daniel 3:29, הֲכֹם- Ezra 7:17, etc.; plural absolute אֱלָהִין Daniel 2:11 +, emphatic הַיָּא- Jeremiah 10:11, construct הֵי- Daniel 5:4,23, suffix הַי- Daniel 3:14, etc. [with prefix לֵאלָהָא Daniel 5:23, לֵאלָהָיךְ Daniel 3:14, etc.; but not in singular absolute or construct, e.g. לֶאֱלָהּ Ezra 5:12, etc.]; — 1 god, in General Daniel 6:8; Daniel 6:13; heathen deities Jeremiah 10:11; Daniel 2:11; Daniel 3:15+ 15 t. Daniel (made of gold, etc. Daniel 5:4,23) + בַּראֱֿלָהִין Daniel 3:25.(see בַּר). 273 God (of Israel), Daniel 2:28; Ezra 5:2 +; phrase ׳אֱלָהּ יִשׂ Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14; Ezra 7:15; יְרוּשְׁלֵם ׳א Ezra 7:19; אֲבָהָתַי ׳א Daniel 2:23; שְׁמַיָּא Ezra 5:11 (+ וְאַרְעָא), Ezra 5:12; Ezra 6:9,10; Daniel 2:18; Daniel 2:19 6t. (see שָׁמַיִם 2a); רַב ׳א Daniel 2:45; אֱלָהִין ׳א Daniel 2:47; אֱלָהָא עִלָּיָא Daniel 3:26; Daniel 3:32; Daniel 5:18,21; חַיָּא ׳א Daniel 6:21; Daniel 6:27; also בֵּית אֱלָהָא Daniel 5:3; Ezra 4:24; Ezra 5:2 16t. Ezra; ׳עֲבִידַת א Ezra 6:18. Topical Lexicon Overview and Distribution אַלָהּ (’ělāh) is the standard Aramaic word for “God” in the Old Testament. It appears about ninety-five times, almost exclusively in the Aramaic passages of Daniel 2–7 and Ezra 4–7, with a single occurrence in Jeremiah 10:11, which is also Aramaic. Though linguistically Aramaic, the term points to the same one true God revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures. Its usage spans the worship of the exiles, the decrees of foreign monarchs, and public testimonies in polytheistic courts. Historical Setting and Linguistic Considerations During the Babylonian and Persian periods the language of empire was Imperial Aramaic. Both Daniel and Ezra record official correspondence, proclamations, and narratives in Aramaic, so the name for God appears as ʼělāh rather than the Hebrew ʼĕlōhîm or Yahweh. This demonstrates how the people of God confessed His sovereignty in the lingua franca of their captors, underlining the universality of His rule. Portrait of Divine Sovereignty in the Book of Daniel 1. Revealer of mysteries (Daniel 2:28). When Nebuchadnezzar demanded an interpretation of his dream, Daniel testified, “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” The phrase “God in heaven” is framed with ʼělāh, highlighting His transcendence over earthly kings. Confession of Pagan Kings Several imperial edicts use ʼělāh to honor the God of Israel: Covenant Faithfulness and Deliverance The Aramaic narratives celebrate God’s covenant loyalty in exile. Daniel 3 and 6 mirror Exodus deliverances, reminding Israel that location does not limit God. His name in Aramaic settings signals unbroken covenant presence. Daniel’s prayer in Aramaic (Daniel 2:20–23) and later in Hebrew (Daniel 9) underscores one consistent divine identity across languages. Ezra’s Temple-Centered Usage Ezra’s Aramaic documents (Ezra 4:24–6:18; 7:12–26) use ʼělāh in legal formats: These passages assert that temple restoration is not merely ethnic but theological—the God of heaven is reclaiming His dwelling among His people. Biblical Theology and Relation to Other Divine Names ʼĚl or ʼĕlōhîm in Hebrew and ʼělāh in Aramaic both derive from the Semitic root for deity, yet Scripture applies them uniquely to the covenant God. The shift in vocabulary does not mark a shift in doctrine. In Daniel 9, the prophet moves from Aramaic narrative to Hebrew prayer, weaving ʼĕlōhîm and Yahweh into a seamless confession of guilt and hope. This reinforces the continuity of revelation across languages and epochs. Foreshadowing of the Universal Lordship of Christ Daniel 7 introduces the “Son of Man” who receives an everlasting dominion from the “Ancient of Days” (Daniel 7:13-14). The setting remains Aramaic, connecting ʼělāh with the future messianic king. In New Testament usage Jesus applies “Son of Man” to Himself (Matthew 26:64), showing that the God Daniel proclaimed is fully revealed in the incarnate Christ. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Cross-cultural witness: Daniel and Ezra model fearless testimony in the marketplace and throne room, a pattern for believers engaging pluralistic societies. Questions for Reflection and Teaching • How does God’s self-revelation in Aramaic encourage believers engaged in secular cultures today? Summary אַלָהּ emphasizes that the Lord of Israel is not a provincial deity but the universal Sovereign whose wisdom, power, and faithfulness transcend languages, empires, and eras. Whether in palace decrees, fiery furnaces, lions’ dens, or temple restorations, ʼělāh declares, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34). Forms and Transliterations אֱלָ֔הּ אֱלָ֣ה אֱלָ֣הַיָּ֔א אֱלָ֣הּ אֱלָ֤הּ אֱלָ֥הּ אֱלָ֧הּ אֱלָ֨הּ אֱלָהֲה֗וֹן אֱלָהֲהֹ֖ם אֱלָהֲהֹ֗ם אֱלָהֲהוֹן֙ אֱלָהֲכ֗וֹן אֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם אֱלָהִ֔י אֱלָהִ֔ין אֱלָהִ֖ין אֱלָהִ֛ין אֱלָהִ֞י אֱלָהִ֣ין אֱלָהִ֤ין אֱלָהִ֥ין אֱלָהִֽין׃ אֱלָהֵ֔הּ אֱלָהֵ֣הּ אֱלָהֵֽהּ׃ אֱלָהַ֙נָא֙ אֱלָהָ֑ךְ אֱלָהָ֔א אֱלָהָ֔ךְ אֱלָהָ֖א אֱלָהָ֖ךְ אֱלָהָ֗ךְ אֱלָהָ֣א אֱלָהָ֤א אֱלָהָ֤ךְ אֱלָהָ֥א אֱלָהָֽא׃ אֱלָהָא֙ אֱלָהָא֮ אלה אלהא אלהא׃ אלהה אלהה׃ אלההון אלההם אלהי אלהיא אלהין אלהין׃ אלהך אלהכון אלהכם אלהנא בֵּאלָהֵֽהּ׃ באלהה׃ וְלֵֽאלָהֵ֣י וְלֵֽאלָהָ֞א וֵֽאלָהָ֞א ואלהא ולאלהא ולאלהי לֵֽאלָהֵ֞י לֵֽאלָהַ֗י לֵֽאלָהָיִךְ֙ לֵֽאלָהָךְ֙ לֵאלָֽהֲהֽוֹן׃ לֶאֱלָ֣הּ לֶאֱלָ֥הּ לֶאֱלָ֪הּ לאלה לאלההון׃ לאלהי לאלהיך לאלהך ’ĕ·lā·hā ’ĕ·lā·hă·hō·wn ’ĕ·lā·hă·hōm ’ĕ·lā·hă·ḵō·wn ’ĕ·lā·hă·ḵōm ’ĕ·lā·ha·nā ’ĕ·lā·hāḵ ’ĕ·lā·hay·yā ’ĕ·lā·hêh ’ĕ·lā·hî ’ĕ·lā·hîn ’ĕ·lāh ’ĕlāh ’ĕlāhā ’ĕlāhăhōm ’ĕlāhăhōwn ’ĕlāhāḵ ’ĕlāhăḵōm ’ĕlāhăḵōwn ’ĕlāhanā ’ĕlāhayyā ’ĕlāhêh ’ĕlāhî ’ĕlāhîn bê·lā·hêh belaHeh bêlāhêh eLah elaHa elaHach elahaChom elahaChon elahaHom elahahOn eLahaiYa elaHana elaHeh elaHi elaHin le’ĕlāh le·’ĕ·lāh lê·lā·hă·hō·wn lê·lā·hā·yiḵ lê·lā·hāḵ lê·lā·hay lê·lā·hê leeLah leLahaHon lêlāhăhōwn lelaHai lêlāhāḵ lêlāhay lelahayiCh lêlāhāyiḵ lêlāhê lelaHei lelahoCh velaHa velelaHa velelaHei wê·lā·hā wə·lê·lā·hā wə·lê·lā·hê wêlāhā wəlêlāhā wəlêlāhêLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:24 HEB: עֲבִידַ֣ת בֵּית־ אֱלָהָ֔א דִּ֖י בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם NAS: on the house of God in Jerusalem KJV: of the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. INT: work the house of God in Jerusalem Ezra 5:1 Ezra 5:2 Ezra 5:2 Ezra 5:5 Ezra 5:8 Ezra 5:11 Ezra 5:12 Ezra 5:13 Ezra 5:14 Ezra 5:15 Ezra 5:16 Ezra 5:17 Ezra 6:3 Ezra 6:5 Ezra 6:5 Ezra 6:7 Ezra 6:7 Ezra 6:8 Ezra 6:9 Ezra 6:10 Ezra 6:12 Ezra 6:12 Ezra 6:14 Ezra 6:16 95 Occurrences |