Lexical Summary Elasah: Elasah Original Word: אֶלְעָשָׂה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Elasah, Eleasah From 'el and asah; God has made; Elasah, the name of four Israelites -- Elasah, Eleasah. see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW asah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom el and asah Definition "God has made," the name of several Isr. NASB Translation Elasah (2), Eleasah (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶלְעָשָׂה proper name, masculine (God has made, compare עֲשָׂהאֵל, יַעֲשִׂיאֵל etc.) a. descendant of Judah 1 Chronicles 2:39,40. b. a Benjamite 1 Chronicles 8:37; 1 Chronicles 9:43. c. of the line of Pashur Ezra 10:22. d. son of Shaphan Jeremiah 29:3. אֶלְמֶּלֶט see אֱלִיפֶלָט. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences Elasah (also spelled Eleasah) appears six times in the Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 2:39; 1 Chronicles 2:40; 1 Chronicles 8:37; 1 Chronicles 9:43; Ezra 10:22; Jeremiah 29:3. These passages place men bearing the name in four distinct settings: the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Benjamin, the post-exilic priesthood, and the royal court of Zedekiah. The Jerahmeelite Branch of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:39–40) Within Judah’s extensive genealogies, Elasah stands ten generations after Sheshan, the Judahite who gave his daughter to Jarha the Egyptian bond-servant. Scripture thereby records a gracious grafting of a foreigner into Judah’s line and highlights covenant mercy reaching beyond ethnic Israel. “Eleasah fathered Sismai, and Sismai fathered Shallum” (1 Chronicles 2:39). The placement of Elasah midway in this line emphasizes the quiet faithfulness of ordinary households whose names, though otherwise unknown, are preserved by the Spirit to testify that every generation matters to God’s redemptive plan. The Benjamite Line of King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:37; 9:43) Two parallel genealogies trace Saul’s descendant Moza through “Raphah, his son was Eleasah, and his son was Azel” (1 Chronicles 8:37; cf. 9:43). The chronicler’s repetition underlines the accuracy of the registries preserved after the exile. Although Saul’s dynasty was set aside, the ongoing record of his house shows that God keeps covenant promises to every tribe, even while advancing the Davidic line. Here Elasah serves as a witness to the preservation of remnant families whose heritage might otherwise seem eclipsed. Priestly Accountability in the Post-Exilic Community (Ezra 10:22) During Ezra’s call to separate from unlawful marriages, one of the sons of Pashhur is named: “Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah” (Ezra 10:22). This Elasah, a priest, had taken a foreign wife in disobedience to the Mosaic command. His public listing demonstrates that even those entrusted with sacred service are subject to God’s standard of holiness. The narrative does not single him out for special censure; rather, it records his involvement to illustrate corporate repentance and the seriousness with which post-exilic Israel sought to restore covenant fidelity. Diplomatic Service and Prophetic Transmission (Jeremiah 29:3) Jeremiah entrusted his letter of hope and admonition to the exiles “to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon” (Jeremiah 29:3). Shaphan had earlier read the rediscovered Book of the Law to King Josiah, signaling a family heritage committed to the word of God. Elasah’s role underscores two truths: first, that God places faithful messengers in secular diplomatic channels; second, that His prophetic word reliably reaches its audience despite political upheaval. By God’s providence, Elasah’s embassy became the conduit for the famous exhortation, “Seek the welfare of the city” and the promise, “I know the plans I have for you” (Jeremiah 29:7, 11). Theological Themes Highlighted by the Name Elasah 1. Covenant Inclusion: Whether through Judah’s acceptance of Jarha, Benjamin’s preservation, or the post-exilic priesthood, the name appears in contexts where God gathers and sustains a people for Himself. Ministry Applications • Ordinary Lineages: Churches can take heart that the Lord values every family and preserves their testimony for future generations. Summary Though men named Elasah appear only briefly, their collective witness spans covenant inclusion, tribal preservation, priestly repentance, and prophetic mission. In every setting the Lord shows Himself faithful, weaving individual lives into the larger tapestry of redemption that culminates in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations אֶלְעָשָֽׂה׃ אֶלְעָשָׂ֣ה אֶלְעָשָׂ֥ה אלעשה אלעשה׃ וְאֶלְעָשָֽׂה׃ וְאֶלְעָשָׂה֙ ואלעשה ואלעשה׃ ’el‘āśāh ’el·‘ā·śāh elaSah veelaSah wə’el‘āśāh wə·’el·‘ā·śāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 2:39 HEB: הֹלִ֥יד אֶת־ אֶלְעָשָֽׂה׃ NAS: became the father of Eleasah, KJV: and Helez begat Eleasah, INT: and Helez the father of Eleasah 1 Chronicles 2:40 1 Chronicles 8:37 1 Chronicles 9:43 Ezra 10:22 Jeremiah 29:3 6 Occurrences |
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