501. Elasah
Lexical Summary
Elasah: Elasah

Original Word: אֶלְעָשָׂה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: El`asah
Pronunciation: el-aw-saw'
Phonetic Spelling: (el-aw-saw')
KJV: Elasah, Eleasah
NASB: Eleasah, Elasah
Word Origin: [from H410 (אֵל - God) and H6213 (עָשָׂה - To do)]

1. God has made
2. Elasah, the name of four Israelites

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 Origin
from 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.
2. Generational Faithfulness: Each occurrence is genealogical or historical, emphasizing continuity. God does not forget seemingly minor figures; He records them for encouragement to every believer serving without public acclaim.
3. Holiness and Reform: The priestly Elasah illustrates the necessity of personal and communal repentance.
4. Prophetic Reliability: The diplomat Elasah demonstrates that God’s word stands firm, reaching exiles hundreds of miles away through an obedient courier.

Ministry Applications

• Ordinary Lineages: Churches can take heart that the Lord values every family and preserves their testimony for future generations.
• Holiness among Leaders: Spiritual leaders today must heed the warning of Ezra 10 lest compromise erode witness.
• Lay Participation in Mission: Like Elasah son of Shaphan, believers serving in civic or secular roles may become strategic channels for the gospel message.
• Hope in Exile: The Jeremiah passage reminds dispersed or marginalized communities that God’s plans for them remain good, anchoring contemporary ministry to the same promise.

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·śāh
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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
HEB: וְאֶלְעָשָׂה֙ הֹלִ֣יד אֶת־
NAS: and Eleasah became the father
KJV: And Eleasah begat Sisamai,
INT: and Eleasah became of Sismai

1 Chronicles 8:37
HEB: רָפָ֥ה בְנ֛וֹ אֶלְעָשָׂ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ אָצֵ֥ל
NAS: [was] his son, Eleasah his son,
KJV: [was] his son, Eleasah his son,
INT: Rapha his son Eleasah his son Azel

1 Chronicles 9:43
HEB: וּרְפָיָ֥ה בְנ֛וֹ אֶלְעָשָׂ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ אָצֵ֥ל
NAS: his son, Eleasah his son,
KJV: his son, Eleasah his son,
INT: and Rephaiah his son Eleasah his son Azel

Ezra 10:22
HEB: נְתַנְאֵ֔ל יוֹזָבָ֖ד וְאֶלְעָשָֽׂה׃ ס
NAS: Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.
KJV: Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
INT: Nethanel Jozabad and Elasah

Jeremiah 29:3
HEB: בְּיַד֙ אֶלְעָשָׂ֣ה בֶן־ שָׁפָ֔ן
NAS: [The letter was sent] by the hand of Elasah the son
KJV: By the hand of Elasah the son
INT: the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 501
6 Occurrences


’el·‘ā·śāh — 4 Occ.
wə·’el·‘ā·śāh — 2 Occ.

500
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