אֵילַת
e.lat
Elath
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word אֵילַת (e.lat) is a proper name with four occurrences in the Bible. The name Elath is significant because it is a personal name, likely a person or family, rather than a place. However, based on its sole occurrence, the name Elath is associated with a person mentioned in the account of the return from exile, in the context of a leader among those returning to Judah (Ezra 8:17). While the occurrences of this name are limited, its significance to a general audience lies in the fact that it highlights one individual's participation in a large-scale event, the post-exilic return to Judah. It is unclear if this Elath held a position of power or held distinct significance among the rest of the returning community. In terms of its range of usage, as a personal name, e.lat is primarily used in a straightforward manner, simply denoting the name without providing any additional context or significance beyond the individual's role as a returning exile.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences across the text
So we passed by from our brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
2 Kings 14:22He built Elath, and restored it to Judah. After that the king slept with his fathers.
2 Kings 16:6At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and lived there, to this day.
2 Kings 16:6At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and lived there, to this day.