Elijah Name Meaning in Hebrew [משמעות השם Elijah]

Elijah Name Meaning in Hebrew

The name Elijah is derived from the Hebrew name אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyyahu), which consists of two elements: ‘El’ meaning God and ‘Yahu’ or ‘Yah’ being a shortened version of the Tetragrammaton, the four-letter name of God (YHWH) in Hebrew. Thus, the name Elijah means “My God is Yahweh” or “My God is Jehovah.”

The name Elijah is best known from the prophet Elijah in the Jewish and Christian Bibles. In the Bible, Elijah is depicted as a powerful prophet who performed many miracles and stood up against the idolatry of the Israelites during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. He is also considered as one of the greatest prophets of Israel who never died but taken to heaven by God.

Elijah is also one of the forefathers of Prophet John the Baptist, who is believed to have been the forerunner of Jesus Christ. According to the Gospels, John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit of Elijah, and Jesus himself said that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come.

In Jewish tradition, Elijah is seen as the protector of the Jewish people and is believed to visit the Passover Seder, the annual celebration of the Jewish liberation from Egypt. It is customary to set a place at the table for Elijah and to open the door of the home during the Seder to symbolically welcome him.

In conclusion, the name Elijah carries a powerful meaning rooted in the Jewish and Christian traditions as a symbol of God’s protection, strength and devotion to Yahweh. The prophet Elijah is revered for his fierce devotion to God and his role in fighting against idolatry and for the faith of Israel.