EL is the generic Semitic name for “God” or “deity”. El is one of the oldest designations for deity in the ancient world. The word is found in several Semitic languages such as, Akkadian, Phoenician and Old South Arabian and, as in Hebrew, it is often used as an element in proper names. In northwest Semitic texts it often appears to be used of one single god, perhaps the head of the pantheon, sometimes specifically said to be the creator.

Even though the derivation of the word is uncertain, the root meaning is “power and authority” (Ge.1:1  Ps.19:1)

EL - the name for God  meaning “mighty, strong, prominent”  is used some  250 times in the OT.

See Gen. 7:1, 28:3, 35:11; Nu. 23:22; Josh. 3:10; 2 Sam. 22:31, 32; Neh. 1:5, 9:32; Isa. 9:6; Ezek. 10:5.

The word  El  appears in Assyrian (Akkadian)  as ilu and  in Phoenician, as well as in Hebrew, as an ordinary name of God. It is found also in the South-Arabian dialects, and in Aramaic, Arabic, and Ethiopic, as also in Hebrew, as an element in proper names.

El (Hebrew: אל) is used in both the singular and plural, both for other gods and for the God of Israel. As a name of God, however, it is used chiefly in poetry and prophetic discourse, rarely in prose, and then usually with some epithet attached, as “a jealous God.”

El is the simple form arising from Elohim, and is often combined with other words for descriptive emphasis. Some examples

El HaNe’eman – The Faithful God: (Deuteronomy 7:9).

El HaGadol – The Great God: (Deuteronomy 10:17).

El HaKadosh – The Holy God: (Isaiah 5:16).

El Yisrael – The God Of Israel: (Psalm 68:35).

El HaShamayim – The God Of The Heavens: (Psalm 136:26).

El De’ot – The God Of Knowledge: (1 Samuel 2:3).

El Emet – The God Of Truth: (Psalm 31:6).

El Yeshuati – The God Of My Salvation: (Isaiah 12:2).

El Elyon – The Most High God: (Genesis 14:18).

Immanu El – God Is With Us: (Isaiah 7:14).

El Olam – The God Of Eternity (Genesis 21:33).

El Echad – The One God: (Malachi 2:10).

Other examples  of its use with some attribute or epithet are:

El Shaddai (“God Almighty”)

El Ḥai (“living God”)

El Ro’i (“God of seeing”)

El Elohe Israel (“God, the God of Israel”)

El Gibbor (“Hero God”).

 

In addition, names such as Gabriel (“Strength of God”)

Michael (“Who is like God?”)

Raphael (“God’s medicine”)

Ariel (“God’s lion”)

Daniel (“God is My Judge”/”God’s Judge”)

Israel (“one who has struggled with God”)

Immanuel (“God is with us”), and

Ishmael (“God Hears”/”God Listens”) use God’s name in a similar fashion.

 

“ELAH” is another name for God, used about 70 times in the Old Testament. Again, when combined with other words, we see different attributes of God.

Some examples:

 

Elah Yerush’lem – God of Jerusalem: (Ezra 7:19). Elah Yisrael – God of Israel: (Ezra 5:1).

Elah Sh’maya – God of Heaven: (Ezra 7:23).

Elah Sh’maya V’Arah – God of Heaven and Earth: (Ezra 5:11).

 

El is linguistically equivalent to the Moslem “Allah,” but the attributes of Allah in Islam are entirely different from those of the God of the Hebrews.

 

 

ELAH is Aramaic, “god.” Elah appears in the Hebrew Bible in Jer. 10:11 (which is in Aramaic, and is plural, “gods”). In Daniel (the Aramaic sections) Elah is used both of pagan gods, and of the true God, also plural.

 

Elah is equivalent to the Hebrew Eloah which some think is dual; The origin of Eloah is obscure. Eloah is used 41 times in Job between 3:4 and 40:2, but fewer than 15 times elsewhere in the OT

 

 

Elohim is three or more. The gods of the nations are called “elohim.” Elohim is the more common plural form of El.