Who was Eliel in the bible?
Eliel is a Hebrew name borne by multiple Israelites, appearing in genealogies and lists in 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles.
Where Mentioned
Eliel appears in genealogies and lists such as "Epher, Ishi, Eliel" (1 Chronicles 5:24) and "Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel" (1 Chronicles 8:20).
Learn More →Roles Listed
One Eliel is among "mighty men of valor" and "heads of their fathers’ houses" (1 Chronicles 5:24). Another Eliel is named among Levites called by David (1 Chronicles 15:11) and among overseers appointed under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31:13).
Learn More →Eliel is the name of multiple Israelites named in Chronicles. The name is explained in lexicon tradition as meaning “God of (his) God,” built from the element ’el, associated with strength and might.
Eliel in Scripture
One Eliel appears among leading men described as prominent family heads:
“These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers’ houses.” (1 Chronicles 5:24)
Another Eliel is part of a genealogy, where he is an ancestor in the line connecting Jeroham and Toah:
“the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,” (1 Chronicles 6:34)
Two occurrences of the name appear within the genealogical listing of Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 8. The chapter begins by tracing Benjamin’s line through Bela and other descendants, and repeatedly describes family groupings and household leadership. It opens:
“Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,” (1 Chronicles 8:1)
and continues with Bela’s sons and further branches (1 Chronicles 8:2–5). It then identifies a segment connected to Ehud as “heads of fathers’ households” and notes removal to another place:
“These are the sons of Ehud. These are the heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Geba, who were carried captive to Manahath:” (1 Chronicles 8:6)
From there, the chapter traces additional family lines (1 Chronicles 8:7–19). Within that flow, one Eliel is listed among a cluster of names:
“Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,” (1 Chronicles 8:20)
Later, a second Eliel appears in another brief list:
“Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,” (1 Chronicles 8:22)
The chapter proceeds with additional descendants and concludes with an overall summary of the people described as household heads and residents of Jerusalem:
“These were heads of fathers’ households throughout their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.” (1 Chronicles 8:28)
It then transitions to the family of “the father of Gibeon” (1 Chronicles 8:29–32) and into Saul’s genealogy (1 Chronicles 8:33–40), closing with a note about Ulam’s descendants:
“The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, one hundred fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.” (1 Chronicles 8:40)
In lists connected with warriors, one Eliel is identified by a descriptor and placed alongside other named men:
“Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,” (1 Chronicles 11:46)
A second mention follows immediately in the next verse as part of another group:
“Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.” (1 Chronicles 11:47)
In another numbered list, an Eliel is identified by his place in sequence:
“Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,” (1 Chronicles 12:11)
Eliel also appears in connection with Levites and with the “sons of Hebron.” One Eliel is described as a chief among that group with a counted number of brothers:
“of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brothers eighty;” (1 Chronicles 15:9)
Shortly after, Eliel is named among Levites summoned by David:
“David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,” (1 Chronicles 15:11)
Finally, in a list of officials serving as overseers under a higher authority, an Eliel is included among those appointed:
“Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of God’s house.” (2 Chronicles 31:13)
Multiple People Named Eliel
The lexicon gloss identifies Eliel as “the name of nine Israelites,” and the scriptural occurrences reflect multiple distinct bearers of the name in different settings.
Eliel among family heads. One Eliel is named among “heads of their fathers’ houses” and described within a group called “mighty men of valor” and “famous men” (1 Chronicles 5:24).
Eliel in a genealogy. Another Eliel appears as an ancestor: “the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah” (1 Chronicles 6:34).
Eliel(s) in Benjamin’s genealogies. Within the Benjaminite record, the name appears twice as part of name lists (1 Chronicles 8:20, 8:22), set in a chapter that repeatedly organizes people by descent and summarizes them as “heads of fathers’ households… chief men” (1 Chronicles 8:28).
Eliel(s) in warrior lists. Eliel is mentioned as “Eliel the Mahavite” (1 Chronicles 11:46), and also as “Eliel” alongside other men (1 Chronicles 11:47). Another Eliel appears in a numbered sequence: “Eliel the seventh” (1 Chronicles 12:11).
Eliel connected with Levites and administration. One Eliel is “the chief” among “the sons of Hebron,” with “his brothers eighty” (1 Chronicles 15:9), and an Eliel is named among Levites called by David (1 Chronicles 15:11). Another Eliel is among “overseers” appointed “by the appointment of Hezekiah the king” (2 Chronicles 31:13).
Name and Meaning
The name is written in Hebrew script as אֱלִיאֵל and transliterated ’Eliy’el (pronounced el-ee-ale). In the lexicon’s derivation, it is formed from a repeated reference to El and is explained as meaning “God of (his) God.” The component ’el (אֵל) is associated with strength and might.
Observation
Across genealogies, leadership lists, and appointments, the name Eliel is attached to people described as “heads of their fathers’ houses” (1 Chronicles 5:24), “the chief” (1 Chronicles 15:9), and “overseers” (2 Chronicles 31:13), showing the name’s recurring appearance among organized family, Levitical, and administrative roles in Chronicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Eliel mean?
Eliel means “God of (his) God.”
How many times does Eliel appear in the Bible?
Eliel appears 10 times.
Who was Eliel in the Bible?
Eliel is the name of nine Israelites. The name appears in genealogies and lists, including a head of a fathers’ house (1 Chronicles 5:24) and a Levite named among those David called for (1 Chronicles 15:11).
What role did an Eliel have in temple administration?
An Eliel is named among the overseers under Conaniah and Shimei (2 Chronicles 31:13).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Eliel interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
