Shortened from 'ayil; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) -- God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in "-el."
see HEBREW 'ayil
H410. el
II. אֵל god, אֶלְדָּעָה אֶלְדָּד, etc. see I. אלה.
II. אֵל noun masculine (also, in proper name אֱלִי אֶל,; Samaritan אל, Phoenician אלן אל, (i.e. probably אֵלֹן), Sabean אל, DHMOr. Congr. Leiden, 1883, Assyrian ilu, Dlw; perhaps also Arabic, Aramaic compare Nöon the passage; on goddess אלת Phoenician, Palmyrene, Nabataean, Sabean (also אלהת) DHMl. c; Arabic (plural ) FlKl. Schr. i. 154, Assyrian Allatu Jr66, Syriac , compare also BaeRel 58, 90, 97, 271, 207) god, but with various subordinate applications to express idea of might; — hardly ever in prose except with defining word (adjective or Genitive); its only suffix is יִ֯; —
1 applied to men of might and rank, גוים אֵל mighty one of the nations Ezekiel 31:11 (of Nebuchadnezzar; ᵐ5 ἄρχων ἔθνων, איל some MSS. Co); אֵלִים mighty men Job 41:17 (אילים, many MSS. Di); גִבּוֺרִים אֵלֵי mighty heroes Ezekiel 32:21 (אֵילֵי MSS. Co); הָאֶרֶץ אֵילֵי 17:13; 2 Kings 24:15 (Kt אולי); אֵילִים Exodus 15:15 (probably plural of III. אַיִל, q. v.) These readings are uncertain because of an effort to distinguish these forms from the divine name. גִּבּוֺר אֵל mighty hero (as above) ordivine hero (as reflecting the divine majesty) Isaiah 9:6.
2 angels, אֵלִים בְּנֵי Psalm 29:1; 89:7 = הָאֱלֹהִים בְּנֵי.
3 gods of the nations, אֵלִים אֵל God of gods, supreme God Daniel 11:36; בָּאֵלִם כָמֹכָה מִי who is like thee among the gods Exodus 15:11; idols Isaiah 43:10; 44:10, 15, 17; 46:6; בשמים אל מי what God in heaven Deuteronomy 3:24; אחר אֵל another god Exodus 34:14 (J); זר אֵל foreign god Psalm 44:21; 81:10; נכר אל Deuteronomy 32:12; Malachi 2:11; Psalm 81:10.
4 El proper name ברית אל El Berith Judges 9:46 (= ברית בעל 8:33; 9:4) compare also
6 (f) below
5 as characterizing mighty things in nature, אל חררי mighty mountains Psalm 36:7 (literally mountains of El); also 50:10 Ol Bi Che see below II. אלף; אל ארזי mighty cedars 80:11; אל כוכבי lofty stars Isaiah 14:13.
6 God217, the one only and true God of Israel: (a) הָאֵל the God, the true God Genesis 31:13; 35:1, 3; 46:3 (E) 2 Samuel 22:31, 33, 48 (= Psalm 18:31; 18:33; 18:48) 68:20; 68:21; 77:15; הַנֶּאֱמָן הָאֵל the faithful God Deuteronomy 7:9; הגדול האל the great God 10:17 = Jeremiah 32:18; Daniel 9:4; Nehemiah 1:5; 9:32; הקדשׁ האל the holy God Isaiah 5:17; יהוה האל the God Yahweh 42:5; Psalm 85:9. (b) אֵלִי my God Exodus 15:2 (poetry) Psalm 18:3; 22:2 (twice in verse); 22:11; 63:2; 68:25; 89:27; 102:25; 118:28; 140:7; Isaiah 44:17. (c) construct אל בית אל the God of Bethel, who had his seat there Genesis 35:7 (E); אביך אל God of thy fathers 49:25 (poetry); ישראל אל Psalm 68:36; יעקב אל Psalm 146:5; השמים אל the God of heaven 136:26; סלעי אל the God who is my rock 42:10; גילי שמחת אל the God who is the joy of my exultation 43:4; רֳאִי אֵל the God who lets himself be seen Genesis 16:13 (J); הכבוד אל the God of glory Psalm 29:3; דעות אל the all-knowing God 1 Samuel 2:3 (poetry); עוֺלָם אֵל the everlasting God Genesis 21:33 (J); ישועתי אל Isaiah 12:2; חַיָּ֑י אל Psalm 42:9; אמת אל 31:6 = אֱמוּנָה אל Deuteronomy 32:4 (poetry); נקמות אל Psalm 94:1 (twice in verse); גְּמֻלוֺת אל Jeremiah 51:56. (d) אֶחָד אל one God Malachi 2:10; גדול אל a great God Deuteronomy 7:21; Psalm 77:14; 95:3; מסתתר אל a God hiding himself Isaiah 45:15; רחום אל a compassionate God Exodus 34:6 (J) Deuteronomy 4:31; Psalm 86:15; נשא אל a forgiving God 99:8; חַנּוּן אל a gracious God Nehemiah 9:31; Jonah 4:2; קנא אל a jealous God Exodus 20:5; 34:14 (J) Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Joshua 24:19 (D) = קנוא אל Nahum 1:2; חי אֵל a living God Joshua 3:10 (J) Hosea 2:1; Psalm 42:3; 84:3; צדיק אל Isaiah 45:21; רשע חפץ אֵל לא Psalm 5:5; אֵל לא Deuteronomy 32:21 (poetry) Isaiah 31:3; Ezekiel 28:2 (twice in verse); 28:9; כמוךָ אל מי Micah 7:18 (compare Exodus 15:11). (e) God (the only true God, needing no article or predicate to define him) Numbers 12:13 (E read אַל Di) always in poetry, Job 5:8 + (55 t. Job), Psalm 7:12; 10:11-12, 16:1; 17:6; 19:1; 52:3, 7; 55:20; 57:3; 73:11, 17; 74:8; 77:10; 78:7-8, 18, 19, 34, 41; 82:1; 83:2; 90:2; 104:21; 106:14, 21; 107:11; 118:27; 139:17, 23; 149:6; 150:1; Isaiah 40:18; 43:12; 45:14, 20; 46:9; Lamentations 3:41; Hosea 11:9; 12:1; Malachi 1:9; עִמָּנוּאל God is with us, as name of child in prediction Isaiah 7:14; compare 8:8, 10. (f) El, a divine name ישראל אלהי אל Genesis 33:20 (E); הרוחות אלהי אל Numbers 16:22 (P = הרוחות אלהי יהוה 27:16); יהוה אלהים אל Joshua 22:22 (P) Psalm 50:1. This is probable also in the ancient poems, Numbers 23:8, 19, 22, 23; 24:4, 8, 16, 23 (poetry Balaam "" שדּי & עליון) Deuteronomy 32:18; 33:26 (poetry Moses "" צוּר & קֶדֶם אֱלֹהֵי) 2 Samuel 22:32; 23:5 (poetry David "" צוּר) and in the combinations עליון אל (5 t.; see עליון) & שדּי אל (10 t.; see שַׁדַּי).
7 אֵל strength, power (on connection with I. אָלָה compare Di Genesis 1:1; 31:29) in יָדִי יֶשׁלְֿאֵל it is according to the power of my hand = it is in my power, etc. 31:29 (E; followed by לְ + Infinitive); יָדְ֯יךָ לְאֵל בִּהְיוֺת Proverbs 3:27 (followed by id.); יָדָם יֶשׁלְֿאֵל Micah 2:1; (absolute); negative יָדֶ֑ךָ לְאֵל וְאֵין Deuteronomy 28:32 (absolute) = thou shalt be powerless, so Nehemiah 5:5. **See also BrockZAW xxvi (1906). 29 ff. (meaning 'might' very dubious: renders belongs to the god of (my) hand, supposing phrase a survival, with original meaning forgotten, of ancient idea, found also among other nations, of spirits conferring powers upon particular members of body).