Lexical Definition

‎אַיִל‎ ʼayil (ah'-yil) ram ^H:N-M
from the same as ‎אוּל‎

mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.

• properly, strength
• hence, anything strong
• specifically a chief (politically)
• also a ram (from his strength)
• a pilaster (as a strong support)
• an oak or other strong tree

1) ram
1a) ram (as food)
1b) ram (as sacrifice)
1c) ram (skin dyed red, for tabernacle)
2) pillar, door post, jambs, pilaster
3) strong man, leader, chief
4) mighty tree, terebinth

See Greek: ἀμνός

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. ‎אַ֫יִל‎₁₅₆ noun masculine^{Gen 22:13} ram (as leader of flock, Late Hebrew & Aramaic id., Assyrian ailu Dl^W, Phoenician ‎איל‎, = ‎אַיִל‎ rather than ‎אַיָּל‎, compare CIS^{l. p. 231}) — ‎(אָ֑יִל) אַיִל‎ Gen 15:9 +; construct ‎אֵיל‎ Exod 29:22 +; plural ‎אֵילִים‎ (‎אֵילִם‎, ‎אֵלִים‎) Gen 32:15* +; construct ‎אֵילֵי‎ Gen 31:38; Isa 60:7. — ram,

1. used as food Gen 31:38 (E) Deut 32:14 (compare ram of sacrifice, below e.g. Exod 29:32 compare Lev 8:31); as yielding wool 2Kgs 3:4 as tribute 2Chr 17:11 as merchandise Ezek 27:21 as gift Gen 32:15* (E); in simile of leaping, skipping Ps 114:4 (‎׳‎‎הֶהָרִים רָקְדוּ כְּא‎) vPs 114:6 in Daniel's vision, ram with two horns symbolizing kings of Media and Persia Dan 8:3; Dan 8:4; Dan 8:6; Dan 8:7 (4 t. in verse); Dan 8:20 figurative of rich and powerful in Israel Ezek 34:17.

2. slain in ceremony of ratification of convenant between ‎׳‎‎י‎ & Abraham Gen 15:9 (J); in Abraham's sacrifice Gen 22:13 (twice in verse) (E); Balaam's sacrifice Num 23:1 + 5 t. Numbers 23 (JE); so in ritual (P),
(a) in consecration ceremony of Aaron & his sons Exod 29:1 + 15 t. Exod 29 (‎׳‎‎א‎ ‎מִלֻּאִים‎ vExod 29:22 compare vExod 29:26 vExod 29:27 vExod 29:31) Lev 8:2 + 8 t. Lev 8 (‎הַמִּלֻּאִים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ vLev 8:22 vLev 8:29 ‎הָעֹלָה‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ vLev 8:18);
(b) in guilt-offering (‎אָשָׁם‎) Lev 5:15; Lev 5:16; Lev 5:18; Lev 5:25*; Lev 19:21; Lev 19:22 compare Ezra 10:19 & ‎הַכִּפֻּרִים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Num 5:8
(c) burnt-offering (‎עֹלָה‎) Lev 9:2 & Num 15:6; Num 15:11 & Ezek 46:4; Ezek 46:5; Ezek 46:6; Ezek 46:7; Ezek 46:11, on day of atonement Lev 16:3; Lev 16:5, Pentecost Lev 23:18
(d) peace-offering (‎שְׁלָמִים‎) Lev 9:4; Lev 9:18; Lev 9:19 beginning of month Num 28:11; Num 28:12; Num 28:14 compare Num 29:2; Num 29:3 passover vNum 29:19 vNum 29:20 compare Ezek 45:23; Ezek 45:24 day of firstfruits vEzek 45:27 vEzek 45:28 in 7th month Ezek 29:8 + 18 t. Num 29
(e) in law of Nazarite Num 6:14; Num 6:17; Num 6:19
(f) in consecration of altar of tabernacle Num 7:15 + 25 t. Num 7, compare consecration of Ezekiel's temple-altar Ezek 43:23; Ezek 43:25
(g) more generally 1Sam 15:22; Isa 1:11; Mic 6:7; Job 42:8; Ps 66:15, also Isa 34:6; Isa 60:7 at bringing ark to Jerusalem 1Chr 15:26 others occasions 1Chr 29:21; 2Chr 13:9; 2Chr 29:21; 2Chr 29:22; 2Chr 29:32; Ezra 8:35 compare figurative Jer 51:40; Ezek 39:18.

3. ‎עֹרֹת אֵילִים מְאָדָּמִים‎ rams' skins dyed red, of covering of tabernacle Exod 25:5; Exod 26:14; Exod 35:7; Exod 35:23; Exod 36:19 compare Exod 39:34 (all P).

II. ‎אַ֫יִל‎ noun [masculine] projecting pillar or pilaster — ‎׳‎‎א‎ absolute 1Kgs 6:31 (but see below) construct id. Ezek 40:14 (but strike out Co):16 (Co better ‎אֵילָיו‎); ‎אֵיל‎ Ezek 41:3, ‎אֵל‎ Ezek 40:48 plural ‎אֵילִים‎ Ezek 40:14 +; ‎אֵילִם‎ Ezek 40:10 suffix ‎אילו‎ Kt Ezek 40:9 + 7 t.; ‎אלו‎ Kt Ezek 40:29 + 2 t. Qr (in all) ‎אֵילָיו‎, ‎אֵלָיו‎; ‎אֵלֵיהֵמָֿה‎ Ezek 40:16 — pilaster or projection in wall at each side of entrance (compare Bö^{Proben, 302}; NÄ 927), in Solomon's temple 1Kgs 6:31 (Bö^{NÄ 525} reads ‎אֵילָם‎), in Ezekiel's temple Ezek 40:9; Ezek 40:10 + 14 t. Ezek 40.41 + Ezek 40:14 a Ew Hi Co ‎אילם‎ compare ᵐ5 B; Ezek 40:38 read ‎אילם‎ so Sm Co compare ᵐ5; Ezek 40:14 b Co strike out ‎׳‎‎א‎.

III. [‎אַ֫יִל‎?] noun masculine leader, chief (= ram, as leader of flock ? compare Di Exod 15:15 Ol^{§142 f} Lag^{BN 170 &} see Ezek 34:17) — construct ‎אֵל‎ Ezek 31:11 plural construct ‎אֵילֵי‎ Exod 15:15; Ezek 17:13 + 2Kgs 24:15 Qr (Kt ‎אולי‎ see ‎אוּל‎); ‎אֵלֵי‎ Ezek 32:21 (strike out Co, see ᵐ5). — leader, chief ‎מוֺאָב‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Exod 15:15 ‎הָאָרֶץ‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Ezek 17:13; 2Kgs 24:15 Qr; ‎גּוֺיִם‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Ezek 31:11 (‎אֵלִים‎ Job 41:17* see below ‎אלה‎; perhaps ‎אֵלֵיהֶם‎ Ezek 31:14 but compare below IV. ‎איל‎ & also ‎אֶל‎ Note 1).

IV. [‎אַ֫יִל‎?] noun masculine terebinth (probably as prominent, lofty tree, see Di Gen 12:6; Gen 14:6) — construct ‎אֵיל‎ only proper name ‎אֵיל פָּארָן‎ see below; plural ‎אֵילִים‎ Isa 1:29 ‎אֵלִים‎ Isa 57:5 construct ‎אֵילֵי‎ Isa 61:3 suffix ‎אֵלֵיהֶם‎ Ezek 31:14 (> strike out Co. see ᵑ9 ‎ᵑ8‎ [Arabic Versions]). — terebinth (compare ‎אֵלָה‎); as marking idol-shrines Isa 1:29; Isa 57:5 (so Che Di etc. > gods); figurative of ransomed ones of Zion ‎אֵילֵי הַצֶּדֶק‎; perhaps of haughty ones Ezek 31:14.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References