Lexical Definition
אֵל ʼêl (ale) to(wards) H:Prep
(but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ʼel (el) ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.
about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).
- near, with or among
- often in general, to
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), in poetry אֱלֵי (compare עֲלֵי, עֲדֵי), but only in Job ( 1Sam 3:22; 1Sam 5:26; 1Sam 15:22; 1Sam 29:19), with suffix אֵלַי, אֵלֶיךָ, אֵלַיִךְ, etc. אֵלֵינוּ, אֲלֵיכֶם & (5 t.) אֲלֵכֶם, אֲלֵיהֶם & אֲלֵהֶם (both very often); once אֵלֵימוֺ Ps 2:5, אֲלֵיהֶן, once אֲלֵהֶן Exod 1:19 (Assyrian ilî, Arabic 
), preposition denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).
1. of motion to or unto a person or place Gen 2:19; Gen 2:22; Gen 3:19; Gen 8:9; Gen 14:22; Gen 16:9 etc., after every kind of verb expressing motion (בּוֺא, הָלַךְ, יָצָא etc.) So with נָתַן to give (though ל is here more common) Gen 21:14; Gen 35:4; Deut 13:2* +; מָכַר to sell Deut 37:36, etc. Metaph. Jer 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and that my fear (cometh) not unto thee (compare Job 31:23). — Peculiarly Gen 6:16 אֶל אַמָּה unto the length of a cubit, etc. And metaphor in the phrase אֶלֿ(אֱלֵיֿ)גִּיל unto exultation Hos 9:11; Job 3:22. Once, exceptionally (si vera 1.) = even: Job 5:5 וְאֶלמִֿצִּגִּים יִקָּחֵהוּ and even out of thorns he taketh it. Sometimes pregnant, as Isa 66:17; Jer 41:7 זָנָה אֶל commit whoredom (by going) to Num 25:1; Ezek 16:26; Ezek 16:28; Ezek 16:29 דָּרֵשׁ אֶל seek (by resorting) to one (that is, for oracles) Deut 18:11; Isa 8:19; Isa 11:10 +; חָבַר אֶל join together (& come) unto Gen 14:3 הִשְׁכִּים אֶל rise early (and go) to Gen 19:27; Gen 24:11 הִבְרִיח אֶל made to kneel down at; Gen 47:18 תַּם אֶל i.e. has been made over to; פָּחַד אֶל to come in fear to Hos 3:5; Mic 7:17. Opposite is מִן, as מִןהַֿקָּצֶה אֶלהַֿקָּצֶה from end to end Exod 26:28 מִפֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה Ezra 9:11 (synonym 2Kgs 21:16 פֶּה לָפֶה). And of time (rare) מֵעֵת אֶלעֵֿת 1Chr 9:25 מִיּוֺם אֶליֿוֺם Num 30:15* (P) 1Chr 16:23 (in the || Ps 96:2 מִיּוֺם לְיוֺם).
2. Where the limit is actually entered, into, Gen 6:18 and thou shalt enter into the ark Gen 7:1; Gen 19:3; Gen 41:21; Gen 42:17 & so after verbs of throwing, casting, putting Gen 37:22 (הִשְׁלִיךְ) Gen 39:20 וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֶלבֵּֿית הַסֹּהַר put him into the prison house, Exod 28:30 (Lev 8:8) Deut 23:25* so after קָבַר to bury Gen 23:19; Gen 25:9; Gen 49:29 שָׂחַט to squeeze Gen 40:11 מָחָה to blot out Num 5:23, etc.; metaphor Gen 6:6 was pained into or unto his heart, שָׂם אֶללֵֿב, הֵשִׁיב to place, bring. into ( = lay to) heart Deut 4:39; 2Sam 19:20* and elsewhere In connection with a number or multitude into which something enters, in among: 1Sam 10:22 behold he had hid himself אֶלהַֿכֵּלִים in among the baggage, Jer 4:3 sow not אֶלקֹֿצִים in among thorns.
3. Of direction towards anything:
(a) of physical acts or states, as Gen 30:40 נָתַן פְּנֵי הַצּאֹן אֶל, Gen 39:7 נָשָׂא עֵינָיו אֶל, Exod 25:20; Num 6:26, נָשָׂא פָנָיו אֶל (2Kgs 9:32 differently), 2Kgs 24:1 שָׁת פָּנָיו אֶל, Josh 8:18; Ps 28:2; 1Kgs 8:29; 1Kgs 8:30 (to pray towards) v1Kgs 8:38 pregnantly חָרֵד אֶל to tremble (turning) to Gen 42:28, תָּמַהּ אֶל to, wonder (turning) towards Gen 43:33; Isa 13:8, פָּחַד אֶל Jer 36:16: without a verb פָּנִים אֶלפָּֿנִים face to face Gen 32:31* +; פֶּה אֶלפֶּֿה Num 12:8 כִּיאֵֿינֶנּוּ אֵלַי Gen 31:5 the face of Laban, that he is not toward me; ׳אֶלפֿ ׳עֵינֵי י the eyes of ׳י are towards . . . Ps 34:16* (compare Ps 33:18).
(b) with words such as אָמַרto say to Gen 3:1 + often, דִּבֶּר Gen 8:15 + often, קָרָא Gen 19:5, הִחְפַּלֵּל Gen 20:17 etc., שָׁמַע to hearken to Gen 16:11, הִלֵּל to praise to Gen 12:15 (compare Ezek 13:19 חִלֵּל אֶל to profane to), הִזְכִּיר Ezek 40:14.
(c) with words expressing the direction of the mind, as קִוָּה to wait Ps 27:14 +; יִחַל to hope Isa 51:5 נָשָׂא נֶפֶשׁ אֶל to lift up the soul (i.e. set the desire) towards Deut 24:15; Ps 25:1 שָׂם לֵב אֶל, שָׁת to set the heart (mind) to Exod 9:21 and elsewhere; לָמַד אֶל to accustom oneself to Jer 10:2 חָרֵד אֶל to shew fear towards 2Kgs 4:13; Gen 43:30; Deut 28:32 and thy eyes כָּלוֺת אֲלֵיהֶם failing (with longing) towards them, Lam 4:17; Isa 63:15; 2Sam 3:8; 1Kgs 14:13; Ps 40:6* alone, as predicate, directed or disposed towards, Gen 3:16; Gen 4:7; 2Kgs 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hos 3:3 וְגַםאֲֿנִי אֵלָֽיִח׃ Ezek 36:9; Hag 2:17; Jer 15:1 (אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֶל).
4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against: Gen 4:8 אֶלהֶֿבֶל ׳וַיָּקָם קand Cain rose up against Abel (so 1Sam 24:8*) 1Sam 22:12; Exod 14:5; Num 32:14 with נִקְבַּץ Josh 10:6, הָלַךְ Judg 1:10; Judg 20:30 with בָּא of calamity, etc., coming to or upon any one Gen 42:21; Judg 9:57; 1Sam 2:34; 1Kgs 14:10 +; Isa 2:4; Isa 3:8 their tongue and doings are ׳אֶליֿ Isa 32:6 (לְדַבֵּר אֶל) Hos 7:15 (compare Nah 1:9) Hos 12:5* וַיָּשַׂר אֶלמַֿלְאָךְ and he strove against the angel. Here also belongs in particular the phrase הִנְנִי אֶל ֗֗֗ Behold I am against (thee, you, etc.) Nah 2:14*; Nah 3:5; Jer 21:13 (Jer 23:30-32 על) Jer 50:31; Jer 51:25; Ezek 13:8; Ezek 13:20; Ezek 21:8*; Ezek 29:10; Ezek 30:22; Ezek 34:10; Ezek 35:3; Ezek 38:3; Ezek 39:1 (Ezek 5:8; Ezek 26:3; Ezek 28:22; Ezek 29:3 על: on Ezek 36:9 see above)
5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to, as Lev 18:18 thou shalt not take אִשָּׁה אֶל אֲחוֺתָהּ a woman to, in addition to, her sister, Josh 13:22 (|| Num 31:8 על); 1Sam 14:34 at eat אֶלהַֿחָם together with the blood (1Sam 14:32 & generally עַל); 1Kgs 10:7 הוֺסִיף אֶל (generally עַל); Jer 25:26; Ezek 7:26 שְׁמוּעָה אֶל שְׁמוּעָה || (עלׅ; Ezek 44:7; Lam 3:41 let us lift up לְבָבֵנוּ אֶלכַּֿפָּ֑יִם our hearts together with the hands (compare , Qor 4:2; WAG ii. § 51 c).
6. Metaphor in regard to, concerning, on account of : thus הִתְאַבֵּל to mourn concerning 1Sam 15:35 הִנָּחֵם to repent as regards 2Sam 24:16 דָּרַשׁ to inquire 1Kgs 14:5 הִתְפַּלֵּל to pray with regard to 1Sam 1:27; 2Kgs 19:20 צָעַק to cry 2Kgs 8:3 (2Kgs 8:5 על); נֶעֳצַב be pained 1Sam 20:34 נִחַם to comfort 2Sam 10:2 more generally 1Kgs 16:13; 1Kgs 21:22 אֶלנֶֿפֶשׁ on account of, for the sake of, one's life 1Kgs 19:3; 2Kgs 7:7 (Gen 19:17 על). (עַל is more common in this sense.) And specially with verbs of saying, narrating, telling, etc. with regard to, as אָמַר Gen 20:2; Isa 29:22; Isa 37:21; Isa 37:33 +; דִּבֶּר 2Sam 7:19; Jer 40:16 b; סִפֵּר Ps 2:7; Ps 69:27* צִוָּה Isa 23:11 שָׁמַע Ezek 19:4 הַשְּׁמוּעָה אֶל the report regarding. . . 1Sam 4:19. (Not frequently, ext. in the case of אָמַר.)
7. Of rule or standard, according to (rare): אֶלפִּֿי ֗֗֗ according to the command of, Josh 15:13; Josh 17:4; Josh 21:3 (generally עַלפִּֿי); אֶלנָֿבוֺן according to what is fixed = of a certainty 1Sam 23:23; 1Sam 26:4 (see Dr): perhaps Ps 5:1*; Ps 80:1* (Ps 45:1* עַל).
8. Expressing presence at a spot, against; at, by, not merely after verbs expressing or implying motion (compare 1, Gen 24:11), as Josh 11:5 and they came and encamped together אֶלמֵֿי מֵרוֺם at the waters of Merom, 1Sam 5:4 cut off (and fallen) on to the threshold, 2Sam 2:23 and elsewhere and smote him אֶלהַֿחֹמֶשׁ in or on the belly, Deut 33:28; Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7 but also in other cases, as Josh 5:3 and he circumcised the Israelites אֶל against, at the hill of the foreskins, Josh 22:11 have built an altar אֶל גְּלִילוֺת הַיַּרְדֵּן by the districts of Jordan, Judg 12:6 & 2Sam 18:4 אֶליַֿד at the side of (elsewhere לְיַד, עַל יַד), 1Kgs 13:20 as they were sitting אֶלהַֿשֻּׁלְחָן at the table, 2Kgs 11:14 אֶלהַֿמֶּלֶךְ by the king, Jer 41:12 and found him by the great waters, etc., Jer 46:10 אֶלנְֿהַר פְּרָת by the Euphrates, Ezek 3:15; Ezek 11:11; Ezek 17:8; Ezek 31:7; Ezek 40:18; Ezek 43:3; Ezek 47:7; Ezek 48:12.
9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to: thus אֶלאַֿחֲרֵי 2Sam 5:23; 2Kgs 9:18; 2Kgs 9:19 סֹב אֶלאַֿחֲרַי turn to behind me, Zech 6:5 (where אֶל is pleonastic, probably due to clerical error; note יצא אל before & after); אֶלבֵּֿין in between Ezek 31:10; Ezek 31:14 אֵלבֵּֿינוֺת similarly Ezek 10:2 ׳אֶלמִֿבֵּית לְ to (the part) within (see below בַּיִת), in within Lev 16:15; 2Kgs 11:15 || have her forth in within the ranks; אֶלמֿוּל see מוּל; ׳אֶלמִֿנֶּגֶב לְ unto the south of Josh 15:3 ׳אֶלמִֿחוּץ לְ to the outside of Lev 4:12; Lev 4:21 +; אֶלנֹֿכַח to the front of Num 19:4 אֶלתַּֿחַת Judg 6:19; 1Kgs 8:6 and elsewhere (see below תַּחַת).
Note I. — In Gen 20:13 אֶלכָּֿלהַֿמָּקוֺם אֲשֶׁר נָבוֺא ׳שָׁמָּה אִמְרִילִֿי וג; Num 33:54 ׳אֶלאֲֿשֶׁר וג; Prov 17:8 (compare Deut 16:6); — אֶל appears to be used by a species of attraction; the idea of motion involved in the relative clause influencing illogically the beginning of the sentence and causing אֶל to be used instead of בְּ. In Deut 31:14 אֵלֵיהֶם, as pointed, can only be from אַיִל III or IV (q. v.); if the word be taken as the Pronoun with suffix (Hi Ke), אֲלֵיהֶם must be read.
Note 2. — There is a tendency in Hebrew, especially manifest in Samuel Kings Jeremiah Ezekiel, to use אֶל in the sense of עַל; sometimes אֶל being used exceptionally in a phrase or construction which regularly, and in accusative with analogy, has עַל; sometimes, the two prepositions interchanging, apparently without discrimination, in the same or parallel sentences. Thus
(a) Josh 5:14 וִיִּפֹּל אֶלפָּֿנָיו; 1Sam 13:13 אֶתמַֿמְלַכְתְּךָ אֶליִֿשְׂרָאֵל ׳הֵקִים י; 1Sam 14:34 (see below 5); 1Sam 17:3 עֹמְדִים אֶלהָֿהָר (contractee עַל Deut 11:29); Deut 19:16; 2Sam 6:3; 2Sam 20:23 (contracted 2Sam 8:16) 1Kgs 13:29; 1Kgs 18:46 (contracted 2Kgs 3:15 על) Jer 35:15; Ezek 7:18.
(b) Judg 6:37 and upon (עַל) all the earth let there be dryness, vJudg 6:39 let there be dryness on (אֶל) the fleece; 1Sam 14:10 come up עָלֵינוּ, v1Sam 14:12 come up אֵלֵינוּ; 1Sam 16; 1Sam 18:10 צָלַח אֶל, 1Sam 10:6 and elsewhere צָלַח עַל; 1Sam 25:17 evil is determined אֶלאֲֿדֹנֵינוּ וְעַל כָּלבֵּֿיתוֺ; v1Sam 25:25; 1Sam 27:10; 2Sam 2:9 וַיַּמְלִכֵהוּ אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל; 2Sam 3:29 יָחֻלוּ עַל ֗֗֗ וְאֶל ֗֗֗ 2Kgs 8:3 & 5; 2Kgs 3; Jer 19:15; Jer 25:2; Jer 26:15 ye lay innocent blood עֲלֵיכֶם וְאֶלהָֿעִיר הַזּאֹת; Jer 27:19; Jer 28:8; Jer 33:14; Jer 34:7; Jer 36:31; Jer 37:13; Jer 37:14; Ezek 18:6; Ezek 18:11 & 15; Ezek 21:12* etc. Ps 79:6 (Jer 10:25 על twice). It is probably that this interchange, at least in many cases, is not original, but due to transcribers.
Conversely, though not with the same frequency, עַל occurs where analogy would lead us to expect אֶל, or even in juxtaposition with אֶל, as 1Sam 1:10 הִתְפַּלֵּל עַל to pray to (1Sam 1:26 אֶל); v1Sam 1:13; 1Sam 25:25 אֶלעַ֗֗֗ל; 1Kgs 20:43 וַיֵּלֶךְ עַלבֵּֿיתוֺ (1Kgs 21:4 אֶל); Isa 22:15; Jer 11:2; Jer 23:35; Jer 31:12. compare DrSm i. 13, 13; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References