Lexical Definition
אֱלִיאָב ʼĔlîyʼâb (el-ee-awb') Eliab N:N-M-P
from אֵל and אָב; God of (his) father
Eliab.
- § Eliab = "my God is father" or "God is father"
- Eliab, the name of six Israelites
1) son of Helon, leader of Zebulun in the wilderness
2) a Reubenite chief, father of Dathan and Abiram
3) David's oldest brother
4) a Levite musician
5) a Gadite warrior for David
6) a Kohathite
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| אֱלִיאָב֙ | Eliab | 1Sam.17.28 |
| אֱלִיאָ֨ב | Eliab | 1Sam.17.28 |
| אֱלִיאָ֣ב | Eliab | 1Sam.17.13 |
| אֱלִיאָ֖ב | Eliab | 2Chr.11.18 |
| אֱלִיאָ֑ב | Eliab | 1Sam.16.6 • 1Chr.2.13 |
Extended Information
- A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.16.6
- son of: Jesse (יִשַׁי)
- brother of: David (דָּוִד), Abinadab (אֲבִינָדָב), Shimeah (שִׁמְעָה), Nethanel (נְתַנְאֵל), Raddai (רַדַּי), Ozem (אֹצֶם), Zeruiah (צְרוּיָה), Abigail (אֲבִיגַיִל) and Elihu (אֱלִיהוּ)
- father of: Abihail (אֲבִיהַיִל)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֱלִיאָב proper name, masculine (God is father, compare אֲבִיאֵל)
a. prince of Zebulon Num 1:9; Num 2:7; Num 7:24; Num 7:29; Num 10:16.
b. prince of Reuben Num 16:1; Num 16:12; Num 26:8; Num 26:9; Deut 11:6.
c. brother of David 1Sam 16:6; 1Sam 17:3; 1Sam 17:28 (twice in verse); 1Chr 2:13; 2Chr 11:18 (compare אֱלִיהוּ 1Chr 27:18).
d. a Kohathite 1Chr 6:12* = אֱלִיאֵל v.1Chr 6:19* compare אֱלִיהוּ 1Sam 1:1.
e. a Gadite 1Chr 12:9*. feminine Levite singer 1Chr 15:18; 1Chr 15:20; 1Chr 16:5.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Numbers | 1:9 · 2:7 · 7:24 · 7:29 · 10:16 · 16:1 · 16:12 · 26:8 · 26:9 |
| Deuteronomy | 11:6 |
| 1 Samuel | 1:1 · 16:6 · 17:3 · 17:28 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:13 · 6:12* · 6:19* · 12:9* · 15:18 · 15:20 · 16:5 · 27:18 |
| 2 Chronicles | 11:18 |
Profile
Male • David's brother • Eldest brother of King David
David's brother living at the time of United Monarchy
Eliab was the eldest brother of King David and the son of Jesse.
- David's brother from the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.16.6;
- only referred to as Eliab אֱלִיאָב;
- son of Jesse יִשַׁי;
- a brother of David דָּוִד, Abinadab אֲבִינָדָב, Shimeah שִׁמְעָה, Nethanel נְתַנְאֵל, Raddai רַדַּי, Ozem אֹצֶם, Zeruiah צְרוּיָה, Abigail אֲבִיגַיִל and Elihu אֱלִיהוּ;
- father of Abihail אֲבִיהַיִל.
Eliab, mentioned in 1 Samuel 16:6; 17:13,28; 1 Chronicles 2:13; and 2 Chronicles 11:18, was the eldest son of Jesse and the brother of King David. When the prophet Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the future king, Eliab was the first to pass before him. However, God instructed Samuel not to judge by appearance, as He had not chosen Eliab (1 Samuel 16:6-7). Eliab, along with his brothers, served in Saul's army during the battle against the Philistines. When David visited the camp, Eliab rebuked him, accusing him of neglecting their father's sheep out of pride and curiosity (1 Samuel 17:28). Despite this tension, Eliab witnessed David's victory over Goliath and his rise to prominence in Israel. Eliab's daughter, Abihail, later married King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon (2 Chronicles 11:18), indicating a continued connection between the families.
All entries for Eliab: אֱלִיאָב