Lexical Definition

‎אֱלִיל‎ ʼĕlîyl (el-eel') idol ^H:N-M
apparently from ‎אַל‎

idol, no value, thing of nought.

• good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity
• specifically an idol

1) of nought, good for nothing, worthless
1a) of physicians, a shepherd, a divination
1b) of false gods

See Greek: βδέλυγμα · δαιμόνιον · εἴδωλον · θεός · κακός · μάταιος · χειροποίητος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֱלִיל‎ noun masculine (etymology uncertain: most probably akin to Syriac weak, feeble, poor; perhaps also in usage [compare b] felt to suggest ‎אַל‎ not; compare Che on Isa 2:8) insufficiency, worthlessness.
a. Zech 11:17 ‎רֹעִי הָאֱלִיל‎ the shepherd of worthlessness = the worthless shepherd, Job 13:4 ‎רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל‎ worthless physicians (|| ‎טֹפְלֵישֶֿׁקֶר‎), Jer 14:14 Qr concrete a thing nought (uttered by prophets), but here ‎קֶסֶם אֱלִיל‎ a worthless divin. (|| ‎חֲזוֺן שֶׁקֶר‎, ‎תַּרְמִית לִבָּם‎) should perhaps be read (compare Gf).
b. especially plural ‎אֱלִילִים‎ concrete worthless gods, idols (compare ‎הֲבָלִים‎) (possibly originally an independent word = gods, compare Sabean ‎אלאלת‎, & see Nö^{SBAk 1882, p. 1191}, but even if so, associated by the prophets with idea of worthlessness, & used by them in iron. contrast with ‎אֵלִים‎, ‎אֱלֹהִים‎) Lev 19:4 (not to be made) Lev 26:1 (both H), Isa 2:8; Isa 2:18; Isa 2:20 (twice in verse) (of silver & gold), Isa 10:10 ‎מַמְלְכוֺת הָאֱלִיל‎ (collective) kingdoms of idolatrous worthlessness, vIsa 10:11; Isa 19:1; Isa 19:3 (of Egypt) Isa 31:7 (twice in verse); Ezek 30:13 (Egypt), Hab 2:18 ‎אִלְּמִים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ dumb idols, Ps 96:5 ( = 1Chr 16:26) all the gods of the nations are ‎׳‎‎א‎ vain, worthless gods 1Chr 97:7.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References