Lexical Definition
עֵילָם ʻÊylâm (ay-lawm') Elam N:N--L
or עוֹלָם ʻÔwlâm (o-lawm'); (Ezra 10:2; Jeremiah 49:36), probably from עָלַם; hidden, i.e. distant
Elam.
- § Elam = "eternity"
- Elam, a son of Shem and his descendants, with their country
- also of six Israelites
n pr m
1) a Korhite Levite in the time of David
2) a chief man of the tribe of Benjamin
3) ancestor of a family of exiles who returned with Zerubbabel
4) a chief of the people who signed the covenant with Nehemiah
5) another ancestor of another family of exiles who returned with Zerubbabel
6) a priest who assisted at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah
7) another head of a family of returning exiles
n pr loc
8) a province east of Babylon and northeast of the lower Tigris
See Greek: Ἐλαμίτης
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| עֵילָם֙ | Elam | Ezek.32.24 |
| O Elam | Isa.21.2 | |
| עֵילָֽם | Elam | Jer.49.36 |
| עֵילָ֜ם | Elam | Jer.49.36 |
| עֵילָ֗ם | Elam | Gen.14.9 |
| עֵילָ֖ם | Elam | Jer.49.39 |
| עֵילָ֔ם | Elam | Gen.14.1 • Jer.25.25 |
| עֵילָ֑ם | Elam | Jer.49.34 • Jer.49.35 |
| עֵ֠ילָם | Elam | Jer.49.37 |
| וּמֵעֵילָ֤ם | and from Elam | Isa.11.11 |
| וְעֵילָם֙ | and Elam | Isa.22.6 |
| בְּעֵילָ֣ם | in Elam | Dan.8.2 |
| בְּעֵילָ֑ם | in Elam | Jer.49.38 |
Extended Information
- a province east of Babylon and northeast of the lower Tigris
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. עֵילָם proper name, of a people et. terr. Elam, Αιλαμ, Ἐλαμεῖραι, well-known country and people northeast of Lower Tigris (Assyrian Elamtu DlPa 320 ff. COTGen 10:22); — as early invaders of Palestine Gen 14:1; Gen 14:9, allies of Assyr. Isa 22:6 foe of Babylon Isa 21:2 abode of dispersed Israelites Isa 11:11 prophesied against Jer 49:34; Jer 49:35; Jer 49:36 (twice in verse) (Qr, Kt עולם), vJer 49:37 vJer 49:38 vJer 49:39; Ezek 32:24, compare ׳כָּלמַֿלְכֵי ע Jer 25:25 called 'son' of Shem Gen 10:22 (P) = 1Chr 1:17 purely local designation הַמְּדִינָה ׳ע Dan 8:2.
II. עֵילָם proper name, masculine Ηλαμ, Αιλαμ:
1. heads of families of returned exiles:
a. Ezra 2:7 = Neh 7:12.
b. Ezra 2:31 = Neh 7:34.
c. Ezra 8:7; Ezra 10:2 (Qr; Kt עולם), vEzra 10:26.
2. a chief of people Neh 10:15*.
3. name in Benjamin 1Chr 8:24.
4. Levite name 1Chr 26:3.
5. a priest Neh 12:42.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 10:22 · 14:1 · 14:9 |
| 1 Chronicles | 1:17 · 8:24 · 26:3 |
| Ezra | 2:7 · 2:31 · 8:7 · 10:2 · 10:26 |
| Nehemiah | 7:12 · 7:34 · 10:15* · 12:42 |
| Isaiah | 11:11 · 21:2 · 22:6 |
| Jeremiah | 25:25 · 49:34 · 49:35 · 49:36 · 49:37 · 49:38 · 49:39 |
| Ezekiel | 32:24 |
| Daniel | 8:2 |
Profile
Elam • In Persia • Ancient kingdom east of Babylon; ally and enemy of Israel
Elam, an ancient nation east of Babylon, at times an ally and at times an enemy of Israel.
- A location in Persia first mentioned at Gen.14.1;
- referred to as Elam or Elam (=Qere. Ketiv= "for ever") עֵילָם, or Elamite עַלְמִי, or Elamite Ἐλαμίτης.
Elam was an ancient kingdom located east of Babylonia in what is now southwestern Iran. The Elamites were descendants of Shem, son of Noah (Genesis 10:22). Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, was an ally of other Mesopotamian kings who fought against Sodom and Gomorrah and took Lot captive before being defeated by Abraham (Genesis 14:1-16).
The Elamites were skilled archers (Isaiah 22:6) and were sometimes allies of Israel's enemies. Elamite kings are mentioned in Assyrian records of campaigns against Judah. The prophets Isaiah (11:11, 21:2, 22:6) and Jeremiah (25:25, 49:34-39) foretold Elam's conquest by the Babylonians and Medes as part of God's judgment.
However, Jeremiah also prophesied Elam's restoration in the latter days (49:39). Some Elamites were present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:9). Nehemiah's opponents included a man named Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab (Nehemiah 2:19, 6:1), possibly indicating alliances between Elam and Israel's neighbors. The references to Elam in Daniel 8:2 suggest the province maintained some importance during the Persian period.