Numbers 23:8:5Num.23.8.W5TAB

אֵ֑ל

el

God

Transliteration
EL
Extended
EEL
IPA
/ˈʔeːl/

Meaning by language

English
God

Alphabet Analysis

Alephsilent — a glottal stop; holds vowel points
Tserelong 'ey' as in they
Lamedl as in law

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Vowels (Niqqud)

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The word

Word in context

  1. word

    EL

  2. clause

    MAH e-KOV LO ka-VO EL

  3. sentence

    MAH e-KOV LO ka-VO EL u-MAH ez-OM LO za-AM Ye-ho-VAH

Exegesis

The alternating divine names ʾēl {אֵל | ʾēl} and YHWH {יְהוָה | Yə-hō-wāh} in corresponding clauses underline that both cursing and denouncing originate entirely in the divine will. The English rendering preserves the Hebrew’s interrogative parallel structure, highlighting that cursing or denouncing apart from divine initiative is impossible.

Root and etymology

ʾ-l-haleph-lamed-het

mighty one, God

In contextNumbers 23:8

How can I curse those whom God has not cursed ? Or how can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?

About this coordinate

Numbers 23:8:5 is a BCV:P reference — Book · Chapter · Verse · Word Position. It addresses word 5 of Numbers 23:8, so the Hebrew word אֵ֑ל (el) can be cited, linked and studied at exactly this position rather than somewhere in the verse. In the Biblical Knowledge Coordinate System the same position is written Num.23.8.W5, which extends further down to each syllable (Num.23.8.W5.S1) and character.