### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The word **ēlí**, represented by `{{G2241}}`, is a transliteration of a Hebrew term meaning **my God**. It appears just **2 times** in **1 unique verse** in the scriptures. Its profound significance comes from its singular, powerful context: a cry from Jesus on the cross.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{G2241}}` is in [[Matthew 27:46]]. At the ninth hour, **Jesus** `{{G2424}}` **cried** `{{G310}}` with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?". The verse itself provides the immediate translation: "My **God**, my **God**, why hast thou forsaken **me**?". The repetition of **ēlí** emphasizes the intensity of this appeal to God in a moment of extreme anguish.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are found within the same cry, providing a complete picture of this moment:
* `{{G2316}}` **theós** (a deity, especially... the supreme Divinity): This is the Greek word used to translate **ēlí**, clarifying that Jesus is calling out to **God** [[Matthew 27:46]].
* `{{G2982}}` **lamá** (lama (i.e. why)): This word follows **ēlí** in the phrase, forming the question part of the cry [[Matthew 27:46]].
* `{{G4518}}` **sabachtháni** (thou hast left me; sabachthani... a cry of distress): This completes the phrase, expressing the feeling of abandonment that prompted the cry to God [[Matthew 27:46]].
* `{{G2424}}` **Iēsoûs** (Jesus..., the name of our Lord): The one who utters the cry, placing this expression of deep suffering at the center of his experience on the cross [[Matthew 27:46]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G2241}}` is derived entirely from its context in [[Matthew 27:46]].
* **A Personal Appeal:** By crying "**ēlí**," translated as "My **God**," Jesus makes a deeply personal address to **God** `{{G2316}}`, affirming a relationship even while expressing feelings of being forsaken.
* **The Cry of Dereliction:** The term is the beginning of a phrase that articulates a profound sense of abandonment. It is spoken by **Jesus** `{{G2424}}` and is explicitly defined as a cry of distress `{{G4518}}` meaning "why hast thou forsaken **me** `{{G3165}}`?" [[Matthew 27:46]].
* **A Moment of Shared Language:** The use of the original Hebrew/Aramaic words **ēlí**, **lamá** `{{G2982}}`, and **sabachtháni** `{{G4518}}` preserves the raw emotion of the moment before being interpreted for the reader.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G2241}}` is a rare term whose immense impact comes from its exclusive use in a single, crucial event. As the opening to Jesus' cry "My **God**, my **God**, why hast thou forsaken **me**?" [[Matthew 27:46]], **ēlí** is not just a name for God; it is a profound expression of relationship and suffering, capturing a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative.
TRV