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.
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.
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.
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.
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