English · KJV
H5866

עִילַי

ʻÎylay /ee-lah'-ee/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom עָלָה
Meaningelevated; Ilai, an Israelite
KJV usageIlai.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻÎylay — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻÎylay, represented by H5866, is defined as elevated. It is used as a proper name for an Israelite, Ilai. This name appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire biblical record, marking it as a highly specific reference. The meaning itself suggests a theme of prominence or being lifted up.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single biblical context for H5866 is a genealogical list. The name appears in the book of Chronicles, where the text states, "Ilai the Ahohite" 1 Chronicles 11:29. In this verse, he is named as part of a group that includes Sibbecai the Hushathite. This placement firmly situates Ilai within a roster of notable men from Israelite history.

Related Words & Concepts

The mention of Ilai connects him to other significant names and family descriptors within the same verse:

  • H5444 Çibbᵉkay (Sibbecai): The name of the man listed with Ilai, meaning copse-like. He is identified as an Israelite captain in David's army who fought against the Philistines and their giants (1 Chronicles 20:4, 1 Chronicles 27:11).
  • H2843 Chushâthîy (Hushathite): The patronymic of Sibbecai, identifying him as a descendant of Chushah.
  • H266 ʼĂchôwchîy (Ahohite): This is Ilai's own patronymic, designating him as a descendant of Achoach. The Ahohites were a family that produced several of David's mighty men 2 Samuel 23:9.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5866 is not found in extensive doctrine but in its inclusion and meaning.

  • Honorable Remembrance: Ilai's inclusion in the biblical record, though brief, signifies his place in the preserved history of Israel. It serves as a testament to the individuals who constituted the nation's strength.
  • Elevated Status: The name's definition, elevated, aligns with Ilai's position as an Ahohite, a family associated with mighty warriors 1 Chronicles 11:29. This suggests an honored status granted through service and lineage.
  • Corporate Identity: Ilai is mentioned as part of a group, not for an isolated accomplishment. This underscores the biblical value of community and the collective identity of those who served together.

Summary

In summary, H5866 ʻÎylay is the proper name Ilai, meaning elevated. Its sole appearance in scripture is within a list of distinguished Israelites 1 Chronicles 11:29, where he is identified as an Ahohite. While not the subject of a larger narrative, the name's inclusion and meaning point to a life of honor and a recognized position within the community of Israel.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • עִילַי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5444 סִבְּכַי from סָבַךְ; copse-like; Sibbecai, an Israelite; Sibbecai, Sibbechai. H2843 חֻשָׁתִי patronymically from חוּשָׁה; a Chushathite or descendant of Chushah; Hushathite. H266 אֲחוֹחִי patronymic from אַחֲוָה; an Achochite or descendant of Achoach; Ahohite.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in 1 Chronicles — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.