English · KJV
H5942

עִלִּי

ʻillîy /il-lee'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom עָלָה
Meaninghigh; i.e. comparative
KJV usageupper.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻillîy — 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 ʻillîy, represented by H5942, is a comparative term meaning high or upper. It appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses, making its usage very specific. Derived from a root word meaning "high," its primary function is to distinguish something as being in a higher position relative to something else.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

Both occurrences of H5942 are found in the same narrative, recounting a request for water. Having been given a south H5045 land H776, a woman asks for a blessing H1293 of springs H1543 of water H4325. In response, she is given "the upper springs, and the nether springs" Joshua 15:19. This event is restated in Judges, where Caleb H3612 gave her the upper springs and the nether H8482 springs Judges 1:15. The word is used here in a literal, geographical sense to describe the location of the gifted water sources.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the meaning of ʻillîy:

  • H8482 tachtîy (lowermost): This word is the direct counterpart to ʻillîy in both of its appearances. It establishes a clear contrast between the "upper" and "nether" springs, emphasizing the completeness of the gift (Joshua 15:19, Judges 1:15).
  • H1543 gullâh (springs): This is the noun that ʻillîy modifies. Defined as a fountain or bowl, it refers to the water sources that were so vital. The distinction between upper and nether springs H1543 highlights the value of this resource Joshua 15:19.
  • H5045 negeb (south): This term provides the critical context for the request. The land given was a south land, a region known for being parched. This explains the need for both upper H5942 and nether water springs Judges 1:15.

Theological Significance

While not a major theological term, the use of H5942 illustrates several important principles:

  • Generous Provision: The granting of both upper H5942 and nether H8482 springs in response to a request for a blessing demonstrates an act of great generosity. It fulfilled the need for water completely by providing sources from different elevations Joshua 15:19.
  • Value of Land and Water: The specific mention of upper springs underscores the immense value of water resources in a dry region like the south H5045. This gift was not just land, but sustainable, life-giving land with secure water sources, a true blessing H1293 as requested Judges 1:15.
  • Literal and Specific Language: The word ʻillîy shows how biblical Hebrew is used for precise, practical description. Its use in a geographical context highlights the importance of physical inheritance and the specific details involved in the division of the land H776.

Summary

In summary, H5942 ʻillîy is a focused term for "upper" used exclusively in a comparative sense. Its two biblical appearances in Joshua 15:19 and Judges 1:15 are in a single story, where it describes the location of springs of water. Paired with its opposite, "nether" H8482, it highlights the generosity of a gift that provided for a critical need in a parched land. Though its usage is rare, it offers a clear example of the practical and descriptive nature of the Hebrew language in recording matters of inheritance and provision.

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 an adjective across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — 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.

  • עִלִּיּוֹת
  • עִלִּית

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.

H5045 נֶגֶב from an unused root meaning to be parched; the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of H776 אֶרֶץ from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, e H1293 בְּרָכָה from בָרַךְ; benediction; by implication prosperity; blessing, liberal, pool, present. H1543 גֻּלָּה feminine from גָּלַל; a fountain, bowl or globe (all as round); bowl, pommel, spring. H4325 מַיִם dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase H3612 כָּלֵב perhaps a form of כֶּלֶב, or else from the same root in the sense of forcible; Caleb, the name of three Israelites; Cale

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

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Joshua and Judges (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Joshua
1
Judges

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.