English · KJV
H692

אַרְאֵלִי

ʼArʼêlîy /ar-ay-lee'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom אֶרְאֵל
Meaningheroic; Areli (or an Arelite, collectively), an Israelite and his descendants
KJV usageAreli, Arelites.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼArʼêlîy — 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 ʼArʼêlîy, represented by H692, is a proper name meaning heroic. It is used to identify both an Israelite individual named Areli and his descendants, the Arelites. This term appears 3 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, functioning primarily within genealogical records to establish a specific family line.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H692 first appears in a list of Jacob's descendants. Areli is named as one of the sons H1121 of Gad H1410, who traveled into Egypt Genesis 46:16. Later, in a census of the tribes of Israel, the name is used to designate a specific clan. The text identifies "the family H4940 of the Arelites" as descendants of the individual Areli, solidifying their place within the tribe of Gad Numbers 26:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help establish the context of Areli's lineage:

  • H1410 Gâd: This is the name of Areli's father, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Areli is part of the tribe and territory of Gad Genesis 46:16.
  • H1121 bên (son): This word defines Areli's relationship to Gad. As a son, he is a "builder of the family name," which is demonstrated by his descendants becoming a recognized family group Genesis 46:16.
  • H4940 mishpâchâh (family): This term describes the collective descendants of Areli, the "Arelites." It signifies a circle of relatives that extends to form a tribe or people Numbers 26:17.
  • H722 ʼĂrôwdîy (Arodi): This identifies Areli's brother, who is listed beside him in the genealogy of Gad's sons Genesis 46:16. His descendants, the Arodites, are also listed as a distinct family alongside the Arelites Numbers 26:17.

Theological Significance

The significance of H692 is rooted in its contribution to biblical genealogy and covenant identity.

  • Tribal Lineage: The name Areli and the subsequent "Arelites" are crucial for documenting the structure of the tribes of Israel. They represent a specific family H4940 within the tribe of Gad, underscoring the importance of ancestry in the Old Testament Numbers 26:17.
  • Covenant Heritage: As a descendant of Gad H1410, Areli is part of the covenant people of Israel. His inclusion in the genealogies confirms his family's portion and identity within the nation descended from Jacob.
  • A "Heroic" Name: The definition of ʼArʼêlîy is "heroic." While the texts do not record specific heroic acts, the name itself bestows this characteristic upon the individual and his lineage, embedding it within the tribal records.

Summary

In summary, H692 serves a precise and important role as a genealogical marker. It identifies Areli as a son H1121 of Gad H1410 and then establishes the Arelites as a distinct family H4940 unit. Though its appearances are few, the name ʼArʼêlîy is a clear example of how individual names form the building blocks of clans and tribes, preserving the detailed heritage of the people 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 3 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.

  • אַרְאֵלִי
  • אַרְאֵלִי

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.

H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H1410 גָּד from גּוּד; Gad, a son of Jacob, including his tribe and its territory; also a prophet; Gad. H4940 מִשְׁפָּחָה from שָׁפָה (compare שִׁפְחָה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of an H722 אֲרוֹדִי patronymic from אַרְוָדִי; an Arodite or descendant of Arod; Arodi, Arodites.

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 Genesis and Numbers (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Genesis
1
Numbers

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.