(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el}); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. Near, with or among; often in general, to -- about, according to,after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).
H413. el
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), in poetry אֱלֵי (compare עֲדֵי עֲלֵי,), but only in Job ( 1 Samuel 3:22; 1 Samuel 5:26; 1 Samuel 15:22; 1 Samuel 29:19), with suffix אֵלַיִךְ אֵלֶיךָ, אֵלַי,, etc. אֲלֵיכֶם אֵלֵינוּ, & (5 t.) אֲלֵיהֶם אֲלֵכֶם, & אֲלֵהֶם (both very often); once אֵלֵימוֺ Psalm 2:5, אֲלֵיהֶן, once אֲלֵהֶן Exodus 1:19 (Assyrian ilî, Arabic ),
preposition denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).
1 of motion to or unto a person or place Genesis 2:19, 22; 3:19; 8:9; 14:22; 16:9 etc., after every kind of verb expressing motion (יָצָא הָלַךְ, בּוֺא, etc.) So with נָתַן to give (though ל is here more common) 21:14; 35:4; Deuteronomy 13:2 +; מָכַר to sell Deut 37:36, etc. Metaph. Jeremiah 2:19 אֵלַיִךְ פַחְדָּתִי וְלֹא and that my fear (cometh) not unto thee (compare Job 31:23). — Peculiarly Genesis 6:16 אַמָּה אֶל unto the length of a cubit, etc. And metaphor in the phrase אֶלֿ(אֱלֵיֿ)גִּיל unto exultation Hosea 9:11; Job 3:22. Once, exceptionally (si vera 1.) = even: 5:5 יִקָּחֵהוּ וְאֶלמִֿצִּגִּים and even out of thorns he taketh it. Sometimes pregnant, as Isaiah 66:17; Jeremiah 41:7 אֶל זָנָה commit whoredom (by going) to Numbers 25:1; Ezekiel 16:26, 28, 29; אֶל דָּרֵשׁ seek (by resorting) to one (that is, for oracles) Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 8:19; 11:10 +; אֶל חָבַר join together (& come) unto Genesis 14:3; אֶל הִשְׁכִּים rise early (and go) to 19:27; 24:11 אֶל הִבְרִיח made to kneel down at; 47:18 אֶל תַּם i.e. has been made over to; אֶל מָּחַד to come in fear to Hosea 3:5; Micah 7:17. Opposite is מִן, as אֶלהַֿקָּצֶה מִןהַֿקָּצֶה from end to end Exodus 26:28; אֶלמֶּֿה מִמֶּה Ezra 9:11 (synonym 2 Kings 21:16 לָפֶה מֶּה). And of time (rare) אֶלעֵֿת מֵעֵת 1 Chronicles 9:25; אֶליֿוֺם מִיּוֺם Numbers 30:15 (P) 1 Chronicles 16:23 (in the "" Psalm 96:2 לְיוֺם מִיּוֺם).
2 Where the limit is actually entered, into, Genesis 6:18 and thou shalt enter into the ark 7:1; 19:3; 41:21; 42:17; & so after verbs of throwing, casting, putting 37:22 (הִשְׁלִיךְ) 39:20 הַסֹּהַר אֶלבֵּֿית וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ put him into the prison house, Exodus 28:30 (Leviticus 8:8) Deuteronomy 23:25; so after קָבַר to bury Genesis 23:19; 25:9; 49:29; שָׂחַט to squeeze 40:11; מָחָה to blot out Numbers 5:23, etc.; metaphor Genesis 6:6 was pained into or unto his heart, הֵשִׁיב אֶללֵֿב, שָׂם to place, bring. into ( = lay to) heart Deuteronomy 4:39; 2 Samuel 19:20 and elsewhere In connection with a number or multitude into which something enters, in among: 1 Samuel 10:22 behold he had hid himself אֶלהַֿכֵּלִים in among the baggage, Jeremiah 4:3 sow not אֶלקֹֿצִים in among thorns.
3 Of direction towards anything: (a) of physical acts or states, as Genesis 30:40 אֶל הַצּאֹן מְּנֵי נָתַן, 39:7 אֶל עֵינָיו נָשָׂא, Exodus 25:20; Numbers 6:26, אֶל פָנָיו נָשָׂא (2 Kings 9:32 differently), 24:1 אֶל מָּנָיו שָׁת, Joshua 8:18; Psalm 28:2; 1 Kings 8:29-30, (to pray towards) 8:38; pregnantly אֶל חָרֵד to tremble (turning) to Genesis 42:28, אֶל תָּמַהּ to, wonder (turning) towards 43:33; Isaiah 13:8, אֶל מָּחַד Jeremiah 36:16: without a verb אֶלמָּֿנִים מָּנִים face to face Genesis 32:31 +; אֶלמֶּֿה מֶּה Numbers 12:8; אֵלַי כִּיאֵֿינֶנּוּ Genesis 31:5 the face of Laban, that he is not toward me; י ׳עֵינֵי ׳אֶלפֿ the eyes of ׳י are towards . . . Psalm 34:16 (compare 33:18). (b) with words such as אָמַרto say to Genesis 3:1 + often, דִּבֶּר 8:15 + often, קָרָא 19:5, הִחְמַּלֵּל 20:17 etc., שָׁמַע to hearken to 16:11, הִלֵּל to praise to 12:15 (compare Ezekiel 13:19 אֶל חִלֵּל to profane to), הִזְכִּיר 40:14. (c) with words expressing the direction of the mind, as קִוָּה to wait Psalm 27:14 +; יִחַל to hope Isaiah 51:5; אֶל נֶפֶשׁ נָשָׂא to lift up the soul (i.e. set the desire) towards Deuteronomy 24:15; Psalm 25:1; שָׁת אֶל, לֵב שָׂם to set the heart (mind) to Exodus 9:21 and elsewhere; אֶל לָמַד to accustom oneself to Jeremiah 10:2; אֶל חָרֵד to shew fear towards 2 Kings 4:13; Genesis 43:30; Deuteronomy 28:32 and thy eyes אֲלֵיהֶם כָּלוֺת failing (with longing) towards them, Lamentations 4:17; Isaiah 63:15; 2 Samuel 3:8; 1 Kings 14:13; Psalm 40:6; alone, as predicate, directed or disposed towards, Genesis 3:16; 4:7; 2 Kings 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hosea 3:3 אֵלָֽיִח׃ וְגַםאֲֿנִי Ezekiel 36:9; Haggai 2:17; Jeremiah 15:1 (אֶל נַפְשִׁי אֵין).
4 Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against: Genesis 4:8 ק ׳וַיָּקָם אֶלהֶֿבֶלand Cain rose up against Abel (so 1 Samuel 24:8) 22:12; Exodus 14:5; Numbers 32:14; with נִקְבַּץ Joshua 10:6, הָלַךְ Judges 1:10; 20:30; with בָּא of calamity, etc., coming to or upon any one Genesis 42:21; Judges 9:57; 1 Samuel 2:34; 1 Kings 14:10 +; Isaiah 2:4; 3:8 their tongue and doings are ׳אֶליֿ 32:6 (אֶל לְדַבֵּר) Hosea 7:15 (compare Nahum 1:9) Hosea 12:5 אֶלמַֿלְאָךְ וַיָּשַׂר and he strove against the angel. Here also belongs in particular the phrase ֗֗֗ אֶל הִנְנִי Behold I am against (thee, you, etc.) Nahum 2:14; Nahum 3:5; Jeremiah 21:13 (23:30-32 על) 50:31; 51:25; Ezekiel 13:8, 20; 21:8; 29:10; 30:22; 34:10; 35:3; 38:3; 39:1 (5:8; 26:3; 28:22; 29:3 על: on 36:9 see above)
5 Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to, as Leviticus 18:18 thou shalt not take אֲחוֺתָהּ אֶל אִשָּׁה a woman to, in addition to, her sister, Joshua 13:22 ("" Numbers 31:8 על); 1 Samuel 14:34 at eat אֶלהַֿחָם together with the blood (14:32 & Generally עַל); 1 Kings 10:7 אֶל הוֺסִיף (generally עַל); Jeremiah 25:26; Ezekiel 7:26 שְׁמוּעָה אֶל שְׁמוּעָה "" (עלׅ; 44:7; Lamentations 3:41 let us lift up אֶלכַּֿמָּ֑יִם לְבָבֵנוּ our hearts together with the hands (compare , Qor 4:2; WAG ii. § 51 c).
6 Metaphor in regard to, concerning, on account of : thus הִתְאַבֵּל to mourn concerning 1 Samuel 15:35; הִנָּחֵם to repent as regards 2 Samuel 24:16; דָּרַשׁ to inquire 1 Kings 14:5 הִתְמַּלֵּל to pray with regard to 1 Samuel 1:27; 2 Kings 19:20; צָעַק to cry 8:3 (8:5 על); נֶעֳצַב be pained 1 Samuel 20:34; נִחַם to comfort 2 Samuel 10:2; more Generally 1 Kings 16:13; 21:22; אֶלנֶֿפֶשׁ on account of, for the sake of, one's life 19:3; 2 Kings 7:7 (Genesis 19:17 על). (עַל is more common in this sense.) And specially with verbs of saying, narrating, telling, etc. with regard to, as אָמַר 20:2; Isaiah 29:22; 37:21, 33 +; דִּבֶּר 2 Samuel 7:19; Jeremiah 40:16 b; סִמֵּר Psalm 2:7; 69:27; צִוָּה Isaiah 23:11; שָׁמַע Ezekiel 19:4; אֶל הַשְּׁמוּעָה the report regarding. . . 1 Samuel 4:19. (Not frequently, ext. in the case of אָמַר.)
7 Of rule or standard, according to (rare): ֗֗֗ אֶלמִּֿי according to the command of, Joshua 15:13; 17:4; 21:3 (generally עַלמִּֿי); אֶלנָֿבוֺן according to what is fixed = of a certainty 1 Samuel 23:23; 26:4 (see Dr): perhaps Psalm 5:1; 80:1 (45:1 עַל).
8 Expressing presence at a spot, against; at, by, not merely after verbs expressing or implying motion (compare 1, Genesis 24:11), as Joshua 11:5 and they came and encamped together מֵרוֺם אֶלמֵֿי at the waters of Merom, 1 Samuel 5:4 cut off (and fallen) on to the threshold, 2 Samuel 2:23 and elsewhere and smote him אֶלהַֿחֹמֶשׁ in or on the belly, Deuteronomy 33:28; Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7; but also in other cases, as Joshua 5:3 and he circumcised the Israelites אֶל against, at the hill of the foreskins, 22:11 have built an altar הַיַּרְדֵּן גְּלִילוֺת אֶל by the districts of Jordan, Judges 12:6; 2 Samuel 3:32, 14:30 & 18:4 אֶליַֿד at the side of (elsewhere יַד עַל לְיַד,), 1 Kings 13:20 as they were sitting אֶלהַֿשֻּׁלְחָן at the table, 2 Kings 11:14 אֶלהַֿמֶּלֶךְ by the king, Jeremiah 41:12 and found him by the great waters, etc., 46:10 מְּרָת אֶלנְֿהַר by the Euphrates, Ezekiel 3:15; 11:11; 17:8; 31:7; 40:18; 43:3; 47:7; 48:12.
9 Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to: thus אֶלאַֿחֲרֵי 2 Samuel 5:23; 2 Kings 9:18-19, אֶלאַֿחֲרַי סֹב turn to behind me, Zechariah 6:5 (where אֶל is pleonastic, probably due to clerical error; note אל יצא before & after); אֶלבֵּֿין in between Ezekiel 31:10, 14; אֵלבֵּֿינוֺת similarly 10:2; לְ ׳אֶלמִֿבֵּית to (the part) within (see below בַּיִת), in within Leviticus 16:15; 2 Kings 11:15 "" have her forth in within the ranks; אֶלמֿוּל see מוּל; לְ ׳אֶלמִֿנֶּגֶב unto the south of Joshua 15:3; לְ ׳אֶלמִֿחוּץ to the outside of Leviticus 4:12, 21 +; אֶלנֹֿכַח to the front of Numbers 19:4; אֶלתַּֿחַת Judges 6:19; 1 Kings 8:6 and elsewhere (see below תַּחַת).
Note I. — In Genesis 20:13 וג אִמְרִילִֿי ׳שָׁמָּה נָבוֺא אֲשֶׁר אֶלכָּֿלהַֿמָּקוֺם; Numbers 33:54 וג ׳אֶלאֲֿשֶׁר; Proverbs 17:8 (compare Deuteronomy 16:6); — אֶל appears to be used by a species of attraction; the idea of motion involved in the relative clause influencing illogically the beginning of the sentence and causing אֶל to be used instead of בְּ. In 31:14 אֵלֵיהֶם, as pointed, can only be from אַיִל III or IV (q. v.); if the word be taken as the Pronoun with suffix (Hi Ke), אֲלֵיהֶם must be read.
Note 2. — There is a tendency in Hebrew, especially manifest in Samuel Kings Jeremiah Ezekiel, to use אֶל in the sense of עַל; sometimes אֶל being used exceptionally in a phrase or construction which regularly, and in accusative with analogy, has עַל; sometimes, the two prepositions interchanging, apparently without discrimination, in the same or parallel sentences. Thus (a) Joshua 5:14 אֶלמָּֿנָיו וִיִּמֹּל; 1 Samuel 13:13 י ׳הֵקִים אֶליִֿשְׂרָאֵל אֶתמַֿמְלַכְתְּךָ; 14:34 (see below 5); 17:3 אֶלהָֿהָר עֹמְדִים (contractee עַל Deuteronomy 11:29); 19:16; 2 Samuel 6:3; 20:23 (contracted 8:16) 1 Kings 13:29; 18:46 (contracted 2 Kings 3:15 על) Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 7:18. (b) Judges 6:37 and upon (עַל) all the earth let there be dryness, 6:39 let there be dryness on (אֶל) the fleece; 1 Samuel 14:10 come up עָלֵינוּ, 14:12 come up אֵלֵינוּ; 16:23 & 16; 16:13 & 18:10 אֶל צָלַח, 10:6 and elsewhere עַל צָלַח; 25:17 evil is determined כָּלבֵּֿיתוֺ וְעַל אֶלאֲֿדֹנֵינוּ; 25:25; 27:10; 2 Samuel 2:9 וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל אֶל וַיַּמְלִכֵהוּ; 3:29 ֗֗֗ וְאֶל ֗֗֗ עַל יָחֻלוּ 2 Kings 8:3 & 5; 9:6 & 3; Jeremiah 19:15; 25:2; 26:15 ye lay innocent blood הַזּאֹת וְאֶלהָֿעִיר עֲלֵיכֶם; 27:19; 28:8; 33:14; 34:7; 36:31; 37:13-14, Ezekiel 18:6, 11 & 15; 21:12 etc. Psalm 79:6 (Jeremiah 10:25 על twice). It is probably that this interchange, at least in many cases, is not original, but due to transcribers.
Conversely, though not with the same frequency, עַל occurs where analogy would lead us to expect אֶל, or even in juxtaposition with אֶל, as 1 Samuel 1:10 עַל הִתְמַּלֵּל to pray to (1:26 אֶל); 1:13; 25:25 אֶלעַ֗֗֗ל; 1 Kings 20:43 עַלבֵּֿיתוֺ וַיֵּלֶךְ (21:4 אֶל); Isaiah 22:15; Jeremiah 11:2; 23:35; 31:12. compare DrSm i. 13, 13; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.