Eli
Eli [1]
( אֵַלי , an old form of the "construct state" of אֵל , the Mighty, i.e., Almighty, the union vowel I being used as in Abi-, Ahi- etc.) often occurs as the first element of proper names (comp. Elihu, Elijah, and many others here following), as referring to the highest notion of the Deity among the Shemitic races. As such epithet it is sometimes interchangeable with BAAL (See Baal) - (q.v.) (see 2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Chronicles 14:7), or even JEHO (See Jeho) - (q.v.) (see 2 Kings 23:34). This constructive form is also sometimes interchanged with the abbreviation of the simple אל into אלאּ ( 1 Chronicles 3:6; 1 Chronicles 14:5; compare Exodus 6:22; Numbers 3:30), or it even exchanges places with the other element of the name, e.g. Eliam ( 2 Samuel 11:3) becomes Ammiel ( 1 Chronicles 3:5). As in the words beginning with Abi-, Ahi-, etc., this element often melts into the other member, not strictly in a genitive sense, but as a sort of liturgical invocation or eulogium of the Deity, as is found to be the case with similar names used as religious formulae, especially among the ancient Phoenicians ((See Elhanan).)
