Eli (3)
Eli-
(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 2Sa 5:16; 1Ch 14:7), or even JEHO SEE JEHO - (q.v.) (see 2Ki 23:34). This constructive form is also sometimes interchanged with the abbreviation of the simple אל into אלאּ (1Ch 3:6; 1Ch 14:5; compare Ex 6:22; Nu 3:30), or it even exchanges places with the other element of the name, e.g. Eliam (2Sa 11:3) becomes Ammiel (1Ch 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).
