אֶל
Brown-Driver-Briggs
),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; Genesis 3:19; Genesis 8:9; Genesis 14:22; Genesis 16:9 etc., after every kind of verb expressing motion (בּוֺא, הָלַךְ, יָצָא etc.) So with נָתַן to give (though ל is here more common) Genesis 21:14; Genesis 35:4; Deuteronomy 13:2 +; מָכַר to sell Deut 37:36, etc. Metaph. Jeremiah 2:19 וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ and that my fear (cometh) not unto thee (compare Job 31:23). — Peculiarly Genesis 6:16 אֶל אַמָּה 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: Job 5:5 וְאֶלמִֿצִּגִּים יִקָּחֵהוּ and even out of thorns he taketh it. Sometimes pregnant, as Isaiah 66:17; Jeremiah 41:7 זָנָה אֶל commit whoredom (by going) to Numbers 25:1; Ezekiel 16:26,28,29; דָּרֵשׁ אֶל seek (by resorting) to one (that is, for oracles) Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 11:10 +; חָבַר אֶל join together (& come) unto Genesis 14:3; הִשְׁכִּים אֶל rise early (and go) to Genesis 19:27; Genesis 24:11 הִבְרִיח אֶל made to kneel down at; Genesis 47:18 תַּם אֶל i.e. has been made over to; מָּחַד אֶל to come in fear to Hosea 3:5; Micah 7:17. Opposite is מִן, as מִןהַֿקָּצֶה אֶלהַֿקָּצֶה from end to end Exodus 26:28; מִמֶּה אֶלמֶּֿה Ezra 9:11 (synonym 2 Kings 21:16 מֶּה לָפֶה). And of time (rare) מֵעֵת אֶלעֵֿת 1 Chronicles 9:25; מִיּוֺם אֶליֿוֺם Numbers 30:15 (P) 1 Chronicles 16:23 (in the "" Psalm 96:2 מִיּוֺם לְיוֺם).
2 Where the limit is actually entered, into, Genesis 6:18 and thou shalt enter into the ark Genesis 7:1; Genesis 19:3; Genesis 41:21; Genesis 42:17; & so after verbs of throwing, casting, putting Genesis 37:22 (הִשְׁלִיךְ) Genesis 39:20 וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֶלבֵּֿית הַסֹּהַר put him into the prison house, Exodus 28:30 (Leviticus 8:8) Deuteronomy 23:25; so after קָבַר to bury Genesis 23:19; Genesis 25:9; Genesis 49:29; שָׂחַט to squeeze Genesis 40:11; מָחָה to blot out Numbers 5:23, etc.; metaphor Genesis 6:6 was pained into or unto his heart, שָׂם אֶללֵֿב, הֵשִׁיב 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 נָתַן מְּנֵי הַצּאֹן אֶל, Genesis 39:7 נָשָׂא עֵינָיו אֶל, Exodus 25:20; Numbers 6:26, נָשָׂא פָנָיו אֶל (2 Kings 9:32 differently), 2 Kings 24:1 שָׁת מָּנָיו אֶל, Joshua 8:18; Psalm 28:2; 1 Kings 8:29,30 (to pray towards) 1 Kings 8:38; pregnantly חָרֵד אֶל to tremble (turning) to Genesis 42:28, תָּמַהּ אֶל to, wonder (turning) towards Genesis 43:33; Isaiah 13:8, מָּחַד אֶל Jeremiah 36:16: without a verb מָּנִים אֶלמָּֿנִים face to face Genesis 32:31 +; מֶּה אֶלמֶּֿה Numbers 12:8; כִּיאֵֿינֶנּוּ אֵלַי Genesis 31:5 the face of Laban, that he is not toward me; ׳אֶלפֿ ׳עֵינֵי י the eyes of ׳י are towards . . . Psalm 34:16 (compare Psalm 33:18). (b) with words such as אָמַרto say to Genesis 3:1 + often, דִּבֶּר Genesis 8:15 + often, קָרָא Genesis 19:5, הִחְמַּלֵּל Genesis 20:17 etc., שָׁמַע to hearken to Genesis 16:11, הִלֵּל to praise to Genesis 12:15 (compare Ezekiel 13:19 חִלֵּל אֶל to profane to), הִזְכִּיר Ezekiel 40:14. (c) with words expressing the direction of the mind, as קִוָּה to wait Psalm 27:14 +; יִחַל to hope Isaiah 51:5; נָשָׂא נֶפֶשׁ אֶל to lift up the soul (i.e. set the desire) towards Deuteronomy 24:15; Psalm 25:1; שָׂם לֵב אֶל, שָׁת to set the heart (mind) to Exodus 9:21 and elsewhere; לָמַד אֶל to accustom oneself to Jeremiah 10:2; חָרֵד אֶל to shew fear towards 2 Kings 4:13; Genesis 43:30; Deuteronomy 28:32 and thy eyes כָּלוֺת אֲלֵיהֶם 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; Genesis 4:7; 2 Kings 6:11 who of ours is towards (i.e. favours) the king of Syria? Hosea 3:3 וְגַםאֲֿנִי אֵלָֽיִח׃ Ezekiel 36:9; Haggai 2:17; Jeremiah 15:1 (אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֶל).
4 Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against: Genesis 4:8 אֶלהֶֿבֶל ׳וַיָּקָם קand Cain rose up against Abel (so 1 Samuel 24:8) 1 Samuel 22:12; Exodus 14:5; Numbers 32:14; with נִקְבַּץ Joshua 10:6, הָלַךְ Judges 1:10; Judges 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; Isaiah 3:8 their tongue and doings are ׳אֶליֿ Isaiah 32:6 (לְדַבֵּר אֶל) Hosea 7:15 (compare Nahum 1:9) Hosea 12:5 וַיָּשַׂר אֶלמַֿלְאָךְ and he strove against the angel. Here also belongs in particular the phrase הִנְנִי אֶל ֗֗֗ Behold I am against (thee, you, etc.) Nahum 2:14; Nahum 3:5; Jeremiah 21:13 (Jeremiah 23:30-32 על) Jeremiah 50:31; Jeremiah 51:25; Ezekiel 13:8,20; Ezekiel 21:8; Ezekiel 29:10; Ezekiel 30:22; Ezekiel 34:10; Ezekiel 35:3; Ezekiel 38:3; Ezekiel 39:1 (Ezekiel 5:8; 26:3; 28:22; 29:3 על: on Ezekiel 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 אִשָּׁה אֶל אֲחוֺתָהּ 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 (1 Samuel 14:32 & Generally עַל); 1 Kings 10:7 הוֺסִיף אֶל (generally עַל); Jeremiah 25:26; Ezekiel 7:26 שְׁמוּעָה אֶל שְׁמוּעָה "" (עלׅ; Ezekiel 44:7; Lamentations 3:41 let us lift up לְבָבֵנוּ אֶלכַּֿמָּ֑יִם 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 2 Kings 8:3 (2 Kings 8:5 על); נֶעֳצַב be pained 1 Samuel 20:34; נִחַם to comfort 2 Samuel 10:2; more Generally 1 Kings 16:13; 1 Kings 21:22; אֶלנֶֿפֶשׁ on account of, for the sake of, one's life 1 Kings 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 Genesis 20:2; Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 37:21,33 +; דִּבֶּר 2 Samuel 7:19; Jeremiah 40:16 b; סִמֵּר Psalm 2:7; Psalm 69:27; צִוָּה Isaiah 23:11; שָׁמַע Ezekiel 19:4; הַשְּׁמוּעָה אֶל 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; Joshua 17:4; Joshua 21:3 (generally עַלמִּֿי); אֶלנָֿבוֺן according to what is fixed = of a certainty 1 Samuel 23:23; 1 Samuel 26:4 (see Dr): perhaps Psalm 5:1; Psalm 80:1 (Psalm 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 אֶלמֵֿי מֵרוֺם 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, Joshua 22:11 have built an altar אֶל גְּלִילוֺת הַיַּרְדֵּן by the districts of Jordan, Judges 12:6; 2 Samuel 3:32, 14:30 & 2 Samuel 18:4 אֶליַֿד at the side of (elsewhere לְיַד, עַל יַד), 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., Jeremiah 46:10 אֶלנְֿהַר מְּרָת by the Euphrates, Ezekiel 3:15; Ezekiel 11:11; Ezekiel 17:8; Ezekiel 31:7; Ezekiel 40:18; Ezekiel 43:3; Ezekiel 47:7; Ezekiel 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 סֹב אֶלאַֿחֲרַי turn to behind me, Zechariah 6:5 (where אֶל is pleonastic, probably due to clerical error; note יצא אל before & after); אֶלבֵּֿין in between Ezekiel 31:10,14; אֵלבֵּֿינוֺת similarly Ezekiel 10:2; ׳אֶלמִֿבֵּית לְ 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; ׳אֶלמִֿנֶּגֶב לְ unto the south of Joshua 15:3; ׳אֶלמִֿחוּץ לְ 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 אֶלכָּֿלהַֿמָּקוֺם אֲשֶׁר נָבוֺא ׳שָׁמָּה אִמְרִילִֿי וג; Numbers 33:54 ׳אֶלאֲֿשֶׁר וג; 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 Deuteronomy 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 וִיִּמֹּל אֶלמָּֿנָיו; 1 Samuel 13:13 אֶתמַֿמְלַכְתְּךָ אֶליִֿשְׂרָאֵל ׳הֵקִים י; 1 Samuel 14:34 (see below 5); 1 Samuel 17:3 עֹמְדִים אֶלהָֿהָר (contractee עַל Deuteronomy 11:29); Deuteronomy 19:16; 2 Samuel 6:3; 2 Samuel 20:23 (contracted 2 Samuel 8:16) 1 Kings 13:29; 1 Kings 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, Judges 6:39 let there be dryness on (אֶל) the fleece; 1 Samuel 14:10 come up עָלֵינוּ, 1 Samuel 14:12 come up אֵלֵינוּ; 1 Samuel 16:23 & 16; 16:13 & 18:10 צָלַח אֶל, 1 Samuel 10:6 and elsewhere צָלַח עַל; 1 Samuel 25:17 evil is determined אֶלאֲֿדֹנֵינוּ וְעַל כָּלבֵּֿיתוֺ; 1 Samuel 25:25; 1 Samuel 27:10; 2 Samuel 2:9 וַיַּמְלִכֵהוּ אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗אֶל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל וְ֗֗֗עַל; 2 Samuel 3:29 יָחֻלוּ עַל ֗֗֗ וְאֶל ֗֗֗ 2 Kings 8:3 & 5; 2 Kings 9:6 & 3; Jeremiah 19:15; Jeremiah 25:2; Jeremiah 26:15 ye lay innocent blood עֲלֵיכֶם וְאֶלהָֿעִיר הַזּאֹת; Jeremiah 27:19; Jeremiah 28:8; Jeremiah 33:14; Jeremiah 34:7; Jeremiah 36:31; Jeremiah 37:13,14; Ezekiel 18:6,11 & 15; Ezekiel 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 הִתְמַּלֵּל עַל to pray to (1 Samuel 1:26 אֶל); 1 Samuel 1:13; 1 Samuel 25:25 אֶלעַ֗֗֗ל; 1 Kings 20:43 וַיֵּלֶךְ עַלבֵּֿיתוֺ (1 Kings 21:4 אֶל); Isaiah 22:15; Jeremiah 11:2; Jeremiah 23:35; Jeremiah 31:12. compare DrSm i. 13, 13; ii. 8, 7; 15, 4.