MEANING OF ELIJAH NAME
The name Elijah has a rich and fascinating history
Origin and Meaning of Elijah
- Elijah is a Hebrew name meaning “my God is Yahweh”, derived from the elements אֵל (el) and יָה (yah), both referring to the Hebrew God.
- In the Old Testament, Elijah was a Hebrew prophet and miracle worker. He was active in the 9th century BC during the reign of King Ahab of Israel and his Phoenician-born queen Jezebel.
- Elijah confronted the king and queen over their idolatry of the Canaanite god Ba’al and other wicked deeds.
- At the end of his life, he was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire and was succeeded by Elisha.
- In the New Testament, Elijah and Moses appear next to Jesus during His transfiguration.
- Because Elijah was a popular figure in medieval tales and early saints (usually known by the Latin form Elias), the name came into general use during the Middle Ages.
- In medieval England, it was usually spelled Elis. It died out there by the 16th century but was revived by the Puritans in the form Elijah after the Protestant Reformation.
- The name became popular during the 1990s and 2000s, especially in America, where it broke into the top ten in 2016.
- Elijah is a name that conveys strength, divine connection, and a powerful legacy.
