Elephant
Natureâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The Hebrew word 'elephant' (pil) appears in 1 Kings 10:22 and 2 Chronicles 9:21, referring to ivory or the animals themselves in the context of Solomon's trade, while Job 40:15 likely describes the hippopotamus (behemoth) due to contextual and linguistic ambiguities in ancient translations.
What is the meaning of Elephant in the Bible?
The Hebrew word 'elephant' (pil) appears in 1 Kings 10:22 and 2 Chronicles 9:21, referring to ivory or the animals themselves in the context of Solomon's trade, while Job 40:15 likely describes the hippopotamus (behemoth) due to contextual and linguistic ambiguities in ancient translations.
SIGNIFICANCE
Clarifying the distinction between actual elephants and other large animals like the hippopotamus in biblical texts aids in accurate reconstruction of ancient trade networks and zoological knowledge in the Near East.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Elephant in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Elephant clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.