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Lael

biblical_person theological_term standard

Lael is a minor Old Testament personal name, known as the father of Eliasaph of the Gershonite clan in Israel’s wilderness organization.

At a Glance

An Old Testament personal name attached to the father of Eliasaph, a Gershonite leader during Israel’s wilderness period.

Key Points

Description

Lael is a minor Old Testament personal name associated with Eliasaph, who served as a leader of the Gershonite clan in Israel’s wilderness organization. The name appears in the priestly and census material of Numbers, where family and tribal leadership are carefully recorded. Scripture does not develop Lael as a character with an independent story, and no doctrine is built on the name itself. The entry is therefore best understood as a brief biblical person entry grounded in the genealogical and administrative records of the Pentateuch.

Biblical Context

In the book of Numbers, Israel’s camp, tribe structure, and Levitical responsibilities are organized with careful attention to genealogy and clan leadership. Lael is mentioned as the father of Eliasaph, a Gershonite leader within that system. The text uses the name only to identify lineage and role.

Historical Context

The wilderness period records emphasize orderly tribal and Levitical administration among the Israelites. Names such as Lael appear in these lists to establish family lines and leadership responsibility, rather than to provide biographical detail.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Israelite genealogies often served legal, tribal, and covenant purposes, preserving priestly and Levitical order. Lael’s brief mention fits that pattern: the name helps locate Eliasaph within the Gershonite line and the wider ordering of Israel’s camp.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew personal name, likely related to the divine name El; the exact nuance is uncertain, but it is generally taken as a name meaning something like “belonging to God” or “for God.”

Theological Significance

Lael has no direct theological teaching attached to the name itself. Its significance is indirect: it reflects the careful ordering of Israel’s worship life and the importance of covenant record-keeping in Scripture.

Philosophical Explanation

As with many biblical names, the importance of Lael lies not in an abstract idea but in the concrete historical setting of God’s people. The name serves the text’s concern for identity, lineage, and ordered service.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not read more into Lael than the text provides. Scripture gives no separate story, miracle, oracle, or doctrine connected to him. The safest interpretation is to treat him as a named individual in a genealogical record.

Major Views

There is no meaningful interpretive debate about Lael beyond identifying the reference and the relationship to Eliasaph.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should not be used to build doctrine. It is a historical/biblical person notice, not a theological locus.

Practical Significance

Lael’s brief mention reminds readers that even minor names in Scripture contribute to the integrity of God’s historical revelation. The Bible’s careful records support the reality of real people, real tribes, and real covenant administration.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Lael

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