BDB484
אֱלִיל noun masculine (etymology uncertain: most probably akin to Syriac [untranscribed source text 228] weak, feeble, poor; perhaps also in usage [compare b] felt to suggest אַל not; compare Che on Isa 2:8) insufficiency, worthlessness.
a.
Zech 11:17
רֹעִי הָאֱלִיל the shepherd of worthlessness = the worthless shepherd, Job 13:4
רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל
worthless physicians (|| טֹפְלֵישֶֿׁקֶר), Jer 14:14
Qr
concrete a thing nought (uttered by prophets), but here קֶסֶם אֱלִיל
a worthless divin. (|| חֲזוֺן שֶׁקֶר, תַּרְמִית לִבָּם)
should perhaps be read (compare Gf).
b. especially
plural אֱלִילִים concrete worthless gods, idols (compare הֲבָלִים
) (possibly originally an independent word = gods, compare
Sabean אלאלת, & see NöSBAk 1882, p. 1191,
but even if so, associated by the prophets with idea of worthlessness, & used by them in iron. contrast with
אֵלִים, אֱלֹהִים) Lev 19:4 (not to be made) Lev 26:1 (both
H
), Isa 2:8;
Isa 2:18; Isa 2:20 (twice in
verse) (of silver & gold), Isa 10:10
מַמְלְכוֺת הָאֱלִיל (collective) kingdoms of idolatrous worthlessness, Isa 10:11; Isa 19:1; Isa 19:3 (of Egypt)
Isa 31:7 (twice in
verse); Ezek 30:13
(Egypt), Hab 2:18
אִלְּמִים
׳
א
dumb idols, Ps 96:5 ( = 1Chr 16:26) all the gods of the nations are ׳
א
vain, worthless gods
1Chr 97:7.