Elijah is an ancient Jewish name. It literally translates as 'My god is Yahwah (Jehovah)'.
El means God Almighty, i is first person so Eli translates as My God Almighty. Jah signifies Yahwah (Jehovah) so Elijah translates as a whole to My God is Jehovah.
In Judaism Elijah is credited with defending the worship of the god Yahweh over the more popular Baal, according to the Book of Kings. He is also said to have performed some miracles such as raising the dead and bringing fire down from the sky. His return is prophesised by the words "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord," in the book of Malachi.
Elijah's name is invoked in several Jewish rituals and he appears in several works of literature. His name is invoked at the end of Shabbat, during weekly Havdalah ritual, at Passover Seder and the ritual circumcision known as Brit Milah. He appears, or is referenced in many ancient texts including the Haggadah and rabbinic literature and the Babylonian Talmud.
In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, there are comparisons made between Elijah and both Jesus and John the Baptist, some consider Jesus and John the Baptist to be manifestations of Elijah.
The Islamic Qur'an talks about Elijah by a slightly different name, he is commended for his preaching of God over that of the more popular Ba'al and for living a righteous life.
Elijah features in various folklores. Particularly in the areas around Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, he is known as "Elijah the Thunderer" and is said to be responsible for various weather phenomena.
El means God Almighty, i is first person so Eli translates as My God Almighty. Jah signifies Yahwah (Jehovah) so Elijah translates as a whole to My God is Jehovah.
In Judaism Elijah is credited with defending the worship of the god Yahweh over the more popular Baal, according to the Book of Kings. He is also said to have performed some miracles such as raising the dead and bringing fire down from the sky. His return is prophesised by the words "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord," in the book of Malachi.
Elijah's name is invoked in several Jewish rituals and he appears in several works of literature. His name is invoked at the end of Shabbat, during weekly Havdalah ritual, at Passover Seder and the ritual circumcision known as Brit Milah. He appears, or is referenced in many ancient texts including the Haggadah and rabbinic literature and the Babylonian Talmud.
In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, there are comparisons made between Elijah and both Jesus and John the Baptist, some consider Jesus and John the Baptist to be manifestations of Elijah.
The Islamic Qur'an talks about Elijah by a slightly different name, he is commended for his preaching of God over that of the more popular Ba'al and for living a righteous life.
Elijah features in various folklores. Particularly in the areas around Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, he is known as "Elijah the Thunderer" and is said to be responsible for various weather phenomena.
