Elihu אֱלִיהוּ
An ancestor of Samuel.
Who is Elihu in the Bible?
Elihu, also known as Eliel, was an ancestor of the prophet Samuel mentioned in the genealogies of the Kohathite Levites (1 Samuel 1:1; 1 Chronicles 6:27, 34). He was the son of Tohu and the father of Jeroham, who became the grandfather of Elkanah, Samuel's earthly father. The variations in his name across biblical texts, including Eliab, likely reflect scribal differences or alternative names used for the same individual. Though the Bible provides no details about his personal life or ministry, Elihu's significance lies in his place within the priestly lineage that produced Samuel, one of Israel's greatest prophets and judges.
Biography
Elihu, also referred to as Eliel, is mentioned in the genealogies of the Kohathite Levites as an ancestor of the prophet Samuel (1Sa.1.1; 1Ch.6.27,34). He was the son of Tohu (1Sa.1.1) or Toah (1Ch.6.34) and the father of Jeroham, who was the father of Elkanah, Samuel's father. The variations in the names (Elihu, Eliel, and Eliab) may be due to scribal differences or alternative names for the same individual. The Bible does not provide any further information about Elihu's life or role as a Levite.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Samuel 1 verse
- 1 Samuel 1:1
"Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite."
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 6:27
"Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son."
- 1 Chronicles 6:34
"the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֱלִיהוּ | — |
| Named | Hebrew | אֱלִיאָב | Eliab , the name of six Israelites |
| Named | Hebrew | אֱלִיאֵל | — |