"Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Elijah Meaning in the Bible
Elijah
boy
Elijah means “The LORD is my God” in Hebrew. His name declares the truth Israel confessed after fire fell on Mount Carmel: “The LORD, he is the God.”
Is Elijah in the Bible?
Yes — Elijah (spelled Eliah in the King James Bible) appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Kings 2:11.
Pronunciation:/eh-LY-juh/
What does Elijah mean?
Elijah is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "My God is Yahweh". Elijah is a powerful Hebrew name meaning "My God is Yahweh" or "The LORD is my God." It is a bold declaration of faith and allegiance to the one true God. The prophet Elijah is one of the most dramatic and memorable figures in all of Scripture.
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Editor’s reflection
A whole confession of faith compressed into three syllables: 'The LORD is my God.'
Elijah renders the Hebrew Eliyahu (אֵלִיָּהוּ), joining El ('God') to Yah, the shortened covenant name YHWH. It is not a description but an argument — and the prophet spent his ministry proving it. On Carmel, after the fire fell, the people shouted the meaning of his name back at him verbatim: 'The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God' (1 Kings 18:39).
The KJV spells the same man Elias throughout the New Testament, following the Greek transliteration Ēlias. Readers who meet 'Elias' in Matthew 17 or James 5 and assume it is a different prophet are reading two spellings of one name — a distinction of translation history, not of persons.
Elijah's most quoted moment is not the fire but the silence that followed it. Fleeing Jezebel, exhausted and suicidal under a juniper tree, he was fed by an angel, walked forty days to Horeb, and there met God not in wind, earthquake, or fire but in 'a still small voice' (1 Kings 19:12). The Hebrew is qol demamah daqqah — literally a sound of thin quietness. It is the passage most often read at hospital bedsides for a reason.
He never died: 'Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven' (2 Kings 2:11). Malachi promised his return before 'the great and dreadful day of the LORD' (Malachi 4:5), Jewish households still set a cup for him at Passover, and he appears bodily with Moses at the Transfiguration. Elijah has been a US top-five boys' name for most of the last decade — extraordinary reach for a name that is, grammatically, a creed.
“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
Why parents choose Elijah today
- •The name is itself a complete statement of faith
- •Major prophet who never died and appears at the Transfiguration
- •Nicknames Eli and Lijah both work naturally
- •Consistently a US top-ten boys' name since 2016
What does Elijah mean in the Bible?
Elijah means "My God is Yahweh" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Elijah is a powerful Hebrew name meaning "My God is Yahweh" or "The LORD is my God." It is a bold declaration of faith and allegiance to the one true God. The prophet Elijah is one of the most dramatic and memorable figures in all of Scripture.
Elijah stood alone against 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, calling down fire from heaven to prove that Yahweh alone is God. He was fed by ravens during a famine, raised a widow's son from the dead, and was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire without experiencing death.
In the New Testament, Elijah appeared alongside Moses at the Transfiguration of Jesus, and Jesus identified John the Baptist as the prophesied return of Elijah's spirit. The name continues to inspire parents who desire their children to stand boldly for truth.
Where does Elijah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Elijah is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with 2 Kings 2:11. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Elijah?
Elijah has 3 recorded variants, short forms, and translations across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Eliyahu
Common nicknames
Eli
Elias
Who was Elijah in the Bible?
Elijah is most closely associated with the Bible character of the same name. Their story is the reason the name carries the weight it does.
Read About Elijah in the BibleWhich books of the Bible mention Elijah?
Elijah is mentioned across 6 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Elijah?
Elijah's name is itself a declaration of faith — 'My God is Yahweh.' His life challenges us to stand courageously for God even when we stand alone, trusting that divine power is greater than any opposition.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Elijah:
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Faithfulness (אֱמוּנָה (emunah))
Steadfast reliability and trustworthiness — firm, unwavering loyalty.
What names are related to Elijah?
Names like Elijah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "My God is Yahweh" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Elijah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Eliana
girl
"My God has answered"
Elijah & Eliana
Jordan
unisex
"To flow down; Descender"
Elijah & Jordan
Rebecca
girl
"To bind or captivate"
Elijah & Rebecca
Abigail
girl
"Father of joy"
Elijah & Abigail
Abihail
unisex
"Father of might"
Elijah & Abihail
Abijah
unisex
"My father is the LORD; The LORD is my father"
Elijah & Abijah
Share the meaning of Elijah
Download a printable name card with the KJV verse and meaning — perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, or a baptism keepsake.
Elijah name meaning: frequently asked questions
Yes. Elijah is the Hebrew form used in 1 and 2 Kings; Elias is the Greek transliteration the KJV keeps in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Romans, and James. Both refer to the Tishbite prophet who confronted Ahab and was taken up in a whirlwind. Modern translations usually standardise on Elijah throughout.
Yes — Elijah (spelled Eliah in the King James Bible) appears in the King James Bible, including 2 Kings 2:11.
Elijah means "My God is Yahweh." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in 2 Kings 2:11, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Elijah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Elijah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Elijah?
You can read every verse where Elijah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.