H0352c H0352c
leaders, chiefs (derived from 'ram' as leader of the flock)
A term for leaders or chiefs, possibly derived metaphorically from the ram as the lead animal of a flock. This usage appears in elevated poetic contexts describing prominent figures among nations or peoples. The Song of Moses celebrates the terror that fell upon 'the chiefs of Moab' when Israel passed through. Ezekiel uses the term for prominent leaders or 'mighty ones' among the nations, those who stand at the head of their people like rams before a flock.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Exodus 15:15 recounts how trembling seized 'the chiefs of Moab' when they witnessed Israel's deliverance at the sea. Ezekiel 17:13 and 31:11 refer to prominent leaders—'the mighty one of the nations' or 'the leaders of the land.' The metaphorical link to rams (male sheep that lead and protect the flock) suggests strength, prominence, and authority. These are not merely officials but figures who embody their people's power and stand out as representatives of collective might. 3×
AR["أَقْوِيَاءَ", "أَقْوِيَاءُ", "جَبَّارِ"]·ben["শক্তিশালীদের", "শক্তিশালীর", "শক্তিশালীরা"]·DE["Fuehrer-von", "Widder", "[אילי]"]·EN["leaders-of", "mighty-one-of-", "mighty-ones-of"]·FR["leaders-de", "pilastre"]·heb["איל", "אילי"]·HI["बलवान", "शक्तिशाली", "शक्तिशाली-के"]·ID["orang-orang-kuat", "pemimpin-pemimpin", "yang-perkasa"]·IT["[אילי]", "ariete", "leaders-di"]·jav["para-kuat", "para-pangarep", "tiyang-kuwaos"]·KO["권력자들을-", "우두머리들을", "힘세에게-"]·PT["líderes-de", "poderoso-de", "poderosos-de-"]·RU["вождя", "сильных", "сильных-"]·ES["el-poderoso-de", "poderosos-de", "poderosos-de-"]·SW["mwenye-nguvu-wa", "viongozi", "wa"]·TR["güçlüleri", "güçlülerini", "güçlüsünün"]·urd["بزرگوں", "طاقتور", "طاقتور-کے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† III. [אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. leader, chief (= ram, as leader of flock? cf. Di Ex 15:15 Ol§ 142 f LagBN 170 & v. Ez 34:17)—cstr. אֵל Ez 31:11; pl. cstr. אֵילֵי Ex 15:15 Ez 17:13; + 2 K 24:15 Qr (Kt אולי v. אוּל); אֵלֵי Ez 32:21 (del. Co, v. 𝔊).—leader, chief א׳ מוֹאָב Ex 15:15; א׳ הָאָרֶץ Ez 17:13 2 K 24:15 Qr; א׳ גּוֹיִם Ez 31:11 (אֵלִים Jb 41:17 v. sub i. -אלה; perhaps אֵלֵיהֶם Ez 31:14 but cf. infr. iv. איל & also אֶל Note 1).