על

'yel' is traditionally interpreted variously as “on”, “over” or “above”. A verb form also exists, with a possible interpretation “ascend”.

However, somewhat oddly, approximately five percent of the time 'yel' is traditionally interpreted as “a burnt offering”. While the two concepts could be considered to be tangentially related - the smoke from the sacrifice is assumed to rise up to the gods who are watching from somewhere above - a major problem with this interpretation is that in most of these occasions there is no literal mention of burning, or of fire or smoke. It would appear to be more accurate, both etymologically and contextually, to suppose that the objects themselves are actually being “sent up” and are “ascending” in a very literal sense.

With this in mind it is possible that the yelim are a group of individuals who experienced such a journey. Enoch and Elijah might fit into this group. Abraham's son Isaac would have been included in this group, had it not been for the timely appearance of a sheep that was sent instead.

'yel' is the root word of yelem and many related words including beyel, beyelim

בעל 1167 beyel 621 beyel overlord 84 בעל 1168 beyel 621 beyel overlord 65 מעל 4605 meyel meyel above 145 פעל 4659 peyel peyel construction 3 על 5921 yel 1009 yel over 5917 על 5927 yel 1009 yel ascended 888 על 5930 yel 1009 yel send-up 293 עליונ 5945 yelion 818 yelion uppermost 54 פעל 6466 peyel peyel work 56 פעל 6467 peyel peyel deeds 36 בעלימ 91168 beyelim beyelim the Overlords 65 עלימ 95927 yelim 8044 yelim The Ascendant Ones 24

Other similar words by meaning: acek, gebeh

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LexID 5927