Definition

near, with or among; often in general, to

Etymology

(but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.

Where the KJV renders it

• about
• according to
• after
• against
• among
• as for
• at
• because(-fore
• -side)
• both...and
• by
• concerning
• for
• from
• hath
• in(-to)
• near
• (out) of
• over
• through
• to(-ward)
• under
• unto
• upon
• whether
• with(-in)

Every distinct English word the King James Version uses to translate this Hebrew term. The variety shows what readers in English receive across many different surface words — the same underlying word, scattered across the English Bible under different names.

What the first audience heard

A deep-dive treatment of this word is in the works. The featured chapter above carries the long form of what this word meant to its first audience.