Elihoreph is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Elihoreph was one of the scribes serving under King Solomon, mentioned in the record of Solomon’s royal officials in 1 Kings 4. He is listed alongside Ahijah (rendered “Ahiah” in the KJV text) as a son of Shisha. The passage identifies both men by their shared role: they were “scribes.” In the administrative structure of Solomon’s kingdom, this placed Elihoreph among the trained officials who handled written documents, correspondence, and records for the crown.
The setting of this mention is the description of Solomon’s court during the height of his reign, when the kingdom was established, peaceful, and well organized. First Kings 4 catalogs the king’s princes, priests, and other officers, showing how the government was ordered. In that list, Elihoreph appears in a small cluster of record-keeping officials: he and Ahijah as scribes, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud as the recorder.
Scripture says nothing further about Elihoreph. We are not told of his birth, his family beyond his father Shisha, his later life, or his death. He appears once in the entire King James Bible, in this single verse. What we know of him is entirely bound up with his office: he was a scribe in Solomon’s administration, one of the men whose work supported the daily functioning of Israel’s government. His name is preserved in Scripture not because of any dramatic deed, but because he served faithfully in a recorded position during a notable era in Israel’s history.
The Name
The name Elihoreph is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is generally understood from its components. It appears to combine elements relating to God and to a word for autumn, harvest, or perhaps winter. Thus the name is commonly explained with a sense along the lines of “God of autumn” or “my God is the harvest.” Because the exact nuance of the second element is debated among scholars, the precise shade of meaning is not entirely certain, but the theophoric first element—pointing to God—is clear. It is a name that carries a Godward reference, as many Hebrew names do.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered by name in a great historical record. Elihoreph was—but only as a scribe, a man who did quiet, necessary work behind the scenes. His brief appearance reminds us that the kingdom of Solomon ran not only on the wisdom of its king but on the faithfulness of unnamed and little-known servants who kept the records and did their duties. God’s word preserves even the small. If your labor is hidden and your name unheralded, take heart: the Lord sees the scribe as surely as the king.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Kings 4:3 — Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.