Elead is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Elead was a son of Ephraim, mentioned in the genealogy of the tribe of Ephraim recorded in 1 Chronicles 7. He appears alongside his brothers or kinsmen Zabad, Shuthelah, and Ezer. This genealogy traces the descendants of Ephraim, son of Joseph, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The setting is the period before or during Israel’s settlement in the land of Canaan, when the tribe of Ephraim was establishing itself in its allotted territory.
According to 1 Chronicles 7:21, Elead and Ezer were slain by “the men of Gath that were born in that land.” The reason given is that they “came down to take away their cattle.” The source note confirms that Elead was killed while attempting to steal cattle from the men of Gath. Gath was a Philistine city, and its inhabitants are described as being native to that land. This brief account preserves a tragic episode in which members of the tribe of Ephraim met their death in a raid gone wrong.
Scripture says nothing further about Elead beyond this single verse. He is not mentioned elsewhere in the King James Bible. His death is recorded as part of the genealogical record, serving as a historical note about the losses suffered by Ephraim’s family. The text does not comment on the morality of the raid or offer any further details about Elead’s life, character, or legacy. He remains a minor figure whose only appearance in Scripture is his death, remembered among the descendants of Ephraim.
The Name
The Hebrew name Elead (אֶלְעָד, *El’ad*) is not clearly defined in the biblical text itself, and its exact meaning is not well established. Some scholars have suggested possible connections to Hebrew roots meaning “God is witness” or “God has testified,” but these are conjectural. The name may be related to the root *עוד* (*ud*), which can carry meanings of “to testify” or “to surround,” combined with the divine name *El*. However, because the name appears only once in Scripture and is not glossed by the biblical author, its precise meaning remains uncertain. It is best to say plainly that the meaning of this name is not clearly recoverable from the text.
A Closing Thought
Elead’s life is remembered in Scripture only for its ending—a young man of Ephraim who died far from home, attempting to take what belonged to others. His story is a quiet warning that not every loss is noble, and not every death is heroic. Yet even this brief, sad record is held within the larger story of God’s people, reminding us that every life, however small or flawed, is known to God. May we learn to pursue what is right rather than what is merely within reach, and to trust God’s provision rather than grasping for our own.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 7:21 — And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.