Elika is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Elika was one of King David’s mighty warriors, a member of the select company of fighting men who supported David during his reign. He is listed among the “Thirty,” the distinguished group of soldiers named in 2 Samuel 23 who stood with David and helped establish and defend his kingdom. These men were renowned for their courage, loyalty, and military exploits, and their names are preserved in Scripture as a record of those who served David faithfully.
The single biblical reference to Elika appears in 2 Samuel 23:25: “Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite.” He is identified by the designation “the Harodite,” which likely indicates that he came from Harod, a place associated with the spring of Harod near the Jezreel Valley. Notably, he is paired in this listing with Shammah the Harodite, suggesting the two men shared a common origin and perhaps served alongside one another.
Beyond this brief mention, Scripture records nothing further about Elika’s specific deeds, battles, or personal life. He did not perform any exploit that the text singles out for special attention, as some of the other mighty men did. What is recorded is simply his name, his origin, and his place among those who gave themselves to David’s cause. He is one of the many faithful supporters whose individual stories remain untold, yet whose collective strength upheld the king.
The Name
The name Elika is a Hebrew name, but its precise meaning is not clearly established. Suggested possibilities have been offered by various scholars, yet none carries the weight of certainty, and the etymology remains uncertain. Because Scripture provides no interpretation of the name and no reliable ancient source defines it, it is best to say plainly that the meaning is not clearly recoverable. We should not assign it a meaning merely for the sake of having one.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be famous, and our names may never be remembered by many. Elika appears only once in all of Scripture, with no recorded deeds or words of his own. Yet he is named among the faithful who stood with David. This is a quiet encouragement: God keeps a record of those who serve faithfully, even when the world takes no notice. You do not need a great exploit or a lasting reputation to be counted among the loyal. Simply standing where God has placed you, serving Him in obscurity, is enough. Heaven remembers what earth forgets.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 2 Samuel 23:25 — Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,