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G1666 · Greek · New Testament
Ἐλισσαῖος
Elissaios
Proper noun, masculine
Elisha — "God is salvation"

Definition

The Greek Elissaios is the transliteration of Hebrew Elisha — "God is salvation." Elisha was the successor of Elijah, the great miracle-working prophet of the Northern Kingdom (9th century BC). He appears once in the NT: Luke 4:27, where Jesus appeals to Elisha's healing of Naaman the Syrian leper to illustrate God's grace extending beyond ethnic Israel.

Usage & Theological Significance

Jesus' mention of Elissaios (Elisha) in Luke 4:27 was deliberately provocative — and the synagogue responded with murderous rage (Luke 4:28–29). Why? Because Jesus used Elisha's healing of Naaman — a Gentile military commander — to argue that God's mercy is not confined to Israel. Elisha's ministry was marked by extraordinary miracles (double the "portion of the spirit" he requested of Elijah: 2 Kings 2:9), pointing forward to Jesus who performs these same works and more. His name (God is salvation) is his ministry in miniature.

Key Bible Verses

Luke 4:27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed — only Naaman the Syrian.
2 Kings 2:9 Elisha said, "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit."
2 Kings 5:14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored.
John 14:12 Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism."

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