אֱלִיל

אֱלִיל noun masculine (etymology uncertain: most probably akin to Syriac weak, feeble, poor; perhaps also in usage [compare b] felt to suggest אַל not; compare Che on Es 2,8) insufficiency, worthlessness.
\ \ a. Zak 11,17 רֹעִי הָאֱלִיל the shepherd of worthlessness = the worthless shepherd, Job 13,4 רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל worthless physicians (|| טֹפְלֵישֶֿׁקֶר), Jer 14,14 Qr concrete a thing nought (uttered by prophets), but here קֶסֶם אֱלִיל a worthless divin. (|| חֲזוֺן שֶׁקֶר, תַּרְמִית לִבָּם) should perhaps be read (compare Gf).
\ \ b. especially plural אֱלִילִים concrete worthless gods, idols (compare הֲבָלִים) (possibly originally an independent word = gods, compare Sabean אלאלת, & see Nö^{SBAk 1882, p. 1191}, but even if so, associated by the prophets with idea of worthlessness, & used by them in iron. contrast with אֵלִים, אֱלֹהִים) 3 Mos 19,4 (not to be made) 3 Mos 26,1 (both H), Es 2,8; Es 2,18; Es 2,20 (twice in verse) (of silver & gold), Es 10,10 מַמְלְכוֺת הָאֱלִיל (collective) kingdoms of idolatrous worthlessness, vEs 10,11; Es 19,1; Es 19,3 (of Egypt) Es 31,7 (twice in verse); Ezk 30,13 (Egypt), Hab 2,18 אִלְּמִים ׳א dumb idols, Sl 96,5 ( = 1 Kron 16,26) all the gods of the nations are ׳א vain, worthless gods 1 Kron 97,7.