Original Word: אַלָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: allah
Pronunciation: al-law'
Phonetic Spelling: (al-law')
NASB: oak
Word Origin: [A variation of H424 (אֵלָה - oak)]

1. oak

oak

A variation of 'elah -- oak.

see HEBREW 'elah

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
an oak
NASB Translation
oak (1). (compare , but here ) only Joshua 24:26 the oak which is in the sanctuary of ; read however perhaps , terebinth (see I. ).

Botanical and Symbolic Significance

אַלָּה denotes the oak or terebinth, a tree renowned in the Near East for its deep roots, long life, and imposing stature. Because of these qualities, the oak became a natural emblem of stability, permanence, and covenantal faithfulness. Scripture often places covenantal or judicial moments beneath such trees, underscoring their role as silent, enduring witnesses to human vows before God.

The Oak at Shechem (Joshua 24:26)

“And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.” (Joshua 24:26)

1. Location. Shechem lay between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, the very site where Israel had earlier rehearsed the blessings and curses of the Law (Joshua 8:30-35).
2. Sanctuary Context. The verse speaks of “the sanctuary of the LORD,” indicating that this tree stood near a recognized place of worship, possibly dating back to patriarchal times.
3. Covenant Function. Under its shade Joshua renewed the covenant, and the stone he erected became a tangible memorial. The oak’s longevity would reinforce the lasting nature of Israel’s promise: “We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice” (Joshua 24:24).

Patriarchal Connections

Though אַלָּה appears only here, earlier covenantal episodes at Shechem likewise feature an oak (Genesis 35:4) or “oaks” of Moreh (Genesis 12:6). Together they weave a thematic thread:

• Abraham built his first Canaanite altar at an oak in Moreh, marking Yahweh’s land promise.
• Jacob buried foreign gods beneath an oak near Shechem, symbolically severing idolatry from covenant life.
• Joshua set a witness-stone under an oak, sealing Israel’s renewed allegiance.

The recurrence of an oak at pivotal moments portrays God’s unbroken redemptive storyline across generations.

Stone and Tree: Dual Witnesses

Joshua’s act joins two natural elements: the immovable stone and the living tree. The stone signified recorded testimony (“this stone... has heard all the words” Joshua 24:27), while the oak, nourished through seasons, portrayed ongoing accountability. Together they foreshadow the union of wood and stone at Calvary—the wooden cross erected upon the rocky hill—where the final and everlasting covenant was ratified in Christ’s blood.

Theological Reflections

1. Covenant Memory. The oak’s presence teaches that God anchors His covenants in history and nature, inviting every succeeding generation to remember and obey.
2. Holiness Near the Familiar. Ordinary geography (a valley crossroads) becomes sacred when God’s word is proclaimed and received.
3. Continuity of Revelation. From Abraham to Joshua, the same God speaks, promises, and holds His people to account, underscoring the unity of the Testaments.

Ministry and Discipleship Applications

• Visible Memorials. Churches may employ enduring symbols—stones, communion tables, baptismal waters—to remind congregations of commitments made to Christ.
• Covenant Renewal. Like Israel at Shechem, believers benefit from intentional moments of rededication, rehearsing God’s faithfulness and renouncing competing loyalties.
• Generational Witness. Families and congregations can plant literal trees or establish spiritual milestones to testify to God’s work, echoing Joshua’s oak.

Historical Legacy

Later prophets evoke oaks when condemning idolatrous worship “under every green tree” (Isaiah 57:5; Hosea 4:13), a tragic inversion of the holy oak at Shechem. Such contrasts caution the Church: places once marked by obedience can be corrupted if hearts wander. Yet the Shechem oak endures in the biblical imagination as a marker of fidelity, urging every reader to stand, like Israel of old, and declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

הָֽאַלָּ֔ה האלה hā’allāh hā·’al·lāh haalLahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

Joshua 24:26
HEB: שָּׁ֔ם תַּ֚חַת הָֽאַלָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּמִקְדַּ֥שׁ
NAS: under the oak that was by the sanctuary
KJV: and set it up there under an oak, that [was] by the sanctuary
INT: there under the oak that was sanctuary

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 427
1 Occurrence

hā·’al·lāh — 1 Occ.