Ἰωνάν
Iōnán
G2494 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name used in genealogical lists; refers specifically to an individual in the ancestral lineage presented in the Gospel of Luke. Serves as a Hellenized form of a Hebrew name within the Greek text. While structurally similar to other Greek-rendered Israelite names, its primary function in the New Testament is as an identifier in the genealogy of Jesus.
Semantic Range
personal name in genealogies, ancestral designation, Greek transliteration of Hebrew names
Root / Etymology
Greek Ἰωνάν (Iōnán) is a Hellenized form of a Hebrew name, most likely יְהוֹחָנָן (Yehochanan, meaning 'YHWH is gracious'), or possibly יוֹנָה (Yonah, meaning 'dove'), though identification with the former is most probable given genealogical naming conventions. The form appears to be a variant or alternate Greek rendering rather than deriving directly from Ἰωάννης (Ioannes, 'John') or Ἰωνᾶς (Ionas, 'Jonah').
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἰωνάν occurs once in the New Testament (Luke 3:30) as the name of an individual in the genealogy of Jesus. The exact correspondence to Hebrew antecedents is debated, but the broader context of Greek transliteration practices and variant transmission of Hebrew names into Greek explains the form. In traditional English translations, 'Jonan' has been retained as a transliteration, but the referent likely corresponds to a common Israelite/Judean ancestor and not to the prophet Jonah or the figure known as John. The spelling and form are unique in the New Testament and not attested in classical Greek literature. Unlike Ἰωάννης and Ἰωνᾶς, which are widespread Hellenized forms of 'John' and 'Jonah' respectively, Ἰωνάν stands as a distinct, though etymologically related, name. The name's appearance in the Lukan genealogy reflects the fluidity of name transmission across Hebrew and Greek, especially within genealogical records. In Second Temple and early Christian literature, such names often preserve ancestral commemoration and are not always intended for unique identification.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably for Ἰωάννης or Ἰωνᾶς; Jonan, an Israelite:--Jonan.
Root Family
Ἰων- (Iōnán) — personal name, ancestral identifier
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2495 | Ἰωνᾶς | of Jonah |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2494-01 |
Ἰωνὰμ | ionam | N GEN M SG |
Jonam | of Iōnan | Ionan | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2494-01 |
Luke 3:30 | Ἰωνὰμ | ionam | N GEN M SG |
Jonam | of Iōnan | Ionan |