אֵלוֹנִי
𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤍𐤉
Eloni
H440 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A member of the clan or group associated with Elon; specifically, a patronymic or gentilic adjective derived from the personal or ancestral name Elon, denoting 'of Elon' or 'descendant of Elon.' In context, identifies a person or people belonging to the Elonite lineage within the tribe of Zebulun.
Semantic Range
descendant of Elon, member of the Elonite clan, one belonging to Elon, Elonites (collectively)
Root / Etymology
Patronymic formation from the personal name אֵלוֹן (Elon), itself derived from the root אָלֹן, meaning 'oak' or 'terebinth.' The patronymic suffix -ִי indicates possession or origin, thus 'of Elon' or 'belonging to Elon.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term appears specifically in tribal genealogies, notably in Numbers 26:26, where it refers to the descendants of Elon, a clan within the tribe of Zebulun. The use of -ִי forms to create patronymic or clan-based gentilic adjectives is common in Biblical Hebrew. The name 'Elon' itself is derived from a word for a type of tree (oak/terebinth), but 'Elonites' refers to descendants or members of the Elon clan. There is no known difference in meaning between the forms אֵלוֹנִי and אֵלֹנִי beyond spelling. English tradition sometimes translates such terms generically as 'family of' or 'clan of,' potentially obscuring the patronymic and genealogical significance in Israelite tribal society. This term is not used outside tribal lists and genealogical settings, and does not carry later national or religious connotations attached to tribal or familial terms in post-biblical Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or rather (shortened) אֵלֹנִי; patron from אַלּוֹן; an Elonite or descendant (collectively) of Elon; Elonites.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אלן (ʾ-l-n) — oak, strong tree, firmness, might
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H440-01 |
הָ/אֵלֹנִ֑י | haeloni | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Elonites | the Elonite | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H440-01 |
Numbers 26:26 | הָ/אֵלֹנִ֑י | haeloni | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Elonites | the Elonite |