אַלְמֹנִי
𐤀𐤋𐤌𐤍𐤉
ʼalmônîy
H492 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
An unnamed or unspecified individual, 'so-and-so'; a formulaic expression used to indicate a person whose actual identity is concealed or irrelevant to the context. The term carries the connotation of anonymity, referring to someone whose name is purposely withheld or unknown in a narrative.
Semantic Range
unnamed individual, so-and-so, a certain someone, anonymous person, unspecified person, one without a given name
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עלם (ʿ-l-m), meaning 'to hide' or 'conceal.' The form אַלְמֹנִי is constructed to indicate someone whose identity is hidden or unnamed, thus conveying the idea of 'anonymous' or 'so-and-so.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
אַַלְמֹנִי appears in formulaic contexts, notably in Ruth 4:1, where it designates an unnamed kinsman-redeemer in legal or narrative situations where the identity is suppressed, either because it is unknown, irrelevant, or being intentionally withheld. This is akin to the English expressions 'John Doe' or 'so-and-so.' In post-biblical Hebrew, related terms continue to carry the sense of anonymity. The term should not be conflated with words meaning 'anyone' or 'everyone.' English translations sometimes render the term as 'such a one' or 'so and so,' but these do not fully capture the specialized nuance of deliberate anonymity in Hebrew narrative practice. It differs from generic indefinite pronouns and reflects a literary choice to obscure personal details. The exclusivity of its use, mostly within narrative and legal formulae, marks it as a technical or idiomatic expression rather than a general noun.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אַלְמֹן in the sense of concealment; some one (i.e. so and so, without giving the name of the person or place); one, and such.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עלם (ʿ-l-m) — to hide, to conceal, to be hidden
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3281 | יַעְלָם | Yaʿlam |
| H5769 | עוֹלָם | for the hidden age |
| H5867 | עֵילָם | in Elam |
| H5934 | עָלוּם | your youthful years |
| H5956 | עָלַם | I will conceal |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H492-01 |
אַלְמוֹנִֽי | alemoni | HAamsa |
Almoni | anonymous one | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H492-01 |
1 Samuel 21:3 | אַלְמוֹנִֽי | alemoni | HAamsa |
and such | anonymous one |
H492-01 |
2 Kings 6:8 | אַלְמֹנִ֖י | alemoni | HAamsa |
and-such | anonymous one |
H492-01 |
Ruth 4:1 | אַלְמֹנִ֑י | alemoni | HAabsa |
Almoni | anonymous one |