עַלְוָן
𐤏𐤋𐤅𐤍
Alevan
H5935 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
ʻAlvân is a personal name, designating an individual mentioned among the clan chiefs of Edom (Idumaea) descended from Esau. The primary lexical meaning of the name reflects the notion of 'ascending' or 'elevation,' likely carrying the sense of 'high,' 'exalted,' or 'lofty.' In context, the word does not function as a descriptive appellative but solely as a proper noun identifying a historical figure and, by extension, his clan.
Semantic Range
a personal name (ʻAlvân / Alian), possibly carrying the connotation of 'lofty' or 'elevated' if interpreted etymologically; proper name of an Edomite clan chief
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עָלָה (‘to go up,’ ‘ascend’), likely in a nominal form connoting 'one who is high' or 'elevated.' The spelling variant עַלְיָן (Alian) reflects a phonetic or orthographic variation, but both forms are ultimately linked to the same root. Root-level meaning ('to ascend') is not directly applied in the narrative beyond forming the name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ʻAlvân and its variant עַלְיָן (Alian) occur in the genealogy of Esau (Genesis 36:23; 1 Chronicles 1:40) as names of Edomite clan leaders. The name is ethnically Edomite (associated with the descendants of Esau), not Israelite or Judahite. Later English translations sometimes render the name as 'Alvan' or 'Alian,' but these are transliterations rather than interpretive translations. The etymological sense of 'lofty' or 'exalted' is not activated in the narrative context, as the word serves solely as a personal or clan name, not as a description. The English word 'Idumaean' is used to describe the later region of Edom, but at the time of the Edomite chiefs, 'Edomite' is the more historically precise term. No evidence links this name to wider usage outside these genealogies.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or עַלְיָן; from עָלָה; lofty; Alvan or Aljan, an Idumaean; Alian, Alvan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עלה (ʿ-l-h) — to ascend, to go up, to rise, to be elevated
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H421 | אָלָה | Lofty One |
| H422 | אָלָה | he ascended |
| H4605 | מַעַל | upward |
| H4607 | מֹעַל | in hand-raising |
| H4608 | מַעֲלֶה | at the ascent |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5935-01 |
עַלְוָ֥ן | alevan | HNp |
Alvan | Lofty One | 1 |
H5935-02 |
עַלְיָ֧ן | aleyan | HNp |
Alian | Elevated One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5935-01 |
Genesis 36:23 | עַלְוָ֥ן | alevan | HNp |
Alvan | Lofty One |
H5935-02 |
1 Chronicles 1:40 | עַלְיָ֧ן | aleyan | HNp |
Alian | Elevated One |