עֶקְרוֹנִי
𐤏𐤒𐤓𐤅𐤍𐤉
Eqeroni
H6139 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An inhabitant or native of the city of ʻEqron (Ekron), one of the principal Philistine city-states on the southwestern coastal plain. Refers specifically to people ethnically or politically identified with Ekron, and occasionally as an adjective describing something associated with the city or its people. Rarely extended to designations of territory under Ekronite control.
Semantic Range
Ekronite (inhabitant of Ekron); person associated with the city of Ekron; adjective describing something linked to Ekron or its people
Root / Etymology
Patrial (gentilic) adjective derived from the toponym עֶקְרוֹן (ʻEqron), formed by adding the gentilic suffix ־ִי to the root. Root is עקר (ʻ-q-r), though the semantic development from the root ('to uproot, to tear up') to the place name is unclear; thus, the root connection is debated, but the lexical meaning derives entirely from the city name, not from the verb.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, עֶקְרוֹנִי appears uniquely in references to inhabitants of Ekron, particularly within narrative texts concerning conflicts between Israelites and Philistines in the monarchic period (e.g., 1 Samuel 5:10; Jeremiah 25:20). Ekron was one of the five main Philistine cities, and its identity was distinct from those of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Gaza. The usage is strictly ethnopolitical, not religious, and does not carry connotations of Philistine religious practices specific to Ekron unless the context explicitly addresses deities or cults associated with the city. English ‘Ekronite’ is accurate, though the Hebrew form emphasizes local and political identity rather than wider ethnic or cultic identity. In later periods, the prominence of Ekron declined, and the term ceases to be used. The word should not be confused with more generic adjectives for Philistines or with terms for later Samaritan, Judean, or other regional identities.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or עֶקְרֹנִי; patrial from עֶקְרוֹן; an Ekronite or inhabitant of Ekron; Ekronite.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עקר (ʿ-q-r) — to uproot, to pluck up, to tear up; inhabitant of Ekron (derived)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6131 | עָקַר | he thoroughly uprooted |
| H6132 | עֲקַר | were uprooted |
| H6133 | עֵקֶר | to root-stock of |
| H6134 | עֵקֶר | and Eker |
| H6135 | עָקָר | barren man |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6139-01 |
הָֽ/עֶקְרֹנִ֜ים | haeqeronim | HTd/Ngmpa |
the Ekronites | the Ekronites | 1 |
H6139-02 |
וְ/הָ/עֶקְרוֹנִ֖י | vehaeqeroni | HC/Td/Ngmsa |
and the Ekronite | and the Ekronite | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6139-02 |
Joshua 13:3 | וְ/הָ/עֶקְרוֹנִ֖י | vehaeqeroni | HC/Td/Ngmsa |
and the Ekronite | and the Ekronite |
H6139-01 |
1 Samuel 5:10 | הָֽ/עֶקְרֹנִ֜ים | haeqeronim | HTd/Ngmpa |
the Ekronites | the Ekronites |