Ἐλμωδάμ
Elmōdám
G1678 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name; Elmodam. In the New Testament genealogy (Luke 3:28), 'Elmodam' refers to an individual in the ancestral line of Yeshua (Jesus). The word functions solely as a proper noun, designating a specific Israelite ancestor without an independent lexical meaning in Greek. It is a transliteration that preserves an earlier Semitic name rather than a Greek term with inherent semantic content. The possible underlying meaning in Hebrew, if derived from אַלְמוֹדָד (Almodad), is uncertain and likely not recognized by contemporary Greek readers.
Semantic Range
personal name, Israelite ancestral designation
Root / Etymology
Transliteration of a Semitic personal name, possibly from the Hebrew אַלְמוֹדָד (Almodad), but precise etymology is uncertain. The final '-μ' (mu) in Ἐλμωδάμ suggests dialectical variation or adaptation during transliteration from Hebrew or Aramaic sources into Greek. The Greek spelling serves to approximate the Hebrew phonology.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἐλμωδάμ appears exclusively in Luke 3:28 as part of Yeshua's genealogy, with no further mentions in the New Testament or known occurrences in other Greek literature. It is one of multiple Semitic names preserved in Greek genealogical lists, reflecting the translator's effort to maintain the original ancestral registers. Although possibly connected to the Hebrew name אַלְמוֹדָד, found elsewhere in biblical texts (e.g., Genesis 10:26), it is not clear whether the same individual is referenced. The meaning and significance of the name would have been opaque to most Greek speakers, and English translations typically preserve it unaltered as 'Elmodam.' There is no evidence the name was reinterpreted in Hellenistic or Roman Judean contexts; its presence is limited to the textual tradition.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (perhaps for אַלְמוֹדָד); Elmodam, an Israelite:--Elmodam.
Root Family
Ἐλμωδάμ (Elmōdam) — proper name, personal name
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1678-01 |
Ἐλμαδὰμ | elmadam | N GEN M SG |
Elmodam | of Elmodam | Elmodam | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1678-01 |
Luke 3:28 | Ἐλμαδὰμ | elmadam | N GEN M SG |
Elmodam | of Elmodam | Elmodam |