Ἰαννά
Ianná
G2388 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name used to designate an Israelite male ancestor; in context, an ancestral figure in genealogical records. The name functions exclusively as a personal name and does not carry additional semantic or symbolic meaning.
Semantic Range
proper name; personal name appearing in genealogy; designation of specific Israelite ancestral figure
Root / Etymology
Likely derived from a Hebrew root, perhaps יָנָה (Yānāh) meaning 'he answered' or 'he bestowed,' but precise etymology is uncertain. Greek spelling Ἰαννά attempts to render a Semitic personal name into Greek orthography.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἰαννά appears only once in the New Testament (Luke 3:24), listed in the genealogy of Jesus as an Israelite ancestor between Joseph and Melchi. The name is otherwise unattested in extant Greek literature and not present in the Septuagint, suggesting that it reflects a Semitic personal name not widely used in Hellenistic or Roman-period Greek contexts. New Testament usage preserves the ancestral and genealogical function of the name; the standard English Bible translations do not render additional meaning beyond simple transliteration. There is no evidence that the name had specific cultural, religious, or literary significance in the broader Koine Greek world beyond its genealogical listing in Luke.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably of Hebrew origin (compare יָנָה); Janna, an Israelite:--Janna.
Root Family
Ἰανν- (Ianná) — personal name, Israelite ancestor
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2388-01 |
Ἰανναὶ | iannai | N GEN M SG |
Janna | of Jannai | Ianna | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2388-01 |
Luke 3:24 | Ἰανναὶ | iannai | N GEN M SG |
Janna | of Jannai | Ianna |