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Ἰορδάνης

Iordánēs

G2446 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The proper name for the river known in Greek as the Jordan; the main watercourse flowing from north to south in the region, with the sense focused specifically on the river itself in Hellenistic, New Testament, and Jewish sources. In Greek texts, the term refers explicitly to the physical river, without metaphorical or extended meanings in contemporary usage.

Semantic Range

Jordan River, the principal river in the southern Levant; the geographical watercourse separating the eastern and western regions of the land in Israelite, Judean, and Hellenistic usage

Root / Etymology

Transliterated from the Hebrew יַרְדֵּן (Yarden), likely deriving from the root י-ר-ד (to descend), indicating 'the descender', referencing the river's steep course from the highlands to the Dead Sea. Entered Greek through Hellenistic Jewish usage and is not a native Greek formation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἰορδάνης is consistently used in Koine Greek to denote the river known as the Jordan, which served as a major geographic landmark in the Levant. In the Septuagint, it directly translates Hebrew יַרְדֵּן and maintains a strict reference to the river in biblical and extra-biblical literature (e.g., Josephus, Philo). The river was significant in both Israelite and Judean history, geography, and ritual—the site of crossings (Joshua), prophetic activity (e.g., Elijah and Elisha), and ritual immersions such as those associated with John the Baptist in the New Testament. In the New Testament, Ἰορδάνης refers only to the river, with no symbolic or figurative usage. English tradition renders it as 'Jordan', but this rendering can obscure the ancient geographical, ritual, and cultural significance. Unlike many coins or papyri, literary references in Koine consistently preserve the biblical and regional reference to the literal river, not the surroundings or extended uses; there is no evidence for 'Jordan' being used as a territorial or ethnic designation in Greek sources.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (יַרְדֵּן); the Jordanes (i.e. Jarden), a river of Palestine:--Jordan.

Root Family

Ἰορδαν- (Iordánēs) — to descend (from Hebrew root), river name

Root Ἰορδαν- to descend (from Hebrew root), river name

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2446-03 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes 11
G2446-01 Ἰορδάνῃ iordane N DAT M SG Jordan to the Jordan River Iordanes 2
G2446-02 Ἰορδάνην iordanen N ACC M SG Jordan Jordan River Iordanes 2

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2446-03 Matthew 3:5 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-01 Matthew 3:6 Ἰορδάνῃ iordane N DAT M SG Jordan to the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-02 Matthew 3:13 Ἰορδάνην iordanen N ACC M SG Jordan Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 Matthew 4:15 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 Matthew 4:25 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 Matthew 19:1 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-01 Mark 1:5 Ἰορδάνῃ iordane N DAT M SG Jordan to the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-02 Mark 1:9 Ἰορδάνην iordanen N ACC M SG Jordan Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 Mark 3:8 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 Mark 10:1 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 Luke 3:3 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 Luke 4:1 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 John 1:28 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 John 3:26 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
G2446-03 John 10:40 Ἰορδάνου iordanou N GEN M SG Jordan of the Jordan River Iordanes
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