Καϊνάν
Kaïnán
G2536 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun referring to the personal name 'Kainan.' In Greek biblical literature, this denotes a male ancestral figure in genealogical lists. Used for two different individuals in biblical genealogies: (1) an early antediluvian patriarch, son of Enosh and father of Mahalalel (Genesis 5:9-14, LXX), and (2) in some versions of the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:36, a figure inserted between Arphaxad and Shelah, likely reflecting textual traditions based on the Septuagint. The primary function is as a personal name within genealogical records.
Semantic Range
male personal name in genealogies, ancestral figure in the primeval history, specifically son of Enosh and (in some texts) ancestor in the line to Shelah
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew קֵינָן (Qêynān/Kenan), a personal name found in the genealogies of Genesis (Masoretic Text and Septuagint), transferred into Greek as Καϊνάν (Kaïnán). The Hebrew etymology itself is uncertain; it may be related to the root ק-נ-ן, but this is not certain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Καϊνάν is used exclusively as a personal name in Greek biblical texts and does not have independent lexical meaning beyond its identification as a genealogical figure. In the Greek Septuagint, Καϊνάν appears in the Genesis genealogy as the son of Enosh, corresponding to the Hebrew Kenan/קֵינָן. In the Gospel of Luke 3:36 (some manuscripts), the name Καϊνάν appears as an additional ancestor between Arphaxad and Shelah, following the Septuagint genealogical tradition; this is absent in the Masoretic Text. The presence or absence of this name in manuscript traditions has generated textual discussion, but in all contexts the function of the term is strictly as a personal name. Standard English translations render this as 'Cainan' or 'Kenan,' but the transliteration and precise correspondence varies. There is no evidence for use outside genealogical lists or for broader connotations in Hellenistic Greek.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (קֵינָן); Cainan (i.e. Kenan), the name of two patriarchs:--Cainan.
Root Family
Καϊνάν (Kainan) — personal name, individual identity
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2536-01 |
Καϊνὰμ | kainam | N GEN M SG |
Cainan | of Kainan | Kainan | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences