Χαῤῥάν
Charrhán
G5488 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun designating the ancient city of Haran (Charan) in upper Mesopotamia. In Hellenistic and Roman contexts, refers specifically to the well-known city located on the Balikh River, north of the Euphrates, notable as a geographical landmark in overland trade and travel, and as the place where the ancestral family of the Israelites sojourned (Genesis, Acts).
Semantic Range
the city of Haran/Charan in Mesopotamia, in biblical tradition; a geographic designation in ancestral narratives; occasionally as a marker for travel between Mesopotamia and Canaan
Root / Etymology
Greek adaptation (Χαῤῥάν) of the Hebrew place name חָרָן (Haran/Charan). The Greek spelling reproduces the Semitic original, possibly aiming to match its pronunciation. Not formed from a native Greek root but borrowed as a toponym.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Χαῤῥάν is found in the New Testament (Acts 7:2,4) as the Greek form of the Hebrew חָרָן, a major settlement in northern Mesopotamia. In the Septuagint, it transliterates the Hebrew name directly, as the translators did with various toponyms outside the Greek world. The English tradition (as 'Haran' or 'Charan') reflects the same underlying place name, but English translations may not distinguish between this ancient city and other similarly named locations. In biblical narratives, Χαῤῥάν is important as the place where Abraham's family settled after leaving Ur, and from which Abraham set out towards Canaan. In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, the name occurs primarily in Jewish or biblical traditions and is not a common toponym in broader Greek literature, indicating its usage is closely tied to biblical and Judean cultural contexts. There is no independent native Greek word related to this name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (חָרָן); Charrhan (i.e. Charan), a place in Mesopotamia:--Charran.
Root Family
Χαῤῥάν (Charrhan) — Haran, Charan, Mesopotamian city, ancestral sojourn location
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5488-01 |
Χαρράν | charran | N DAT F SG |
Charran | in Haran | Charrhan | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences