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אוֹן

𐤀𐤅𐤍

On

H203 noun

SILEX Entry

Root און strength, might, vigor, wealth

Definition

Proper noun designating 'On,' an Israelite man, specifically identified as a member of the tribe of Reuben in narrative contexts. Outside of its use as a personal name, the word does not carry independent semantic content in Biblical Hebrew.

Semantic Range

personal name (On); by extension in other contexts: strength, might, vigor, wealth

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root אוּן or אוֹן, which in other contexts (distinct from the proper name) can denote 'physical strength, vigor, wealth, ability.' However, as a personal name in H203, it most likely uses the root as a theophoric or Wunschname (name expressing a wish or quality), but the precise semantics as a name are unclear.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name אוֹן (On) appears in Numbers 16:1, where On son of Peleth is mentioned as a Reubenite involved in the Korahite rebellion. The use of 'On' here is as a personal name and should be differentiated from the geographic place name 'On' (Heliopolis, in Egypt) or the abstract noun אוֹן ('might, strength') appearing elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. Standard English translations typically transliterate the personal name directly as 'On.' The rendering 'an Israelite' in older sources reflects the ethnic and tribal context provided by the text, specifically his identification as a member of the Israelite tribe of Reuben in the early monarchic or pre-monarchic period. Later translations or religious traditions, including rabbinic literature, sometimes attempt to ascribe moral lessons or etymological significance to the name, but the biblical usage is strictly as a personal name. There is no evidence the name conveyed to its ancient bearers any specific semantic meaning beyond its function as a personal identifier.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as אוֹן; On, an Israelite; On.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

און (ʾ-w-n) — strength, might, vigor, wealth

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1007 בֵּית אָוֶן worthless wickedness
H202 אוֹן Strength
H205 אָוֶן worthless wickedness
H206 אָוֶן worthless wickedness
H207 אוֹנוֹ his strength

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H203-01 וְ/א֥וֹן veon HC/Np and On and On 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H203-01 Numbers 16:1 וְ/א֥וֹן veon HC/Np and On and On
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