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אוֹנָם

𐤀𐤅𐤍𐤌

Onam

H208 noun

SILEX Entry

Root און to be strong, to have vigor, to generate power

Definition

Personal name, used for individuals in biblical genealogies. Its exact meaning is uncertain, but it appears as a proper noun for an Edomite and an Israelite. The name may carry the notion of 'strength' or 'power' if derived from the root אוּן ('to be strong'), but the precise lexical sense as a name remains unclear.

Semantic Range

personal name, potentially associated with strength or vigor; proper noun designating individuals in genealogical records

Root / Etymology

The form אוֹנָם is possibly derived from the root אוּן (און), meaning 'to be strong, vigorous.' It is also associated with אוֹנָן (Onan), a related name. Alternatively, it may be a direct variant of אוֹנָן, involving dialectal or scribal variation. Etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אוֹנָם appears in genealogical lists in Genesis 36:23 and 1 Chronicles 1:40, where it designates an Edomite and, by textual lineage, an Israelite. The name is rare, with occurrences limited to these contexts. English versions traditionally transliterate it as 'Onam,' but without attaching specific lexical meaning. In the biblical period, personal names often included elements reflecting desired characteristics (such as strength), but it is not certain that contemporary hearers would associate אוֹנָם directly with 'strength' as a lexically active meaning; rather, it functioned as a proper name within its genealogical context. This distinguishes it from term-based names with broader usage or explicit meaning. The close similarity to אוֹנָן (Onan) sometimes leads to confusion in translation and interpretation. Notably, in post-biblical or later Jewish tradition, no additional significance is attached to the name beyond its genealogical use.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a variation of אוֹנָן; strong; Onam, the name of an Edomite and of an Israelite; Onam.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

און (ʾ-w-n) — strength, vigor, generative power

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1007 בֵּית אָוֶן worthless wickedness
H202 אוֹן Strength
H203 אוֹן and On
H205 אָוֶן worthless wickedness
H206 אָוֶן worthless wickedness

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H208-01 אוֹנָֽם onam HNp Onam Onam of them 2
H208-02 וְ/אוֹנָֽם veonam HC/Np and Onam and Onam 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H208-02 Genesis 36:23 וְ/אוֹנָֽם veonam HC/Np and Onam and Onam
H208-02 1 Chronicles 1:40 וְ/אוֹנָ֑ם veonam HC/Np and Onam and Onam
H208-01 1 Chronicles 2:26 אוֹנָֽם onam HNp Onam Onam of them
H208-01 1 Chronicles 2:28 אוֹנָ֖ם onam HNp Onam Onam of them
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