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אוֹנָן

𐤀𐤅𐤍𐤍

Onan

H209 noun

SILEX Entry

Root און to be vigorous, to have strength, to possess vitality, to have wealth

Definition

Proper name: Onan, personal name designating a male individual, specifically a son of Judah and Shua, and brother of Er; Onan is a personal name rather than a common noun, and functions exclusively as such in the Hebrew Bible.

Semantic Range

proper name (male), personal designation; does not carry common noun senses in biblical text

Root / Etymology

From the root און, which in other contexts can mean 'vigor, strength, wealth, sorrow,' but its application as a proper name may signify strength or vitality. The name is not directly synonymous with any of the common noun senses of the root in its contextual appearance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name אוֹנָן (Onan) occurs in the genealogies of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 38:4, 8-10; 46:12; Numbers 26:19; 1 Chronicles 2:3). Onan is depicted as the second son born to Judah by the Canaanite woman Shua. The figure of Onan is important within the narrative of Judah’s family and the ancient practice of levirate marriage. The name, while potentially derived from a root denoting strength or vigor, does not carry this meaning in narrative use—it solely identifies the individual. Unlike terms such as אוֹנוֹ ('Ono,' a place name) or functional nouns derived from און (meaning 'strength' or 'wealth'), אוֹנָן as a proper name is not used as a descriptor or title. English translations retain the transliterated form 'Onan' and do not attempt to translate the root meaning, reflecting its function as a fixed personal name. In later Jewish and Christian interpretive tradition, Onan's name becomes associated with the narrative actions for which he is known, but lexically, it remains a personal designation without later confessional or religious identity implications.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a variation of אוֹנוֹ; strong; Onan, a son of Judah; Onan.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

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

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H209-03 וְ/אוֹנָ֛ן veonan HC/Np and Onan and Onan 5
H209-02 אוֹנָֽן onan HNp Onan Onan 2
H209-01 לְ/אוֹנָ֔ן leonan HR/Np to Onan to Onan 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H209-02 Genesis 38:4 אוֹנָֽן onan HNp Onan Onan
H209-01 Genesis 38:8 לְ/אוֹנָ֔ן leonan HR/Np to Onan to Onan
H209-02 Genesis 38:9 אוֹנָ֔ן onan HNp Onan Onan
H209-03 Genesis 46:12 וְ/אוֹנָ֛ן veonan HC/Np and Onan and Onan
H209-03 Genesis 46:12 וְ/אוֹנָן֙ veonan-2 HC/Np and Onan and Onan
H209-03 Numbers 26:19 וְ/אוֹנָ֑ן veonan HC/Np and Onan and Onan
H209-03 Numbers 26:19 וְ/אוֹנָ֖ן veonan-2 HC/Np and Onan and Onan
H209-03 1 Chronicles 2:3 וְ/אוֹנָן֙ veonan HC/Np and Onan and Onan
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