אׇזְנִי
𐤀𐤆𐤍𐤉
Zeni
H244 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating a male individual, 'Ozni,' listed as a descendant of Gad and ancestor of a Gadite clan within the genealogical records of the Israelites; by extension, the members of the clan originating from him ('Oznite[s]'). The primary sense is a personal and clan name, with possible implicit connotations relating to the root idea of 'ear' or attentiveness, but this is not overt in usage.
Semantic Range
proper name (individual, Ozni), eponymous ancestor of a Gadite clan, collective reference to the clan or descendants (Oznite[s])
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root אֹזֶן ('ear'), likely with a nominal suffix yielding a personal name; thus, 'Ozni' may mean 'ear-like' or 'pertaining to the ear,' though the precise sense is ambiguous and may simply be an ancient clan or personal name without further semantic development. Some interpretations see it as 'one having ears' or 'attentive,' but these are conjectural.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ozni appears in the genealogical lists among the sons of Gad (Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:16), representing either an individual or the eponymous ancestor of a Gadite sub-tribe, the Oznites. The name reflects a broader pattern of Israelite clan and tribal nomenclature based on eponymous ancestors. There is some textual variation: in 1 Chronicles 7:7 the comparable clan is called 'Azni.' Later English translations sometimes use 'Oznite' or similar form for the collective, but these do not convey any particular descriptive meaning in the original context. The association with 'ear' is rooted in the Hebrew etymology but is not theologically or functionally significant in the biblical narrative. This name is unrelated to later Israelite, Judahite, or Judean religious or ethnic developments and is not associated with the English term 'Jew.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אֹזֶן; having (quick) ears; Ozni, an Israelite; also an Oznite (collectively), his descendant; Ozni, Oznites.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אזן (ʾ-z-n) — ear, listening, hearing
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H238 | אָזַן | I will cause to listen |
| H239 | אָזַן | and he listened attentively |
| H240 | אָזֵן | your broad-blade |
| H241 | אֹזֶן | their ear |
| H245 | אֲזַנְיָה | Yah has listened |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H244-01 |
הָ/אָזְנִ֑י | haazeni | HTd/Ngmsa |
of the Oznites | the Oznite | 1 |
H244-02 |
לְ/אָזְנִ֕י | leazeni | HR/Np |
of Ozni | to Ozni | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H244-02 |
Numbers 26:16 | לְ/אָזְנִ֕י | leazeni | HR/Np |
of Ozni | to Ozni |
H244-01 |
Numbers 26:16 | הָ/אָזְנִ֑י | haazeni | HTd/Ngmsa |
of the Oznites | the Oznite |