אֵילוֹן
𐤀𐤉𐤋𐤅𐤍
Eylon
H356 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun used as a personal name and as a place name, meaning 'oak' or 'terebinth', with an extended sense referring to a place characterized by prominent oak or terebinth trees. As a name for individuals, it likely alludes metaphorically to qualities such as strength or prominence. As a place name, it typically designates a location associated with a significant tree or grove.
Semantic Range
oak, terebinth, oak tree, grove of oaks, place characterized by oaks, personal name, place name
Root / Etymology
The word derives from the root אַיִל (ʾāyil), meaning 'ram', but also used as a term for 'tree'—specifically robust trees such as 'oak' or 'terebinth'. אֵילוֹן ('Êylôwn) is a masculine noun form, probably signifying 'oak tree' or 'place of oaks', developing into a proper noun for persons or locations characterized by such trees.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֵילוֹן serves as the name of individuals (e.g., a Zebulunite judge in Judges 12:11-12, a Hittite in Genesis 26:34), as well as a place name (e.g., a town or locality—see Joshua 19:43, 21:23). The form is related to אֵלָה ('ēlāh—'terebinth') and its plural אֵלוֹנִים, and is distinct from Greek place names of later periods. The association with 'oak' or 'terebinth' links the term to sacred groves or significant single trees in ancient Israelite cultic and social life, often marking boundaries, gathering places, or cultic sites. The word is never used with the later connotations of 'Jew' or 'Judean'; rather, it reflects naming patterns or geographical markers from the pre-monarchic through the monarchic period. English translations sometimes obscure the connection to the physical tree or its cultural significance, rendering אֵילוֹן simply as a personal or place name without reference to its arboreal context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (shortened) אֵלוֹן ; or אֵילֹן ; from אַיִל; oak-grove; Elon, the name of a place in Palestine, and also of one Hittite, two Israelites; Elon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
איל (ʾ-y-l) — strength, prominence, ram, strong tree (oak/terebinth)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H353 | אֱיָל | strength |
| H354 | אַיָּל | stag |
| H355 | אַיָּלָה | doe |
| H357 | אַיָּלוֹן | Deer-Place (Ayalon) |
| H359 | אֵילוֹת | Eloth |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H356-02 |
אֵילֹ֖ן | eylon | HNp |
Elon | Oak | 3 |
H356-03 |
לְ/אֵל֕וֹן | leelon | HR/Np |
of Elon | to Oak | 1 |
H356-05 |
וְ/אֵיל֥וֹן | veeylon | HC/Np |
and Elon | and Oak | 1 |
H356-04 |
וְ/אֵל֖וֹן | veelon | HC/Np |
and Elon | and Oak | 1 |
H356-01 |
אֵל֣וֹן | elon | HNp |
Elon | oak of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H356-02 |
Genesis 26:34 | אֵילֹ֖ן | eylon | HNp |
Elon | Oak |
H356-02 |
Genesis 36:2 | אֵילוֹן֙ | eylon | HNp |
Elon | Oak |
H356-04 |
Genesis 46:14 | וְ/אֵל֖וֹן | veelon | HC/Np |
and Elon | and Oak |
H356-03 |
Numbers 26:26 | לְ/אֵל֕וֹן | leelon | HR/Np |
of Elon | to Oak |
H356-05 |
Joshua 19:43 | וְ/אֵיל֥וֹן | veeylon | HC/Np |
and Elon | and Oak |
H356-02 |
Judges 12:11 | אֵיל֖וֹן | eylon | HNp |
Elon | Oak |
H356-01 |
Judges 12:12 | אֵל֣וֹן | elon | HNp |
Elon | oak of |