Ἰωνάν
Jonam
Definition
Ἰωνάν (Jonam) is a proper masculine noun that appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in the genealogy of Jesus recorded in Luke 3:30. It refers to an ancestor of Jesus, listed as the son of Eliakim and the father of Joseph. As a name, it carries no distinct semantic meaning beyond its function as a personal identifier within a historical lineage. In the biblical context, its sole purpose is to establish a link in the genealogical chain from Jesus back to King David and ultimately to Adam, as presented in Luke's account.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the New Testament, in Luke 3:30, within the context of Jesus's genealogy. It functions solely as a proper name to identify a specific individual in a list of ancestors. There are no other occurrences or varied usages in other New Testament books.
Etymology
The name Ἰωνάν (Iōnan) is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew name, likely derived from the Hebrew name יוֹנָן (Yônan). It is a theophoric name, meaning 'Yahweh has been gracious.' It is a cognate or variant of the more common biblical name Jonah (Ἰωνᾶς, G2495). The Greek form represents a direct phonetic adaptation of the Semitic original for use in a Greek-language text.
Semantic Range
While the name Ἰωνάν itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion in Luke's genealogy (Luke 3:23-38) is significant. This genealogy traces Jesus's lineage through David back to Adam, emphasizing His role as the Savior for all humanity, not just Israel. Understanding that this is a real person's name, accurately preserved in Greek, supports the historical reliability of the biblical record and Jesus's authentic connection to the Davidic line, a key component of His messianic identity.
In the cultural context of first-century Judaism and the Greco-Roman world, genealogies were vital for establishing identity, heritage, and social or religious rights (e.g., priestly or royal lineage). The preservation of this name in a Greek text reflects the early Christian community's care in documenting Jesus's ancestry, anchoring His story in real history and fulfilling the Jewish expectation of a Messiah descended from David.
Ἰωνᾶς (iōnas, G2495) — The more common Greek form of the name 'Jonah,' referring to the prophet. Ἰωνάν is a distinct, though related, personal name.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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