Bible Word Study
יָלוֹן
Yâlôwn · Jalon, an Israelite
יָלוֹן
Jalon, an Israelite
Definition
Jalon is a proper name of an Israelite man mentioned only once in the Old Testament. The name appears in the genealogical records of the tribe of Judah, specifically in 1 Chronicles 4:17. As a proper noun, it functions solely as a personal identifier for this individual within the biblical narrative. There are no other major senses or meanings for this word, as it is not used in any other context or passage.
Biblical Usage
The word יָלוֹן (Yâlôwn) is used exactly one time in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 4:17. Its usage is strictly as a personal name within a genealogical list detailing the descendants of Judah. The context is a record of lineage, and the name appears alongside other names like Ezrah and Mered. There are no patterns of usage beyond this single, specific identification.
Etymology
The name Jalon is derived from the Hebrew root לוּן (lûn, H3885), which means 'to lodge,' 'to pass the night,' or 'to abide.' As a proper name, it is likely a participle form meaning 'he will lodge' or 'he who lodges.' This suggests the name may have carried a sense of permanence, dwelling, or perhaps even divine protection, as lodging can imply a place of safety and rest.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and descriptive, conveying hopes, circumstances, or attributes. A name derived from 'lodging' might reflect a family's circumstances at the time of birth, a prayer for stability, or an acknowledgment of God as a dwelling place (Psalm 91:1). While Jalon himself is not a prominent figure, his name preserves a small piece of personal and familial identity within the broader story of God's people.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]