2494. Iónam

Lexical Summary

Iónam: Jonam

Original Word: Ἰωνάμ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Iónam
Pronunciation: ee-o-NAHM
Phonetic Spelling: (ee-o-nan')
KJV: Jonan
NASB: Jonam
Word Origin: [probably for G2491 (Ἰωάννης - John) or G2495 (Ἰωνᾶς - Jonah)]

1. Jonan, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Jonan.

Probably for Ioannes or Ionas; Jonan, an Israelite -- Jonan.

see GREEK Ioannes

see GREEK Ionas

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin
Definition
Jonam, an Isr.
NASB Translation
Jonam (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2494: Ιωναν

Ιωναν and (so T Tr WH) Ἰωνάμ, ὁ, indeclinable (see Ἰωάννης), Jonah (or Jonam), one of the ancestors of Christ: Luke 3:30.

Topical Lexicon

Scriptural Occurrence

Luke 3:30 lists “Jonam” as part of the legal ancestry of Jesus Christ recorded by Luke: “…son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim”. This is the sole mention of the name in the Greek New Testament.

Place in Luke’s Genealogy

1. Luke traces the Lord’s lineage from Jesus back to Adam (Luke 3:23-38).
2. Jonam falls in the post-exilic section of the list, between Joseph and Eliakim, roughly halfway between Zerubbabel (Luke 3:27) and David (Luke 3:31).
3. This line is generally understood to represent Mary’s ancestry, thus providing Jesus with natural descent from David apart from Joseph’s legal descent recorded by Matthew (Matthew 1:1-16).
4. Jonam’s inclusion underscores Luke’s concern to document every generation, highlighting divine providence in preserving the royal line through obscure individuals as well as famous ones.

Theological Significance of Genealogies

• Validation of Messiahship: Old Testament prophecy required the Christ to spring from David’s house (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 11:1). Every name in Luke’s list—including Jonam—functions as a witness to the fulfillment of that promise.
• Continuity of Covenant: Genealogies connect successive covenants (Abrahamic, Davidic, New). Jonam’s generation stands after the Babylonian exile, illustrating that exile did not annul God’s sworn word.
• Universality of Salvation: Luke’s lineage culminates in Adam, showing that the Savior relates to all humanity. Intermediate figures such as Jonam demonstrate God’s interest in ordinary people, not merely national heroes.

Possible Old Testament Parallels

The name resembles Hebrew forms meaning “Yahweh has been gracious” or “Gift of Yahweh.” While no direct Old Testament individual bears the identical Greek spelling, similar Hebrew names (e.g., Johanan, Jehonan) appear in genealogical lists (1 Chronicles 3:15, 1 Chronicles 26:3). Such echoes suggest that Jonam’s family preserved a theophoric name honoring the LORD, a common post-exilic practice.

Historical Context

The post-exilic period (fifth–second centuries BC) saw the Jewish community regroup under Persian, Greek, and early Roman rule. Names like Jonam reflect lingering faith amid political obscurity. Though Scripture records no exploits for Jonam, his family evidently maintained covenant fidelity, intermarrying within the tribe of Judah and transmitting the hope of a coming Redeemer.

Ministry Insights

1. Faithfulness in obscurity: Jonam’s silent witness encourages believers who serve God without public recognition (Colossians 3:23-24).
2. Generational stewardship: Each believer, like Jonam, forms a vital link in God’s redemptive chain (2 Timothy 1:5).
3. Precision of prophecy: Even lesser-known names testify that “not one word has failed of all His good promise” (1 Kings 8:56).

Devotional Application

Jonam’s hidden life reminds Christians that significance is defined by God’s purposes, not human fame. The Lord who recorded Jonam’s name likewise records the works of every servant in His book of remembrance (Malachi 3:16).

Forms and Transliterations

Ιωναμ Ἰωνάμ Ἰωνὰμ Ionam Ionám Iōnam Iōnám

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 3:30 N
GRK: Ἰωσήφ τοῦ Ἰωνάμ τοῦ Ἐλιακὶμ
NAS: the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
KJV: which was [the son] of Joseph, which was [the son] of Jonan, which was [the son] of Eliakim,
INT: of Joseph of Jonam of Eliakim

Strong's Greek 2494
1 Occurrence

Ἰωνάμ — 1 Occ.