Lexical Summary On: On Original Word: אָוֶן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance On Or (shortened); On {one}; of Egyptian derivation; On, a city of Egypt -- On. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a city in N. Eg. Brown-Driver-Briggs אוֺן proper name, of a location see אֹן. אוניות2Chronicles 8:18 Kt see אֳנִי below אנה. אֹן (Genesis 41:45; 46:20) אוֺן (Genesis 41:50; Ezekiel 30:17) proper name, of a location On (Egypt An compare EbGS 75 WiedSamm 146; perhaps = Assyrian Unu SteindBAS i.610, contr. DlPa 318) city in lower Egypt, probably on border of land of Goshen, residence of 'Potiphera, priest of On,' father-in-law of Joseph Genesis 41:45,50; Genesis 46:20; also Ezekiel 30:17 ( where ᵑ0 אָוֶן); it was celebrated for worship of sun-god Ra, & hence called also sun-city, בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ Jeremiah 43:13, ᵐ5 ἡλίου πόλις; modern Matariye, on east bank of Nile, approximately 7 miles east of north from Cairo & 18 from Memphis; — compare EbGS 75, 507 f. & map Wiedl.c. Topical Lexicon Name and Setting“On” is the ancient Egyptian city later known to the Greeks as Heliopolis (“City of the Sun”). It stood in Lower Egypt, about ten miles northeast of present-day Cairo, on the east bank of the Nile. Its Hebrew designation appears only three times, all in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 41:45; 41:50; 46:20). The city was famed for its obelisks, for an impressive temple complex dedicated to the sun-god Re, and for an influential priestly school that shaped Egyptian religious thought for centuries. Biblical Context In Scripture the name surfaces exclusively in connection with Joseph’s rise to power: • Genesis 41:45—Pharaoh “gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife”. Although the narrative mentions the city only in passing, the references are theologically weighty: they highlight Joseph’s integration into the highest circles of Egyptian society while preserving his covenant identity (Genesis 41:16; 45:5-8; 50:20). Religious Climate of On 1. Center of Solar Worship The temples of On were dedicated to Re (or Ra) and later to the syncretized deity Re-Atum. Priests of On claimed cosmic insight and political influence. Pharaohs sometimes styled themselves “sons of Re,” borrowing legitimacy from the city’s cult. 2. Intellectual Influence On was a leading seat of learning in astronomy, calendar-keeping, architecture, and theology. Its priesthood generated myths that explained creation, kingship, and the afterlife—beliefs diametrically opposed to Israel’s revelation of the one true God (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:2-3). 3. Political Standing Because of its proximity to the capital region and its theological prestige, alliances with On’s priesthood were strategically valuable to Egyptian rulers. Pharaoh’s gift of an Onite bride to Joseph publicly signaled full acceptance of the Hebrew slave-turned-vizier. Joseph’s Marriage and Covenant Continuity The marriage arranged by Pharaoh presented both opportunity and potential compromise. Scripture records no divine rebuke; instead, the narrative accentuates Joseph’s steadfast faith: • Fidelity in an Idolatrous Environment—Joseph names his firstborn Manasseh, testifying, “God has made me forget all my hardship” (Genesis 41:51). His second son, Ephraim, memorializes, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:52). Both names honor the covenant God, not Egypt’s sun-god. • Transmission of Blessing—Jacob later adopts Manasseh and Ephraim as his own (Genesis 48:5-20), ensuring their inclusion among the tribes of Israel. Thus, offspring born to the daughter of a pagan priest become inheritors of God’s promises, demonstrating divine sovereignty over cultural barriers. • Foreshadowing the Exodus—Joseph’s Egyptian ties place him—and by extension Israel—in the heart of Egypt, setting the stage for God’s redemptive display in the Exodus generations later (Exodus 3:7-10). Prophetic Echoes Centuries after Joseph, prophets denounce Egyptian idolatry centered at On: • Jeremiah 43:13 (cf. Septuagint)—foretells judgment on the temples of the sun in Egypt. These oracles validate the biblical portrayal of On as a hub of false worship destined for divine reckoning. Archaeological Corroboration Excavations at Tell el-Hisn (ancient Heliopolis) have uncovered fragments of obelisks, temple courts, and inscriptions bearing the names of Re and prominent priests. Although much of the site was dismantled for later building projects, the remaining artifacts—especially the solitary obelisk still standing in Cairo’s suburb of Matariya—confirm the grandeur that Genesis casually references. Ministry Applications 1. Faithfulness Amid Cultural Prestige Believers may be called to serve in settings saturated with values contrary to Scripture. Joseph’s life shows that one can exercise godly integrity without retreating from public responsibility. 2. Sovereignty Over Family Backgrounds God’s grace transcends ancestry. Children of a priestly line devoted to the sun-god Re become patriarchs of Israelite tribes, illustrating that no heritage is beyond God’s redemptive reach. 3. Evangelistic Encouragement Joseph never compromises his confession. Modern disciples can likewise bear witness to God while interacting respectfully with people of other faiths (1 Peter 3:15). Related References Genesis 41; Genesis 46; Ezekiel 30:17; Jeremiah 43:13; Isaiah 19; Acts 7:9-10 (Stephen’s summary of Joseph’s story). Forms and Transliterations אֹ֑ן אֹ֖ן אֽוֹן׃ און׃ אן ’ō·wn ’ōn ’ōwn onLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 41:45 HEB: פֶ֛רַע כֹּהֵ֥ן אֹ֖ן לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיֵּצֵ֥א NAS: priest of On, as his wife. KJV: priest of On. And Joseph INT: of Potiphera priest of On his wife went Genesis 41:50 Genesis 46:20 |
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