Lexical Summary allon: oak, oaks Original Word: אַלּוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance oak A variation of 'elown -- oak. see HEBREW 'elown NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as allah Definition an oak NASB Translation oak (4), oaks (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַלּוֺן noun masculineGenesis 35:8 oak (ᵐ5 βάλανος, δρῦς, etc.) — ׳א absolute Genesis 35:8 +; construct ib.; plural אַלּוֺנִים Amos 2:9; Ezekiel 27:6; construct אַלּוֺנֵי Isaiah 2:13; Zechariah 11:12; — as marking grave of Deborah, Rebekah's nurse Genesis 35:8 (E); whence called oak of weeping, בָּכוּת ׳א ib. (see Di on the passage, & below אֵלוֺן p. 18); elsewhere only in prophets; as marking illicit shrines Hosea 4:13 ("" לִבְנֶה, אֵלָה); as felled Isaiah 6:13 (in simile; "" אֵלָה); as furnishing material for making idols Isaiah 44:14 ("" אֶרֶז, תִּרְזָה, אֹרֶן); as simile for strength (חסן) Amos 2:9; also אַלּוֺנֵי הַבָּשָׁן Isaiah 2:13 (as lofty & majestic), compare Ezekiel 27:6 (as strong, for making oars); Zechariah 11:2, metaphor of prominent men. Topical Lexicon Botanical and Geographic Profile אלון designates the large, deep-rooted hardwoods that dominate the highlands of Israel—especially the evergreen oak (Quercus calliprinos) and the broad-leaved terebinth (Pistacia palaestina). These trees flourish on rocky slopes from Bashan to the Shephelah, reaching great age, resisting drought, and providing shade, acorns, tannin, and durable timber. Survey of Biblical Occurrences • Genesis 35:8 – The death of Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, is memorialized “below Bethel, under the oak,” named Allon-bacuth, “Oak of Weeping,” fixing family grief to a living landmark. Covenantal Landmarks and Sacred Memory Patriarchs and judges often selected prominent oaks as covenantal signposts (compare Genesis 12:6; Joshua 24:26, where a different Hebrew term is used). The tree’s permanence bound heaven’s promises to earth’s geography, enabling later generations to locate history, rehearse testimonies, and embrace continuity. Symbol of Strength, Pride, and Permanence Oak imagery speaks of vigor and steadfastness: Idolatrous Groves and Counterfeit Worship Canaanite religion exploited lofty trees as natural sanctuaries. Hosea condemns Israel for sacrificing “on the tops of mountains, burning sacrifices on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth” (Hosea 4:13). The oak thus becomes a moral test: will Israel worship the Creator or the creation? Prophetic Remnant Motif Isaiah 6:13 employs a double image—judgment and hope—“Like an oak when felled, the stump remains, so the holy seed is the stump.” Even after devastating exile, God preserves a remnant rooted like an oak stump that will sprout anew. The tree’s regenerative power mirrors resurrection life, anticipating the righteous Branch (Isaiah 11:1). Economic and Imperial Reach Ezekiel pictures Tyre’s fleets decked with oak planks. International demand for Bashan hardwood indicates Israel’s strategic resources and the way creation serves human dominion. Yet Tyre’s fall warns that economic glory detached from covenant righteousness cannot stand. Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Legacy and Discipleship – Planting oaks on church grounds or mission fields visibly enacts Psalm 1, inviting believers to become “oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3). Summary אלון threads through Scripture as a living parable: rooted permanence, covenant memory, and divine strength; yet also a stage for human pride and idolatry. Its enduring stump assures that even after judgment, God’s holy seed will rise, pointing ultimately to the crucified and risen Savior whose kingdom, like the oak, will stand forever. Forms and Transliterations אַלּ֧וֹן אַלּוֹנִים֙ אַלּוֹנֵ֣י אַלּוֹנֵ֥י אלון אלוני אלונים הָֽאַלּ֑וֹן האלון וְאַלּ֔וֹן וְכָאַלּ֗וֹן ואלון וכאלון כָּֽאַלּוֹנִ֑ים כאלונים ’al·lō·w·nê ’al·lō·w·nîm ’al·lō·wn ’allōwn ’allōwnê ’allōwnîm alLon alloNei alloNim hā’allōwn hā·’al·lō·wn haalLon kā’allōwnîm kā·’al·lō·w·nîm kaalloNim vealLon vechaalLon wə’allōwn wə·’al·lō·wn wə·ḵā·’al·lō·wn wəḵā’allōwnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 35:8 HEB: אֵ֖ל תַּ֣חַת הָֽאַלּ֑וֹן וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ NAS: under the oak; it was named KJV: beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name INT: Bethel under the oak called and the name Isaiah 2:13 Isaiah 6:13 Isaiah 44:14 Ezekiel 27:6 Hosea 4:13 Amos 2:9 Zechariah 11:2 8 Occurrences |
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