488. alman

Lexicon

alman: Widower

Original Word: אַלְמָן
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: alman
Pronunciation: al-mahn
Phonetic Spelling: (al-mawn')
Definition: Widower
Meaning: discarded

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

forsaken

Prolonged from 'alam in the sense of bereavement; discarded (as a divorced person) -- forsaken.

see HEBREW 'alam

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from alam
Definition
widowed
NASB Translation
forsaken (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אַלְמָן adjective forsaken, of Israel Jeremiah 51:5 (followed by מֵאֱלֹהִים).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root אָלַם (alam), meaning "to be bound" or "to be silent."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct equivalent for the Hebrew אַלְמָן (alman) in the Greek New Testament. However, the concept of a widower can be related to the Greek term χήρα (chēra), Strong's Greek Number 5503, which means "widow." The Greek term does not have a masculine form used in the New Testament, reflecting a similar cultural focus on the status of widows rather than widowers.

Usage: The word אַלְמָן appears in the Hebrew Bible to denote a man who is bereaved of his wife. It is less frequently used compared to its feminine counterpart, אַלְמָנָה (almanah), which refers to a widow.

Context: The term אַלְמָן (alman) is found in the Hebrew Scriptures and is used to describe a man who has lost his wife. The concept of a widower in ancient Israelite society is not as prominently featured as that of a widow, reflecting the patriarchal structure of the society where the status and welfare of women were more directly impacted by the loss of a spouse. The term is derived from the root אָלַם (alam), which conveys the idea of being bound or silent, possibly reflecting the social and emotional state of a man who has lost his partner.

In the cultural context of the Bible, the status of a widower did not carry the same social vulnerability as that of a widow, who often required special protection and provision under the law. The Mosaic Law provided specific instructions for the care of widows, but similar provisions for widowers are not explicitly detailed, suggesting that men were generally expected to be more self-sufficient or to remarry.

The term is used sparingly in the biblical text, and its occurrences are often in parallel with discussions about widows, orphans, and other socially vulnerable groups. The focus on widows in biblical law and narrative underscores the community's responsibility to care for those who have lost their primary means of support and protection.

Forms and Transliterations

אַלְמָ֨ן אלמן ’al·mān ’almān alMan

Englishman's Concordance

Jeremiah 51:5
HEB: כִּ֠י לֹֽא־ אַלְמָ֨ן יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל וִֽיהוּדָה֙
NAS: Judah has been forsaken By his God,
KJV: For Israel [hath] not [been] forsaken, nor Judah
INT: Although neither has been forsaken Israel Judah

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 488
1 Occurrence

’al·mān — 1 Occ.