English · KJV
G2446

Ἰορδάνης

Iordánēs /ee-or-dan'-ace/ Ask about this word
Rootof Hebrew origin (יַרְדֵּן)
Meaningthe Jordanes (i.e. Jarden), a river of Palestine
KJV usageJordan.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Iordánēs — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word Iordánēs, represented by G2446, is of Hebrew origin and identifies the Jordan, a river of Palestine. It appears 15 times across 15 unique verses in the Bible, establishing it as a key geographical landmark in the Gospel narratives. Its significance is tied directly to the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G2446 is the central location for John the Baptist's ministry. Great multitudes from Judaea and Jerusalem came to the Jordan river to be baptized by him, a process that involved "confessing their sins" (Matthew 3:6, Mark 1:5). John preached a "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins" in the country surrounding the Jordan Luke 3:3. The river is also the site where Jesus's own ministry is inaugurated; he comes from Galilee to the Jordan specifically to be baptized by John (Matthew 3:13, Mark 1:9). Following this, Jesus returns from the Jordan filled with the Holy Ghost before being led into the wilderness Luke 4:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words are essential for understanding the events that take place at the Jordan:

  • G907 baptízō (to immerse, submerge): This act of ceremonial ablution is the primary activity associated with the Jordan in the Gospels, where John baptized both the crowds and Jesus himself Mark 1:9.
  • G2491 Iōánnēs (John): The ministry of John the Baptist is inextricably linked to this river, the primary site where he was baptizing and bearing witness John 1:28.
  • G1843 exomologéō (to acknowledge or confess): This word describes the action of the people who came to the Jordan, as they were baptized while confessing their sins Mark 1:5.
  • G3341 metánoia (repentance): John's message at the Jordan was a call to the "baptism of repentance," a theme central to his purpose Luke 3:3.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2446 is significant as a place of spiritual transition and initiation.

  • A Place of Repentance: The Jordan is established as the setting for a national turning towards God, where people came to confess their sins G266 and receive a baptism of repentance G3341 for the remission of those sins Luke 3:3.
  • The Start of Jesus's Ministry: Jesus's journey from Galilee to the Jordan for baptism marks the formal beginning of his public work. Immediately after, he is "full of the Holy Ghost" and departs from the Jordan to face temptation in the wilderness G2048 Luke 4:1.
  • A Geographical and Spiritual Boundary: The phrase "beyond Jordan" is used repeatedly to define a region from which great multitudes gathered to follow Jesus, highlighting the river as a crucial reference point for the scope of His ministry (Matthew 4:25, Mark 3:8).

Summary

In summary, G2446 is far more than a simple geographical name. It serves as a pivotal stage in the New Testament for profound spiritual events. As the site of John's call to repentance and the baptism of Jesus, the Jordan represents a place of confession, cleansing, and the commissioning of the Messiah's work. It is a landmark imbued with foundational significance for the Christian faith.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists one rendering for this word. It is counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the number is how many of them use it. Select it to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a noun across 15 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • Ἰορδάνου
  • Ἰορδάνην
  • Ἰορδάνῃ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G907 βαπτίζω to immerse, submerge G2491 Ἰωάννης Joannes (i.e. Jochanan), the name of four Israelites G1843 ἐξομολογέω to acknowledge or (by implication, of assent) agree fully G3341 μετάνοια (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation) G266 ἁμαρτία a sin (properly abstract) G2048 ἔρημος of uncertain affinity; lonesome, i.e. (by implication) waste (usually as a noun, χώρα being implied)

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 15 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (6 verses); never once in the other 23.

6
Matthew
4
Mark
2
Luke
3
John

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.