Word Study for H436 (אֵלוֹן) | Strong's Concordance

ʼêlôwn /ay-lone'/ Ask about this word

Rootprolonged from אַיִל

Meaningan oak or other strong tree

KJV usageplain. See also אֵילוֹן.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼêlôwn — 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 Hebrew word ʼêlôwn, represented by H436, refers to an oak or other strong tree, and is often translated as plain. It appears 9 times in 9 unique verses. While its base definition suggests a tree, its biblical usage almost always points to a specific, named landmark, often a grove of large trees that served as a significant geographical reference point.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H436 consistently functions as a marker for important locations. It is frequently associated with Abram, who dwelt in the plain of Mamre (Genesis 13:18, Genesis 14:13) and where the Lord appeared to him Genesis 18:1. He also passed through the plain of Moreh upon entering the land Genesis 12:6. Later, the plains of Moreh are cited as a landmark for the Israelites Deuteronomy 11:30. The term also identifies the spot where Abimelech was made king, "by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem" Judges 9:6, and the location where Samuel foretold a sign to Saul at the "plain of Tabor" 1 Samuel 10:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context of land and geography:

H6160 ʻărâbâh (champaign, desert, plain): This word often describes a wider, more desolate area like a desert or the sterile Jordan valley Ezekiel 47:8. In Deuteronomy 11:30, it is used as "champaign" to describe the general region where the more specific "plains of Moreh" H436 are located.
H776 ʼerets (country, earth, land): This is a much broader term for a territory or the entire earth. Its usage in verses like Genesis 12:6 and Deuteronomy 11:30 shows that an ʼêlôwn or plain is a specific place within a larger land. While H436 points to a landmark, H776 can refer to the whole earth created by God Genesis 1:1 or the land promised to His people 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H436 comes from the events that occur at these locations.

Sites of Divine Revelation: The "plains of Mamre" are not merely Abram's dwelling place, but the location where the LORD appeared to him Genesis 18:1. Abram also built an altar there Genesis 13:18, consecrating the site as a place of worship and divine encounter.
Landmarks of Covenant: The "plain of Moreh" is one of the first locations mentioned as Abram journeys through the land promised by God Genesis 12:6. It later serves as a key geographical marker for the Israelites as they prepare to enter that same land Deuteronomy 11:30, tying it to the fulfillment of God's promise.
Markers of Historical Turning Points: The word designates locations of significant national events, such as the coronation of Abimelech at the "plain of the pillar" Judges 9:6 and a prophetic sign for Israel's first king at the "plain of Tabor" 1 Samuel 10:3.

Summary

In summary, H436 is more than just a word for an oak tree or a plain. It functions as a proper noun in practice, designating specific, memorable locations in Israel's history. These places, marked by strong trees, became the backdrop for divine appearances, covenant promises, and pivotal moments in the lives of the patriarchs and the nation. The use of ʼêlôwn demonstrates how a feature of the natural landscape can become imbued with deep historical and theological significance.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 11 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

אֵלֹנֵי
אֵלוֹן
אֵלוֹן
אֵלוֹן

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 9 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (4 verses); never once in the other 35.

Genesis

Deuteronomy

Judges

1 Samuel

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.