English · KJV
H5935

עַלְוָן

ʻAlvân /al-vawn'/ Ask about this word
Rootor עַלְיָן · from עָלָה
Meaninglofty; Alvan or Aljan, an Idumaean
KJV usageAlian, Alvan.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻAlvân — 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 ʻAlvân, represented by H5935, is a personal name meaning lofty. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The name is also seen in the form Alian and refers to an Idumaean.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5935 is used exclusively within genealogical records to identify an individual. He is listed as one of the children of Shobal Genesis 36:23. This lineage is repeated in 1 Chronicles, where the name appears as Alian, again listed among the sons of Shobal 1 Chronicles 1:40.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words establish the genealogical context of ʻAlvân:

  • H7732 Shôwbâl (overflowing): This is the father of Alvan. Shobal is identified as an Edomite and an Israelite in scripture Genesis 36:23.
  • H1121 bên (a son): This word, translated as "children" or "sons", is used to establish the direct filial relationship between Shobal and his offspring, including Alvan (Genesis 36:23, 1 Chronicles 1:40).
  • H4506 Mânachath (rest): Listed as a brother of Alvan, Manahath is the name of an Edomite and a place in Moab Genesis 36:23.
  • H5858 ʻÊybâl (bare): Another individual listed as a brother of Alvan in the same genealogical account. Ebal is also the name of a mountain in Palestine Genesis 36:23.

Theological Significance

The significance of H5935 is rooted in its role within the biblical genealogies.

  • Preservation of Lineage: The inclusion of ʻAlvân and his brothers serves to document the descendants of Shobal, contributing to the detailed ancestral records found in Genesis and 1 Chronicles (Genesis 36:23, 1 Chronicles 1:40).
  • Idumaean Identity: As an Idumaean name, it helps establish the specific family lines and tribal structures that are part of the broader narrative.
  • Historical Record: The name's appearance, though brief, is a component of the scriptural effort to provide a precise and unbroken historical account of the families and nations descending from the patriarchs.

Summary

In summary, ʻAlvân H5935 is a specific personal name meaning lofty, found exclusively in Old Testament genealogies. Its two appearances, as Alvan and Alian, serve to identify one of the sons of Shobal within the Idumaean lineage (Genesis 36:23, 1 Chronicles 1:40). While not a central figure, the name's inclusion is essential for the completeness of the biblical ancestral record, illustrating the meticulous preservation of family lines in scripture.

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 2 occurrences, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • עַלְוָן

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.

H7732 שׁוֹבָל from the same as שֹׁבֶל; overflowing; Shobal, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Shobal. H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H4506 מָנַחַת from נוּחַ; rest; Manachath, the name of an Edomite and of a place in Moab; Manahath. H5858 עֵיבָל perhaps from an unused root probably meaning to be bald; bare; Ebal, a mountain of Palestine; Ebal.

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis and 1 Chronicles (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Genesis
1
1 Chronicles

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.